DAVID BARBER

davidb@vanzandtnews.com

Unfortunately for the Van Vandals, they found out first-hand Nov. 7 why the Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks are one of the highly regarded state-ranked Class 4A, Division 2, programs in the state as the Vandals suffered a 56-14 defeat on ‘Senior Night’ at Van’s Memorial Stadium in the District 7-4A, Division 2, and regular season finales for both teams.

Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals, 6-4 overall and 3-2 in district play, will now enter the Class 4A, Division 2, bi-district playoffs against the Center Roughriders (5-5 overall) in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Nov. 14, at The Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville.

Van will represent District 7-4A, Division 2, as the runner-up team while Center finished its regular season as the District 8-4A, third place team.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove, ranked second in the state in Class 4A, Division 2, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine, is the District 7-4A, Division 2, champion as they hosted the Brownsboro Bears (2-8), the fourth-place team in District 8-4A, Division 2, Nov. 13 in a bi-district matchup in Texarkana.

Against the Hawks, the Vandals finished with 19 first downs and 276 yards of total offense including 109 yards rushing and 176 yards passing.

Van quarterback Rawly Hinch completed 13 out of 24 passes for 176 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Reserve running back Marcus Fabian of the Vandals led the running game as he carried the ball 15 times for 84 yards, and a TD.

Receiver Aiden Willis led the Vandals in the passing game with four receptions for 37 yards followed by receiver Cash Walker with two receptions for 45 yards, RB Da’Quavion Williams with two receptions for 39 yards, and receiver Connor Ammons with two receptions for 35 yards. Williams also had 34 yards on 10 carries in the running game.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove registered some impressive offensive numbers as the Hawks finished with 27 first downs and 527 yards of total offense including 205 yards rushing and 317 yards passing.

The Hawks had seven different players carry the ball in their running game and had nine different players catch passes against the Vandals.

The two quarterbacks for the Hawks combined for 22 completions out of 27 passing attempts for three TD’s and no interceptions.

Van received the opening kickoff and moved from its own 14 to the Hawk 40 in 11 plays including a 10-yard pass completion from Hinch to Willis but on fourth down and five at the Texarkana Pleasant Grove 40, the drive stalled as Hinch’s pass for Ammons was incomplete giving the Hawks possession.

Five plays later, Jamarion Richardson ran 49 yards for a TD ending a 60-yard scoring drive. Silas Yowell added the extra point, giving the Hawks a 7-0 lead with 5:30 remaining in the first quarter. A 10-yard pass completion to Nick Bells was a key play in the opening scoring march for Texarkana Pleasant Grove.

Following a Vandal punt, the Hawks needed three plays to advance 65 yards and extend their advantage as wide receiver Landon Fincher caught a 52-yard TD pass to end the drive. Yowell added the extra point, giving the Hawks a 14-0 lead with 3:13 to play in the first quarter.

Van’s next offensive possession resulted in a turnover as a tipped pass was intercepted by Hawk free safety Jaidun Scales at the Vandal 26.

Six plays later, Javion Butler raced 41 yards for a TD. Yowell added the extra point giving Texarkana Pleasant Grove a 21-0 lead with three seconds to play in the first quarter. An 11-yard run by Bells and a 22-yard pass reception by Fincher were key plays in the scoring drive for the Hawks.

After a Vandal punt, the Hawks advanced 76 yards in seven plays as WR Spencer Browning ended the march with a 4-yard TD pass reception. Yowell added the extra point, giving the Hawks a 28-0 lead with 8:41 remaining in the second quarter. Two defensive pass interference penalties against Van and a 27-yard pass reception by Browning were key plays in the Texarkana Pleasant Grove scoring march.

Following a tipped ball interception by the Hawks on Van’s next offensive play, Texarkana Pleasant Grove ended a two-play, 28-yard scoring drive with a 28-yard TD run by Bells. Yowell added the extra point, giving the Hawks a 35-0 advantage with 8:11 still remaining before halftime.

Following a Vandal punt, Texarkana Pleasant Grove closed out the first half scoring as they moved 57 yards in three plays with Richardson scampering 36 yards for a TD. Yowell added the extra point, giving the Hawks a commanding 42-0 advantage with 4:54 to play in the second quarter. Pass completions of 14 yards to WR Jaybren Baltimore and 12 yards to WR Jack Sarine were key plays in the Hawks’ scoring drive.

The Vandals showed no signs of giving up as they moved from their own 45 to the Hawks’ 15 in 10 plays including pass completions from Hinch covering 40 yards to Walker and 10 yards to Williams but the scoring threat ended on second down and nine at the Hawks’ 15 when Hinch’s pass in the end zone was intercepted by Hawks’ strong safety Seth Gundlach for a touchback with 52 seconds to play before halftime.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove appeared to be ready to add to its lead before intermission when Richardson caught a 50-yard pass giving the Hawks a first down at the Vandal 20 but three plays later, on the final play of the first half, Yowell missed a 26-yard field goal attempt.

Both teams committed themselves to their running games primarily in the second half as the Hawks received the second half kickoff and moved 58 yards in nine plays to extend their advantage as Sarine caught a 7-yard TD pass to end the drive. Yowell added the extra point giving Texarkana Pleasant Grove a 49-0 advantage with 5:54 remaining in the third quarter. Key plays in the scoring drive for the Hawks included pass receptions of 12 yards by Richardson, 12 yards by Fincher, and 23 yards by RB Marcus Floyd.

The Vandals got on the scoreboard on their first offensive series of the second half as they moved 79 yards in 13 plays (one passing). Fabian, who carried the ball 10 times in the drive including the first eight plays, ended the long time-consuming march with a 10-yard TD run. Alex Aceves added the extra point, cutting Van’s deficit to 49-7 with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The only pass completion in the drive was a 13-yard connection from Hinch to Willis.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove responded by moving 55 yards in six plays with reserve QB Rykeim Richie ending the drive with a 3-yard TD run. Yowell added the extra point, extending the Hawks’ lead to 56-7 with 4:53 to play in the game. A 35-yard pass reception by Zion Lewis and 10-yard run by RB Palmer Gibbs were key plays in what turned out to be the final scoring drive for the Hawks.

The Vandals wrapped up the scoring in the game by moving 62 yards in eight plays (one passing) with reserve RB Adam Beall ending the march with a 6-yard TD run. Aceves added the extra point, cutting Van’s deficit to 56-14 with 52 seconds remaining. Running gains of 16 yards by Fabian, 10 yards by Beall, and a 20-yard pass completion from Hinch to Ammons were key plays in Van’s final scoring march of the game.

“There was not much good to say about that game,” summarized Moffatt. “They took it to us. We knew they were a really good football team coming into the game. I wish we could have played better than we did. It was not a good game for us. It was no fun. I appreciate the effort of our kids as the game went on. This is a proud group. We have to respond and bounce back.”

Moffatt recognized the effort of Fabian in the running game. “He gave us a spark,” said Moffatt. “He ran real hard and made some plays for us. I was glad to see him get into the end zone on ‘Senior Night.’ He played as hard as he could.”

“I thought our offensive line played decent football against the best defensive line that we have seen so far this season,” pointed out the Vandal head coach.  “I thought ‘Q’ (Williams) made some plays and Rawly made some good plays scrambling. We made some plays but not near enough plays.”