DAVID BARBER

davidb@vanzandtnews.com

After defeating the Sunnyvale Raiders twice last season, including a thrilling 42-38 comeback victory in the Class 4A, Division 2, state playoffs, the Van Vandals knew they would be facing an opponent seeking revenge when the two teams met in Sunnyvale Sept. 19.

Sunnyvale (3-0) came out firing on all cylinders and never looked back as they defeated the Vandals, 42-28, giving Van its second consecutive loss dropping their overall season record to 2-2.

Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals hope to get back in the win column as they return to Van’s Memorial Stadium for Homecoming against one of their long-time rivals, the Brownsboro Bears, in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Sept. 26 at Van’s Memorial Stadium to close out their non-district schedule.

Against Sunnyvale, the Vandals posted some impressive offensive numbers as they finished the game with 29 first downs and 456 yards of total offense including 110 yards rushing and 346 yards passing. The Vandals ran 68 plays from scrimmage.

The Raiders registered 25 first downs and 507 yards of total offense including 241 yards rushing and 266 yards passing. Sunnyvale ran 52 plays from scrimmage.

Vandal quarterback Rawly Hinch had another solid performance as he completed 26 out of 35 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He also carried the ball 16 times for 40 yards rushing.

Running back Marcus Fabian, filling in for an injured Da’Quavion Williams, led the Vandal running game with 60 yards rushing on 13 carries. Reserve RB Parker Rainey contributed 10 yards rushing on four carries and one TD.

Receivers Aiden Willis and Cash Walker each had over 100 yards receiving against Sunnyvale as Willis caught 11 passes for 131 yards and two TD’s while Walker caught nine passes for 141 yards and one TD. Connor Ammons caught four passes for 46 yards.

“I thought our kids played hard,” recalled Moffatt. “We knew it was going to be a tough game playing on the road against a team we beat twice last season. Sunnyvale has a really good football team again this season. We played hard, but we didn’t play great. We started the game slowly. Offensively, we played well. We moved the ball, but we only scored 28 points. No excuses, but we have some players out right now. We didn’t focus on that. We focused on what we needed to do to win the football game. Defensively, we had a number of chances to get off the field on third down, but we didn’t make the plays. Their quarterback is really a good player.”

Following a Vandal punt in their first possession, the Raiders got on the scoreboard early in their first offensive series.

Sunnyvale RB Aydin Brown ended the 67-yard scoring drive in five plays with a 36-yard TD run. Gabe Pendyala added the extra point giving the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 7:51 remaining in the first quarter. Pass completions from QB Cayson Maupin covering 10 and 14 yards to wide receiver Grayson Smith were key plays in Sunnyvale’s first scoring march.

The Vandals appeared to be on their way to possibly tying the contest as they moved from their own 25 to the Raider 18 in 10 plays including pass completions from Hinch covering 20 and 14 yards to Wills and 17 yards to Walker but on fourth down and four at the Raider 18, Hinch was tackled for a three-yard loss giving Sunnyvale possession.

Sunnyvale then advanced 79 yards in seven plays with Maupin connecting with Smith on a 12-yard TD pass play on the first play of the second quarter to end the scoring march. Pendyala added the extra point giving the Raiders a 14-0 lead with 11:55 to play in the second quarter. Key plays in the scoring drive for the Raiders included a 17-yard run by Maupin and a 39-yard pass completion from Maupin to WR Paul Griffin.

Van came right back to get on the scoreboard as the Vandals moved 75 yards in 13 plays with Hinch connecting with Willis on a 3-yard TD pass play on fourth down and goal to end the scoring drive. Alex Aceves added the extra point, cutting the Vandal deficit to 14-7 with 5:23 remaining in the second quarter. Key plays in Van’s first scoring march included a 12-yard run by Fabian and pass completions from Hinch covering 10 yards to Ammons, 12 and 22 yards to Willis, and 15 yards to Ian Hopson.

The Raiders responded by advancing 75 yards in seven plays as Maupin ended the drive with a 24-yard TD pass play to Brown. Pendyala added the extra point extending Sunnyvale’s lead to 21-7 with 3:37 to play before halftime. Key plays in the Sunnyvale scoring drive included an 11-yard run by Maupin and pass completions from Maupin covering 23 yards to WR Drew Gardner, 13 yards to WR Riley Harris, and 11 yards to Brown.

Showing no signs of giving up, the Vandals came right back with a 96-yard scoring drive in eight plays with Hinch connecting with Walker on a 40-yard TD pass play to end the scoring drive. Aceves added the extra point, cutting the Vandal deficit to 21-14 with 1:13 remaining in the second quarter. Key plays in the Vandal scoring drive included a 10-yard run by Hinch and pass completions from Hinch covering 32 yards to Ammons and 11 yards to Walker.

Sunnyvale appeared to be on its way to adding to their lead before halftime as they moved from its own 20 to the Vandal 4-yard line in eight plays including running gains of 11 and 33 yards by Maupin and a 12-yard pass completion from Maupin to Smith.

On first down and goal at the Van 4-yard line on the final play of the first half, Maupin’s pass to Smith ended at the Vandal 1-yard line when time ran out.

The Raiders received the third quarter kickoff and moved 52 yards in three plays ending with a 37-yard TD run by Brown. Pendyala added the extra point, extending Sunnyvale’s lead to 28-14 with 11:04 remaining in the third quarter. A 17-yard run by Maupin was a key play in the Sunnyvale scoring drive.

The Vandals rallied with a 65-yard scoring march in 10 plays that ended with a 5-yard TD run by Rainey. Aceves added the extra point, cutting Van’s deficit to 28-21 with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter. Key plays in the Van scoring march included pass completions from Hinch covering 15 and 38 yards to Walker.

Sunnyvale answered again as the Raiders advanced 87 yards in eight plays with Maupin ending the scoring drive with a 6-yard TD run. Pendyala added the extra point stretching Sunnyvale’s advantage to 35-21 with 4:05 to play in the third quarter. Key plays in the Sunnyvale scoring drive included pass completions from Maupin covering 46 yards to Gardner and 19 yards to Smith.

The Vandals moved into Raider territory on their next offensive series as they moved from their own 30 to the Sunnyvale 45 in five plays including a 10-yard run by Fabian.

Van’s march ended on first down at the Raider 45 when Hinch’s pass downfield was intercepted and returned by free safety Gardner to the Sunnyvale 32.

Following a Raider punt early in the fourth quarter, the Vandals went on another long time-consuming drive as they advanced 74 yards in nine plays with Hinch connecting with Willis on a 16-yard TD pass play to end the march. Aceves added the extra point, cutting Van’s deficit to 35-28 with 4:20 to play in the game. Key plays in what turned out to be the final scoring drive for the Vandals included running gains of 11 and 17 yards by Hinch, pass completions from Hinch covering 24 yards to Willis and 13 yards to Rainey, and two defensive holding penalties against Sunnyvale.

Down seven points with 4:20 remaining, the Vandals attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by the Raiders at the Van 49.

Sunnyvale moved 49 yards in seven plays to put the game out of reach for the Vandals and completed the scoring as Maupin ran seven yards for a TD to end the march. Pendyala added the extra point giving the Raiders a 42-28 lead with 1:50 remaining.

Van’s final offensive drive saw the Vandals move from their own 25 to the Raider 39 in seven plays including pass completions from Hinch covering 17 yards to Willis and 12 yards to Walker before time ran out.

“I was real proud of the way Marcus Fabian played in the game,” pointed out Moffatt. “He ran the ball hard. He pass protected well. Rawly Hinch is playing exceptionally well. He made some key plays on some big downs. He was highly accurate with his passes. Our receivers played really well. Aiden Willis played well from start to finish. He had to play a lot at cornerback as well. Overall, he played 95 snaps against Sunnyvale. He played with mental and physical toughness. Cash Walker is making big plays for us. Connor Ammons had a couple of big catches in the game. Overall, I was disappointed that we couldn’t score more points. We had the opportunities. Our offensive line played well. We are asking those guys to protect more, and to protect longer. Offensively, we played better than the 28 points we scored.

“Defensively, the reality is that we have become accustomed to playing real good defense around here,” continued Moffatt. “Our guys are well coached. We have great coaches here. Coach Rainey does a great job with our defense. We have been playing against some real good offenses with big offensive lines. We are not huge on defense. We have been playing without some guys, but we don’t talk about that. None of that helps you. We don’t make excuses here. It’s true that we have had some injuries, but the guys that are playing just have to keep competing and keep getting better. We have to continue to get better. I have full confidence in our players and coaches that we will get better. We will be getting some guys back. I know that there will be a game this season when the offense is going to need the defense to help them win the football game. We will play good defense before this season is over.”

Moffatt recognized the defensive efforts of defensive lineman Waylon King, defensive end Tim Jones, and linebacker Boston Blalock against Sunnyvale.

“Our kicking game is coming along with Alex Aceves as our kicker,” pointed out Moffatt. “He has been huge for us. Connor Hammons does an unbelievable job as the holder. Tate Young is doing a great job snapping.”