DAVID BARBER

Sports Correspondent

One more pre-district tune-up remains for the Van Vandals before moving on to the next phase of their schedule as they will host the Paris Wildcats for Homecoming Friday, Sept. 15, in Van’s Memorial Stadium.

The Vandals are coming off an exciting 42-37 road victory Sept. 8 over one of their chief rivals, the Lindale Eagles, while Paris lost a close weather-shortened game at home Sept. 8 to the Gilmer Buckeyes, 43-40.

Payback will be on the minds of the Vandals against the Wildcats as they arguably had their worst team performance last season in a 38-13 disappointing loss in Paris.

“One thing you always know about Paris is that they always have a lot of talent,” emphasized Vandal Head Coach Jared Moffatt. “They have great athletic ability and great team speed. I have seen Paris teams play since 1989 when I was in junior high in Sulphur Springs. I can’t ever remember a Paris team that was not fast. They have guys that can really run at all positions. They have talented skilled players on both sides of the ball.

“Defensively, we will have to control their two receivers,” continued the Vandal head coach. “Their quarterback is a tough, fast runner. Their defense is athletic and has really good team speed. The window is going to be small to throw and catch against them.”

Paris (1-2) lost to Celina and defeated Liberty-Eylau before losing a close game at home against Gilmer.

“Paris was driving against Gilmer to take the lead when the storms came and they ended up calling the game,” pointed out Moffatt. “This will be tough game and we will have to play really well to win Friday night.”

The Wildcats are a run-first team offensively, according to Moffatt. “They will show multiple formations and will run out of the shotgun or from under center,” emphasized Moffatt. “They depend on their run game heavily.”

Moffatt said that Paris will also show multiple looks defensively as well. “They can line up in a number of different fronts defensively,” said Moffatt. “They have shown a 3-3-5 alignment but against Gilmer, they showed a lot of even fronts. We have to be ready to block multiple fronts. Paris is also showing multiple looks in their secondary. Paris presents quite a challenge for us on both sides of the ball.”

The Vandal head coach also discussed how the result of last year’s loss at Paris will affect preparations for the rematch in Van Sept. 15.

“Normally, I would say ‘no’ regarding if last year’s performance would have any effect on preparing for this year’s game, but I thought we played pretty poorly up there last year,” recalled Moffatt. “It was probably our worst performance of the season last year, so I have been referencing that game to our players and coaches this week. The guys that played in that game remember last year’s result. It is motivating to me as well.”

Moffatt discussed the positives and negatives regarding playing a Homecoming game each season.

“There is a lot of events and activities that go on during Homecoming Week,” pointed out Moffatt. “Our players and all of our students enjoy that. The parade downtown and the bonfire are unique experiences in a small one high school town. Over the years, we have developed a routine that is not unfamiliar to our players.

“I really don’t feel like over the years that Homecoming has been distracting for us, but it can be if you allow it to happen,” continued Moffatt. “There are a couple of changes in the overall routine. I remember that my first year here, I thought Homecoming Week was an absolute circus, but I don’t feel like it is that way now. Homecoming Week is important, and I don’t consider it to be a distraction or an issue now.”

The Vandals received some bad injury news as junior receiver Asher Hawkins will miss the remainder of the 2023 season after what was first believed to be initially a hyper-extended knee injury that he suffered against Chapel Hill Sept. 1 was re-examined.

The result of the re-examination showed a torn ligament in the knee. Hawkins missed all of the 2022 season due to a torn ligament suffered in his other knee.

“I just hate this for him,” emphasized Moffatt. “Coming into this season, I thought he was the same player he was before he got hurt last season and you can’t always say that about a player. He has been a huge player in our offense playing the slot receiver position. To lose him again is a big deal for us. We are going to miss him.”

The sub-varsity schedule Thursday, Sept. 14 for the Vandals will have the freshmen and junior varsity teams traveling to Paris with the freshmen game starting at 5 p.m. followed by the J.V. contest at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Van’s junior high teams have a unique scheduling situation Sept. 14 as they will be taking on Texarkana Pleasant Grove on a neutral field in Longview, according to Moffatt.

“Paris notified me in the spring that they were getting involved in their own junior high district competition,” said Moffatt. “Their junior high schedule does not follow their high school schedule in Paris. We called around and we were able to schedule Texarkana Pleasant Grove and with it being a school night, we wanted to find a neutral location because of the distance involved. We will only have one seventh grade and one eighth grade game which is unfortunate. We have enough players for two teams in both the seventh and eighth grade. The first game will start at 5 p.m.”

For results of the Homecoming game against Paris and a preview of the District 8-4A, Division 2, opener Sept. 22 at Brownsboro, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.