DAVID BARBER

Sports Correspondent

Arguably, one of the best football rivalries in East Texas will be renewed when the Van Vandals travel to Lindale to take on the Lindale Eagles in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday, Sept. 8.

Both teams are coming off lop-sided losses Sept. 1 as the Vandals were derailed at Chapel Hill against the state-ranked Chapel Hill Bulldogs, 50-28, while the Eagles were blown out at Pine Tree by the Pine Tree Pirates, 42-22. The Vandals defeated Pine Tree, 24-17, in their regular season opener Aug. 25.

“Coach Cochran and his coaching staff really do a great job at Lindale year after year,” pointed out Vandal head coach Jared Moffatt. “They are good at what they do. Their quarterback is the key to their offense. He runs the ball exceptionally well and I have been very impressed watching him on film. I have been impressed with his toughness.”

One of Lindale’s starting offensive lineman is an early commitment to the University of Alabama, according to Moffatt.

“Their other four starting offensive linemen are all new and they are going to get better each and every week that they play,” said Moffatt. “They have run the ball well consistently. They scored 56 points in their season opener against Kaufman. Against Pine Tree, they had chances to score more than 22 points.”

Defensively, the Eagles are showing different looks compared to last season, according to the Vandal head coach.

“They are changing things from week to week,” pointed out Moffatt. “They will show an even front primarily but they will jump into an odd front from time to time. Their secondary does things different from what you see other teams do. The strength of their defense is their front four. They have a linebacker who makes a lot of plays for them. As always, Lindale has a good kicker who is capable of reaching the end zone on his kickoffs.”

On the injury front, the Vandals received better news on two players that what they originally thought after the game at Chapel Hill.

Running back/slot receiver Austin Moffatt, who had 76 yards rushing and 16 yards receiving in the first half at Chapel Hill, suffered what was feared to be a broken collarbone but after further examination by a doctor Saturday morning, the injury turned out to be a sprained AC joint.

Jared Moffatt said on Labor Day that Austin Moffatt will play with pain at Lindale Friday night. The injury news was also better Saturday morning for wide receiver Asher Hawkins as he is now dealing with a hyperextended knee. His status for the Lindale game is ‘questionable,’ according to Jared Moffatt.

All of Van’s sub varsity football teams will be in action Thursday, Sept. 7 with an unusual freshmen team ‘doubleheader’ starting at 4:15 p.m. at Van’s Memorial Stadium.

“This is the second time in the 14 years that I have been here that we will have enough freshmen to field two teams,” recalled Jared Moffatt. “We won’t be doing this every week.” Following the two freshmen games, the Vandal junior varsity will host Lindale.

Van’s junior high football teams will make their 2023 season debut at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 in Lindale.

For results of the Van/Lindale varsity game as well as a preview of Van’s Homecoming game against Paris Sept. 15, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.