DAVID BARBER
davidb@vanzandtnews.com
It has been eight years since the Van Vandals have advanced to the regional final/state quarterfinal round of the Class 4A, Division 2, state football playoffs and for them to be able to continue playing December football, they will have to meet their biggest challenge of the season and win to advance.
After a thrilling 42-38 comeback victory Nov. 29 in Mesquite Memorial Stadium over the Sunnyvale Raiders, the Vandals will be taking on the Carthage Bulldogs, the number one ranked team in the state in Class 4A, Division 2, in a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Dec. 6 at Longview Pine Tree’s Pirate Stadium. Van will be the home team.
The Vandals (10-3 overall) and the Bulldogs (12-1) were district opponents in 2022 and 2023 with Carthage winning both games.
Carthage is coming off an impressive 28-7 victory Nov. 29 over the Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks in Mount Pleasant. Texarkana Pleasant Grove was ranked fifth in the state rankings.
According to Vandal Head Football Coach Jared Moffatt, playing against Carthage is more than just playing against a team. 
It is also playing against an established long-time state championship contending program.
“Carthage has accomplished so much in the history of high school football in Texas,” emphasized Moffatt. “Coach Surratt has won nine state championships there. He has had the same defensive coordinator throughout. They have great players every year. Not only do they have great players, they are one of the best coached football teams anywhere in the state of Texas on both sides of the football. Over there, when they don’t win a state championship, they think their season is a failure and they are upset. 
“This year’s Carthage team is exceptional,” continued Moffatt. “Their defensive front includes three three-year starters. One of their inside linebackers is also a three-year starter. They have played over 40 varsity football games together. Their two outside linebackers are juniors, and they are unbelievable players as well. They always have an athletic secondary.
“Offensively, they have one of the best running backs in the state,” said the Vandal head coach. “Their receivers run great routes. They will formation you to death. Coach Surratt’s son is their starting quarterback for the second straight season, and he has had a great year. He is throwing the ball all over the yard. He is a seasoned veteran. Carthage is always good with their special teams as well. They always put a quality football team on the field in all phases.”
Carthage will show multiple fronts defensively and offensively. They will show a ‘shotgun’ look, but they will get under the center a lot as well, according to Moffatt.
“They don’t complicate you by scheme as much as they do with formations and shifts,” emphasized Moffatt. “They have great players who are well coached.”
Settling on Longview Pine Tree’s Pirate Stadium as the location for the Van/Carthage matchup Dec. 6 was not overly difficult, according to Moffatt.
“Two things with that, one, it gets a lot easier to find a stadium when there are only eight teams remaining in our division competing for a state championship,” pointed out Moffatt. “It is a lot easier than battling 64 teams at the start of the playoffs to find a place to play. At this point, there are not a lot of options in East Texas. 
“Coach Surratt at Carthage is a good friend of mine and is easy to work with,” said Moffatt. “We had everything settled in five minutes. He wanted to play in Longview. I would have preferred playing in Tyler, but Longview was okay with me. We talked about Lobo Stadium and Pine Tree’s stadium and we both decided to go with Pine Tree’s stadium for various reasons. Coach Surratt is a great guy and a tremendous coach, and this was as easy a playoff arrangement as you could hope for.”
In order for the Vandals to defeat the state’s number one ranked team Friday night, they will need to be successful in several areas.
“All of these playoff games are played on the field and not on paper,” emphasized Moffatt. “That is the nature of this game. We know who we are playing and how good they are, but I know this about our kids, we will be ready to play, and they will not back down. A lot of things have to happen for us to win the game and there is no doubt about that. Our kids are not just excited to be here. After winning the last three weeks in the playoffs, they will be ready to play and give a great effort. We will see what happens.”
The winner of the Van/Carthage regional final/state quarterfinal game will advance to the Class 4A, Division 2, state semifinals against the winner of the Dec. 6 matchup between Brock and Graham.
The state semifinal game could be played at The Star in Frisco or Eagle Stadium in Allen probably on Friday, Dec. 13.
For results of the Van/Carthage game, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.