Vandals open District 7-4A, Division 2, schedule at Spring Hill in a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Oct. 10
DAVID BARBER
Following five non-district games and a bye week, the Van Vandals are now preparing for their most important five-game stretch of the regular season as the battle for the District 7-4A, Division 2, championship begins.
Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals, 3-2 overall, will visit Spring Hill for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Oct. 10, to open their district schedule against the 1-4 Spring Hill Panthers.
Before discussing the district opener, Moffatt took time to look back at what his team was able to accomplish during their bye week.
“Our bye week routine has changed from time to time over the years, but this schedule is something that we have been used to over the past two to three years,” recalled Moffatt. “We used to get three days of practice, but now we get two during the bye week (Sept. 29, 30). We worked on Spring Hill during our practice time last week.
“The team returned to practice Monday (Oct. 6) and we had a regular Monday practice, having already worked on our next opponent for two days the previous week,” continued Moffatt. “Yesterday (Oct. 6) was a real smooth practice. Our players and coaches enjoyed having five days off during the bye week. Our bye week came at a great time for us. We definitely had some guys that were banged up and needed that time off. I feel good about what we got accomplished last week.”
On the injury front, the Vandals received good news even before the bye week as running back/cornerback Da’Quavion Williams and linebacker Carter Admire were able to return to the starting lineup Sept. 26 against Brownsboro after missing some playing time due to injuries.
Defensive lineman Waylon King, who was held out of the Brownsboro game due to a shoulder injury, will be back in the starting lineup against Spring Hill Oct. 10, according to Moffatt.
The Vandals will also welcome back sophomore wide receiver/defensive end Braxton Bass, who will see his first action of the season against Spring Hill Oct. 10, after suffering a collarbone injury during practice in August.
“In terms of guys that we were expecting to come back from injury, this is probably the healthiest our team has been all season,” emphasized Moffatt.
Despite the fact that Spring Hill is 1-4 overall this season, Moffatt said that he has been impressed with the play of the Panthers, especially on offense.
“We have played them three years in a row going back to the playoffs,” said Moffatt. “Three years ago, we scrimmaged them before the season started and then we played them again in the first round of the playoffs that season. I was real impressed with how much better Spring Hill played. Coach Joslin has been at Spring Hill for five years and they are doing a good job with their program.
“This Spring Hill team is similar to the teams that we played in the past,” pointed out Moffatt. “They run a triple-option type of offense and defensively, you have to be really sound against them. Everybody on defense has to do their job and be very disciplined. Spring Hill also has the ability to throw and catch the football as well. They are a run-dominant team, but they can throw the ball. Their quarterback is a sophomore who is throwing the ball well for them.
“Defensively, Spring Hill plays hard, and they run to the football well,” emphasized the Vandal head coach. “They play a lot of different players on defense. They have a really good defensive tackle. They have given up points. In their last game against Grandview, they lost, 63-55, but in that game, Spring Hill rallied with three consecutive onside kick recoveries. We need to play well on offense, especially taking care of the football.”
Other District 7-4A, Division 2, openers Friday, Oct. 12 will feature Pittsburg visiting Gilmer and Texarkana Pleasant Grove hosting Paris North Lamar. All district games will have 7 p.m. kickoff times.
“Texarkana Pleasant Grove is 4-1 and their only loss was to Kilgore,” pointed out Moffatt. “I knew at the beginning of the season that Texarkana Pleasant Grove was going to be good and they really are that good. The biggest surprise so far to me is that Gilmer is 1-4. Their four losses were to Kilgore, Lindale, Chapel Hill, and Brenham, all good football teams. Gilmer still has good football players. Don’t write them off. Pittsburg is 4-1 with a new head coach. They were 0-5 at this point last season. They are doing a really good job. Pittsburg is never without talent. Pittsburg is going to be a problem. They are playing with belief. Spring Hill can control the game with their ability on offense. They can limit your offensive snaps. This district is shaping up to be really competitive over the next five weeks.”
Moffatt said that his team’s approach to facing district competition has definitely changed compared to preparing for a non-district opponent.
“I think you might say that,” summarized Moffatt. “After having the chance to work on Spring Hill during our bye week helped us in our Monday practice yesterday (Oct. 6). It was a real smooth practice for a Monday. These kids know what is in front of them. We understand that everyone in our district is 0-0 right now including us. Everyone starts out with the same record when district play starts. It is different in district play because these games will determine if you make the playoffs or not.”
The Vandal sub-varsity teams also begin their district play Thursday, Oct. 9 as the junior high teams will travel to Spring Hill while the freshmen and junior varsity teams will host Spring Hill at Van’s Memorial Stadium.
For results of the district opener between the Vandals and the Panthers in addition to previewing Van’s district home opener against Gilmer in a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Oct. 17, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.