DAVID BARBER

davidb@vanzandtnews.com

There have been a lot of momentum twists and turns during the 2025 varsity football season for the Van Vandal varsity football team, but one thing is for sure as they prepare for their regular season and District 7-4A, District 2, finale at home against the highly regarded state-ranked Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks Friday, Nov. 7.

The Vandals and the Hawks will be playing for a district championship in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Van’s Memorial Stadium on ‘Senior Night’ for the Vandals.

Van enters the district showdown with an overall season record of 6-3 and a 3-1 mark in district play after easily disposing of the winless Paris North Lamar Panthers, 58-7, Oct. 31 in Paris.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove (8-1, 4-0), the number two ranked team in the state in Class 4A, Division 2, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine, will be seeking an outright district championship when they enter Van’s Memorial Stadium.

A Vandal victory over the Hawks would force a tie for the top spot in the district standings but Van would earn the number one seed out of District 7-4A, Division 2, with the Hawks finishing as the number 2 seed in the district. 

Even if Van loses to Texarkana Pleasant Grove Nov. 7, the Vandals would finish in no worse than a three-way tie for second place with Gilmer and Pittsburg but because of point differentials in their head-to-head matchups with those two schools, the Vandals would have the tie-breaking advantage and earn the number two playoff seed in the district. 

In that scenario, Gilmer would be the number three seed and Pittsburg would be the fourth and final playoff seed in the district.

Right now, the focus for the Vandals is to try to finish their home schedule undefeated and to come away with a share of the district title if they can defeat the Hawks Nov. 7.

“You look back over the past 10-15 years, and you will see that Texarkana Pleasant Grove has been one of the most successful Class 4A football programs in the State of Texas,” pointed out Vandal Head Football Coach Jared Moffatt. “We have played several of those teams throughout the last several years including Carthage, Gilmer, Kilgore, Chapel Hill and Henderson. All of those teams have won a state championship with the exception of Chapel Hill, and they have played in a couple of state championship games. These teams have been successful for a long period of time. Texarkana Pleasant Grove has won a couple of state championships, and they have done an unbelievable job there. We are playing one of the best Class 4A programs not only in East Texas, but throughout the State of Texas Friday night.

“When you watch Texarkana Pleasant Grove on film, the first thing that sticks out is how hard they play,” continued Moffatt. “They preach that, they coach that, and they take a lot of pride in doing just that. I am real impressed with the way their kids play the game. They do all of the things we respect and that we know we have to do in order to be successful and have a chance to win games. They always have talented football players that are well coached. They are an established program.

“Looking at their team this season, defensively, they have eight starters back from last season,” emphasized Moffatt. “Looking at their scores this season, they are not giving up many points. Sunnyvale put up 30 points against them but other than that game, they are not giving up a whole lot of points. Kilgore only scored 18 points against their defense. Nothing comes easy against their defense. You have to fight for everything you get.”

Offensively, the Hawks’ quarterback, a move-in from Whitewright, is throwing the ball well, according to Moffatt.

“He is a really good player,” said Moffatt. “This season, they are throwing the ball more and they are doing it more effectively. They are completing about 60 percent of their pass plays. They have four really good receivers that are all back from last season. They have speed in their skill positions. They run the ball well.

“Defensively, they lost two really good football players last season,” continued Moffatt. “One of them lined up for the University of Texas against Ohio State on opening day. The players that Texarkana Pleasant Grove have back on defense are playing better than they did the year before. They are playing really good team defense. They are aggressive. They will show multiple looks, and they like to blitz. They will take chances. We have to make plays when they are there for us.”

Moffatt believes that the Vandals have a great opportunity Nov. 7 against one of the best teams in the State of Texas.

“We have the opportunity to go out and beat them, and finish in a tie for the district championship,” said Moffatt. “We know what is in front of us. Our guys have earned this opportunity. We have not been given anything. I am really proud of what this team has accomplished this season so far. At the same time, we are not satisfied. This Friday night is going to be a great high school football atmosphere in our stadium. We know what is at stake.”

Against Texarkana Pleasant Grove, Moffatt believes that the turnover margin will be critical in Friday night’s matchup.

“We have to take care of the football and create turnovers defensively,” pointed out Moffatt. “Special teams play will be huge in this game as well. Offensively, we have to throw and catch well, but the ability to run the football will be paramount. We cannot be a one-dimensional team against their defense. We must fight for every yard. Defensively, we must generate pressure on the quarterback. We have to make their quarterback uncomfortable. Our secondary has to make plays. We must meet and match their intensity and effort. This is going to be a four-quarter game.

“What more can you ask for in a regular season finale game at home?” summarized Moffatt. “It is going to be ‘Senior Night.’ We are going to have a really good crowd. This is district championship game. It will be like a playoff atmosphere Friday night in our stadium with a lot on the line.”

‘Senior Night’ will be a special night for Moffatt, his coaches, and underclassmen as the Vandals attempt to finish their home schedule undefeated Nov. 7.

“These seniors have provided the leadership and the mentality to be where we are right now,” emphasized the Vandal head coach. “You are only as good as your senior class. These seniors have taken ownership in their team. I am real proud of our seniors. They have given us a chance to be successful this season.”

Following the game with Texarkana Pleasant Grove Nov. 7, the Vandals will be preparing for a bi-district playoff opponent out of District 8-4A, Division 2.

If the Vandals defeat Texarkana Pleasant Grove, they will face the Brownsboro Bears in a rematch of Van’s 57-18 Homecoming victory on Sept. 26. 

Brownsboro is the fourth-place team in District 8-4A, Division 2. That game is tentatively set for Thursday, Nov. 13, in Tyler.

If the Vandals lose, Van will take on the Center Roughriders, the third-place team in District 8-4A, Division 2. 

The Van/Center matchup is tentatively scheduled for the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville Friday, Nov. 14.

Regarding the sub-varsity schedule for Thursday, Nov. 6, the Vandal junior high teams will host Texarkana Pleasant Grove starting at 4:30 p.m. while the freshmen and junior varsity teams will be traveling to Texarkana with the freshmen game starting at 5 p.m. followed by the J.V. game at around 6:30 p.m.

For results of the Van/Texarkana Pleasant Grove district showdown and a preview of the upcoming bi-district contest, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.