DAVID BARBER

Sports Correspondent

After a busy off-season schedule, multiple practices in the August heat, and two scrimmages, the Van Vandals are ready for the start of a new season as they will take on the Dallas Carter Cowboys at Kincaide Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Aug. 30.

“It is time to get the season started,” emphasized Vandal Head Football Coach Jared Moffatt. “The guys are anxious to play somebody in a game that counts. They are ready to compete. We know what is ahead of us. We have a tough schedule and the margin for error is small. Playing the schedule that we have, we will know where we are pretty fast.”

Dallas Carter is projected by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine to finish first in District 8-4A, Division 1, as their district competition will include matchups with Dallas Kimball, Wilmer-Hutchins, Dallas Conrad, Dallas Pinkston, Dallas Lincoln, North Dallas, and Dallas Roosevelt.

The Cowboys, just like the Vandals, finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 8-4 and advanced to the Area championship game before being eliminated from post-season play.

Dallas Carter returns four offensive starters and three defensive starters from last season.

“Historically, people think of Dallas Carter that played in the 1990’s when they were a Class 5A powerhouse,” pointed out Moffatt. “People think about the days of ‘Friday Night Lights’ when they think about Dallas Carter but that is not what they are now. Obviously, their enrollment has shrunk over the years. They were nearly a Class 6A school at one time and now they are Class 4A. It is not the same school now that it was then.

“What has remained constant about them is that they continue to have good players,” emphasized Moffatt. “Their current head coach, Spencer Gilbert, is in his fourth season and doing a really good job there. They beat Sulphur Springs in the playoffs last season. They still have talented, dynamic football players in their program. They are athletic, have great speed, and they believe in what they are doing there. I have been impressed with the job that Coach Gilbert has done there.”

Moffatt said that the Cowboys have made some changes in their defensive scheme, and they will be lined up in a shotgun formation offensively.

“They have a quarterback that moved in from Arlington Seguin and he is a really good player,” pointed out Moffatt. “They have a slot receiver who can also play running back. He lines up all over the place. He is a dynamic player with great speed. We have watched both of their scrimmages (Dallas Madison and Dallas W. T. White). I am impressed with them. It will be a challenge for us.”

“Defensively, they were an ‘even front’ last season, and this year, they are playing a ‘3-3 stack,” said the Vandal head coach. “They are more multiple in their secondary in terms of their coverages. Last season, they played a lot of ‘man’ coverage but looking at their two scrimmages this season, we have seen very little ‘man’ coverage. It is hard to have a real good idea what we will be looking at when you are playing an unfamiliar opponent.”

Moffatt discussed the keys for a Vandal road victory Aug. 30 in Kincaide Stadium against the Cowboys.

“It is going to come down to fundamentals, taking care of the football, and being great on special teams,” emphasized Moffatt. “We have to play clean and play smart. We can’t have foolish penalties. We have to create turnovers defensively. We have to get to the ball carrier and make the tackle. Offensively, we must run the ball well. We have to throw and catch well at a high percentage.”

In their final tune-up before their regular season opener, the Vandals hosted the Palestine Wildcats Aug. 22 for a pre-season scrimmage.

“It was a real short scrimmage,” recalled Moffatt. “I am always nervous about that second and final scrimmage because of the possibility of injuries. We did not have any injuries so that was a huge positive for us. We gave up a big play on the opening drive of the scrimmage but after that, I thought we settled down. We are ready to move on and play in a game where they keep score. We are excited about getting a new season started.”

The scrimmages have allowed Moffatt and his coaching staff to evaluate some players for potential playing time at some key positions.

“We have some questions that have definitely been answered but we also still have some spots where there are still decisions to be made,” pointed out Moffatt. “It may take a game or two into the regular season to figure some of that out. It is a long season, and things can happen. We have some guys that are going to emerge as our season gets started.”

Moffatt said that the message he delivered to his team at the end of their final pre-season scrimmage last week prior to opening their regular season schedule Aug. 30 was simple.

“I told our players that right now, every team in the state of Texas is undefeated but after Friday night, half of the teams playing are going to lose,” summarized Moffatt. “We are excited about getting started. This will be a different atmosphere we will be playing in Friday night compared to playing in scrimmages. I am expecting a great football game against Dallas Carter.”

Van’s freshmen and junior varsity teams will be starting their seasons this week as well Thursday, Aug. 29 when they host Dallas Carter at Van’s Memorial Stadium with the freshmen game starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by the J.V. contest.

For results of the varsity game against Dallas Carter as well as a preview of the Vandals’ next contest at Longview Pine Tree Friday, Sept. 6, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.