DAVID BARBER

davidb@vanzandtnews.com

After a number of weeks of off-season conditioning, practices, and scrimmages, it is time to keep score as the Van Vandal varsity football team hosts the Dallas Carter Cowboys in the regular season opener for both teams.

Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Van’s Memorial Stadium for what is believed to be the first time ever that a Dallas ISD school has played a football game in Van.

In the first ever meeting between the two schools last season, the Vandals rallied in the second half to outlast Dallas Carter, 28-20, in Dallas in the 2024 season opener.

“There has never been a Dallas Carter that was unathletic and without talent,” emphasized Vandal Head Football Coach Jared Moffatt. “Dallas Carter has always been known for their team speed and their athleticism and this year’s team is no different. They are going to fly around and play hard. Their team speed and athleticism are always concerning. Last year’s game was a tough football game, and we found a way to win it. This game is going to be tough as well. Their coaches have done a great job with their team. I am glad to be playing at home Friday night.”

With a number of new faces on the varsity roster, Moffatt is anxious to see how his young team will respond to being under the ‘Friday Night Lights’ for the first time.

“I think with this group that it is going to be beneficial to open the season at home,” said Moffatt. “That will be advantageous for us. This is a statement game for this Vandal football team. Everybody has talked about what we lost from last season which has been the focus of conversation between the time we ended last season to now. The challenge of this team for this regular season opener Friday night is that this is a chance and an opportunity for these guys individually and collectively to make a statement. The challenge with this 2025 football team is ‘who are we?”

The Vandal football coach discussed what the Cowboys like to run offensively and defensively.

“Offensively, they are a one-back team, and they will play some H-back,” summarized Moffatt. “They will throw a lot of quick passes, especially quick screens. They can throw the deep ball as well. Defensively, we will have to defend the deep ball. We need to have 11 red hats running to the football. We will have to be great tacklers.

“Defensively, Dallas Carter is a 3-3 stack team,” emphasized Moffatt. “They do some different things coverage-wise. When you play a Week 1 opponent, you are always mindful of seeing things you haven’t seen before. We must do a good job in all phases to have a chance to win the football game.”

According to Moffatt, the Vandals will be without the services of senior wide receiver/defensive back Blaise Lineberry against Dallas Carter due to illness.

Prior to the regular season opener against Dallas Carter, the Vandals concluded their pre-season scrimmage schedule with a visit to Palestine Aug. 21.

“We had a good scrimmage in terms of what we needed to see,” recalled Moffatt. “We got out of that scrimmage healthy. The guys that we know that can play did not get a ton of reps against Palestine. We just wanted to make sure that we had everything ready to go for the start of the regular season.”

In their first offensive series, quarterback Rawly Hinch connected with receiver Aiden Willis on a 65-yard pass completion for a touchdown.

“Aiden caught a short pass, split the defense, and outran Palestine’s defense for a touchdown,” said Moffatt. “I have been excited about what Aiden Willis is going to bring to our offense this season. He is going to emerge quickly. Later in the scrimmage, we hit a deep pass to Connor Ammons. He has done consistently the things that we need him to do in order to win football games. He is making plays and getting better. Cash Walker caught the second touchdown pass. All of those receivers will need to continue making plays for us. Rawly Hinch threw the ball well. I have been real pleased with his consistency. We threw the ball quite a bit against Palestine. We wanted our receivers, especially the young ones, to go out there and make plays. We did not run the ball a ton, but Da’Quavion Williams ran the ball well for us.

“Defensively, overall, we played well at times,” continued Moffatt. “We gave up one long run early. Ian Hopson stopped two long runs on defense for us. Ian is fast. A lot of guys got playing time in the scrimmage. Overall, it was a good scrimmage for us and the kids played hard throughout. I am always glad to get that final scrimmage behind us and get into the regular season.”

New kicker Alex Acves also got to see some playing time against Palestine. “He did a good job, and we are glad to have him,” pointed out Moffatt. “Before he came on board, we thought that either Rawly Hinch, our quarterback, or Aiden Willis, our receiver, were going to have to handle the kicking duties. Having Alex will allow Rawly and Aiden not to have as many responsibilities moving forward.”

Moffatt said that the team is pretty much settled on what their roster is going to look like for the beginning of the regular season but there are still opportunities for other players to step up and gain some playing time.

“I don’t know if you ever really finalize anything so far as the roster is concerned, but we know where we are right now,” emphasized Moffatt. “We have a good idea of where we are but as a coach, I don’t think you ever close the door on opportunities, especially with a team like this where so many guys are getting ready to play in their first ever varsity football game. Things can change throughout the season, and you have to keep the door open. Injuries happen and you are forced to shift and adjust. I think there will be some guys sharing playing time at various spots from time to time because they have both shown some good things. In those situations, no one has really stepped up and separated themselves. We want those battles to be determined on the field. We have some guys that we are going to need to play on both sides of the ball.”

In addition to the varsity team opening their regular season schedule, the Vandal freshmen and junior varsity teams will begin their schedules Thursday, Aug. 28. 

There have been changes in the freshmen and junior varsity schedules due to Dallas Carter having one sub-varsity team.

The Vandal freshmen will host Chapel Hill in a 5 p.m. kickoff at Van’s Memorial Stadium.

The Vandal junior varsity squad will take on Dallas Carter in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Seagoville.

For results of the regular season varsity opener against Dallas Carter as well as a preview of the Friday, Sept. 5 home game against Pine Tree, check out www.vanzandtnews.com