DAVID BARBER
davidb@vanzandtnews.com
It was a ‘Senior Night’ performance that the Van Vandal varsity football team and their fans won’t soon forget Nov. 1 as they closed out their home schedule at Van’s Memorial Stadium in grand style with an impressive 78-18 victory over the Paris North Lamar Panthers.
Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals, 7-2 overall and 3-1 in District 7-4A, Division 2 play, will conclude their regular season and district schedule Friday, Nov. 8 when they visit Texarkana Pleasant Grove in a 6 p.m. kickoff in a game that will go a long way in determining the district champion.
Regardless of the outcome at Texarkana Pleasant Grove (7-2, 4-0), currently ranked fifth in the state in Class 4A, Division 2, the Vandals will be competing next week in the bi-district round of the state football playoffs.
Van will be playing a representative from District 8-4A, Division 2, which could include Athens, Center, Rusk, Bullard, or Brownsboro at a site and time that was not known at press time.
Against Paris North Lamar, the Vandals scored 11 total touchdowns as nine different players produced points on the scoreboard.
Van finished the game with 30 first downs and 551 yards of total offense including 341 yards rushing and 210 yards passing while executing 52 offensive plays (26 rushing and 26 passing).
Paris North Lamar ended the contest with 17 first downs and 293 yards of total offense including 49 yards rushing and 244 yards passing).
The Vandals set the tone for the game early as they registered 29 points in the first quarter and 14 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 43-0 lead at halftime as Van continued to lead 50-12 at the end of the third quarter before scoring four more touchdowns in the fourth quarter with primarily backup players.
Vandal quarterback Jaxon Moffatt completed 20 out of 25 passes for 194 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception as he connected with six different receivers.
Receiver Caden Rowe led the Vandal receivers with eight receptions for 83 yards and two TD’s followed by Asher Hawkins with seven receptions for 43 yards and Easton Hinch with three receptions for 54 yards and one TD.
Running back Austin Moffatt led Van’s running attack with eight carries for 106 yards and one TD followed by his backup, Chris Fabian, with five carries for 79 yards and two TD’s.
Defensively, the Vandals were led by linebacker Landon Smith with 15 total tackles including two tackles for losses and one QB sack; defensive back Cade Christensen with 11 total tackles; and linebacker Wyatt Dale with 10 total tackles, one QB sack, one fumble caused, one fumble recovery and one batted pass/pass breakup.
As a team, the Vandal defense recorded nine QB sacks, 12 QB pressures, and seven tackles for losses against Paris North Lamar.
“I was real happy for the kids,” summarized Jared Moffatt. “Senior Night’ is always a special night. This will more than likely be the final game that our seniors will play in our stadium. These seniors have played a lot of games on our football field. I wanted them to enjoy that moment. Our challenge to the team was to get their minds right on what we needed to do to win the football game. I thought we played really well outside of the two first half turnovers.
“We knew Paris North Lamar was struggling coming in here and they did not play very well,” recalled Jared Moffatt. “We can’t afford just to be consistently good if we want to beat the good teams on our schedule moving forward. We have to play consistently great for four quarters in all three phases. Hopefully, we are playing our best football right now.” 
Following a strong kickoff return to open the game by Van’s Da’Quavion Williams, the Vandals moved 35 yards on four consecutive passing plays to open the scoring as Jaxon Moffatt connected with Rowe to end the drive with a 16-yard TD pass play. Aiden Moore kicked the first of his 10 extra points to give the Vandals an early 7-0 advantage with 11:14 to play in the first quarter. The opening scoring drive for Van featured a 10-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Hawkins.
After a bad 17-yard punt by the Panthers, the Vandals took over possession at midfield.
Four plays later, including a 14-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Hawkins, Austin Moffatt fumbled after an 11-yard gain with Jackson Hoskins of the Panthers recovering the ball at the Panther 27 to end the Vandal scoring threat.
A bad snap on Paris North Lamar’s next punt formation resulted in a two-yard punt that gave the Vandals the ball at the Panther 24.
Three plays later, the Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe connection worked again, this time on a 14-yard TD pass play extending Van’s lead to 13-0 with 8:02 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point attempt was blocked.
More bad news for Paris North Lamar’s punt formation continued as a high snap over the punter’s head led to Panther punter Dallas Foster falling on the loose football in the end zone resulting in a safety as the Vandals led 15-0 with 7:37 to play in the first quarter.
Following the free kick by the Panthers, Van moved 40 yards in five plays with Jaxon Moffatt ending the march on a 30-yard TD pass completion to Hinch. Moore added the extra point giving Van a 22-0 advantage with 5:28 remaining in the first quarter.
After a Paris North Lamar punt, Van’s next offensive series resulted in a 50-yard scoring drive in five plays as Fabian outraced the Panther defense 29 yards for a TD. Moore added the extra point extending Van’s lead to 29-0 with 2:28 still remaining in the first quarter.
Following another Panther punt, the Vandals moved from their own 36 to the Panther 40 in five plays including a 10-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Austin Moffatt but on second down and 10, Jaxon Moffatt’s pass was intercepted by Panther safety Keylan Gray and returned to the Paris North Lamar 38.
Paris North Lamar then put together its first scoring threat of the contest as they moved as deep as the Vandal 5-yard line in seven plays including a 35-yard pass completion from QB Kai Furtch to wide receiver Gray and a 10-yard run by Furtch but the drive came to a close on fourth down and goal when Furtch was sacked for a nine-yard loss giving Van possession at its own 14.
The Vandals then went on a long time-consuming drive as they advanced 86 yards in seven plays with Austin Moffatt ending the march with a 5-yard TD run. Moore added the extra point giving Van a 36-0 lead with 6:04 remaining in the second quarter. Running gains of 25 yards by Austin Moffatt and 10 yards by Fabian in addition to pass completions from Jaxon Moffatt covering 12 yards to Rowe and 18 yards to Hinch were key plays in Van’s scoring march.
Paris North Lamar moved from its own 30 to the Vandal 40 in seven plays including poass completions from Furtch covering 17 yards to Foster and 20 yards to WR Adrian Nichols.
The Panthers had a fourth down and 14 at the Van 40 when Furtch’s deep downfield pass was intercepted by Vandal cornerback Williams at the goal line and returned 60 yards to the Panther 40.
Four plays later, Fabian ended the 40-yardd drive with a 3-yard TD run. Moore added the extra point to give Van a 43-0 advantage with 1:16 to play before halftime. Running gains of 19 and 18 yards by Fabian were key plays in the scoring drive for the Vandals.
The Panthers drove from their own 25 to the Vandal 32 in four plays including a 36-yard pass completion from Furtch to WR Gray but the first half clock ran out before the Panthers could run another play.
In the third quarter, the Panthers showed some life offensively as they took the third quarter kickoff and drove 75 yards in nine plays with Furtch connecting with Gray on a 19-yard TD pass play to end the march cutting Van’s lead to 43-6 with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed. Key plays in the Panthers’ first scoring drive included pass completions from Furtch covering 15 yards to Brentin Jackson and 17 yards to Foster in addition to a 12-yard run by Jesse Jones.
Paris North Lamar continued their momentum as they recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt at the Vandal 49.
A total of 10 plays later, Furtch ran 15 yards for a TD further cutting Van’s advantage to 43-12 with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter. Again, the two-point conversion attempt failed. A key play in the Panther scoring march included a 20-yard pass completion from Furtch to Foster.
For their first and only offensive possession in the third quarter, the Vandals moved 64 yards in five plays with Hawkins powering into the end zone on a 1-yard TD run. Moore added the extra point giving Van a 50-12 led with 39 seconds to play in the third quarter. A 43-yard run by Austin Moffatt and a 10-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe were key plays in the scoring drive for the Vandals.
Paris North Lamar showed no signs of giving up as they responded with a 75-yard scoring drive in nine plays as Furtch ended the march with a 4-yard TD run cutting Van’s lead to 50-18 with 8:42 to play in the fourth quarter. Key plays in what turned out to be the final scoring drive of the game for the Panthers included pass completions from Furtch covering 10 and 25 yards to fullback Aiden Adamson.
With primarily reserves in the game, the Vandals exploded for 28 points in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.
Van’s next offensive possession resulted in a 55-yard drive in four plays with RB Marcus Fabian racing 17 yards for a TD. Moore added the extra point giving the Vandals a 57-18 advantage with 7:08 remaining in the game. A 16-yard pass completion from reserve QB Ryder Savage to reserve receiver Connor Ammons was a key play in Van’s scoring drive.
Paris North Lamar’s next offensive series resulted in a turnover as a fumble by Furtch was recovered by Dale at the Panther 3-yard line.
Three running plays later, reserve RB Jackson Reed powered into the end zone on a 3-yard TD run. Moore added the extra point extending Van’s lead to 64-18 with 4:51 to play.
The next offensive play for the Panthers resulted in another turnover as Furtch’s pass was intercepted by Vandal defensive back Marcus Fabian at the Panther 33.
On the next play, reserve RB Williams raced 33 yards for a TD. Moore added the extra point as the Vandals led 71-18 with 4:35 remaining.
Following a Paris North Lamar punt, Vandal reserve RB Adam Beall outraced the Panther defense 74 yards for a TD. Moore added the extra point to conclude the scoring and give the Vandals a 78-18 advantage with 51 seconds to play in the game.
“We had nine different players score touchdowns for us Friday night including two sets of brothers,” pointed out Jared Moffatt. “I was real happy to see Jackson Reed score a TD on ‘Senior Night.’ He has been our deep snapper all season. It was a great night for our seniors.”
The Vandal head coach discussed the balance of his offense against Paris North Lamar which included 52 offensive plays (26 running and 26 passing).
“At one point this season, we had over 1,500 yards rushing and over 1,500 yards passing,” said Jared Moffatt. “We want to do what the defense gives us. The first half Friday night, we threw the ball a lot. We also threw the ball a lot early in our previous game against Pittsburg. Jaxon Moffatt threw the ball well and our receivers caught the ball well. Throwing and catching effectively is important for us moving forward.”
Although Paris North Lamar had 244 yards passing, Jared Moffatt was still pleased overall with the effort of the Vandal defense.
“They threw the ball 30 times against us,” recalled Jared Moffatt. “Their quarterback has a lot of ability. I thought our defensive front put good pressure on him. We did a good job of creating pressure. He did make some plays on us. They have receivers that can make some plays as well.
“We did not have the same intensity starting the second half and it was a good lesson for us,” said Jared Moffatt. “We can’t let up against anybody. We cannot lose our focus. Defensively, we played really well in the first half.”
Jared Moffatt was also pleased with the performance of his kicking game. “Aiden Moore was tired after the game,” emphasized Jared Moffatt. “He kicked 10 out of 11 extra points and kicked off 12 times. He got a workout. He had some good deep kickoffs. We covered the kickoffs well. For the second game in a row, we did not punt. Now is the time for us to play our best football in all three phases.”
The Vandal head coach also recognized the individual efforts of Rowe, Hawkins, center Justus Anderson, left offensive tackle Cooper Hullum, Austin Moffatt, Chris Fabian, Hinch offensively and defensively), Smith, Dale, Christensen, Williams, defensive linemen Foster Rust, Maeson Ray, and Armando Lozano; Marcus Fabian, and offensive guard Noah Sahagun.