DAVID BARBER

Sports Correspondent

For the second time in the past three weeks, the Van Vandals faced one of the top-10 teams in the state in Class 4A, Division 2, and unfortunately, the results were the same as the Vandals saw their 2022 football season come to a close Nov. 10 at the hands of the Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks, 48-13, at Maverick Stadium in Marshall.

Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals, the third-place team in District 8-4A, Division 2, ended their season with an overall record of 6-5 and an appearance in the Class 4A, Division 2, bi-district game.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove, ranked seventh in the state in Class 4A, Division 2, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine, improved its season record to 9-2, and will take on Caddo Mills (8-3) in the Area round of the Class 4A, Division 2, state playoffs.

Against Texarkana Pleasant Grove, the runner-team in District 7-4A, Division 2, behind district champion Gilmer; the Vandals finished with 17 first downs and 191 yards of total offense including 63 yards rushing and 128 yards passing.

The Hawks registered 19 first downs and 499 yards of total offense including 224 yards rushing and 275 yards passing.

Vandal quarterback Jaxon Moffatt completed 13 out of 26 passes for 128 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions.

Senior receiver Brayden Bradshaw, playing in his final varsity game, caught seven passes for 65 yards and a TD.

“We played a really good football team last Thursday night (Nov. 10),” said Jared Moffatt. “Going into the game, I thought we could run the ball right at them, but we struggled blocking their front. We had to throw the ball more than anticipated. Defensively, we did not stop them in the first half. We had a frustrating night. It was disappointing. If we had played our best game, I thought we could have played with those guys, but we did not. To their credit, they did a lot of things well against us.”

The Vandals received the opening kickoff and punted on their first series of downs with senior Garrett Florey’s 52-yard punt landing at the Texarkana Pleasant Grove 7-yard line. Florey punted five times against the Hawks for a 44-yard average.

The Hawks moved 93 yards in seven plays to open the scoring as QB Ahkhari Johnson (nine carries, 127 yards, two TD’s) ended the march with a 3-yard TD run. The extra point was good giving Texarkana Pleasant Grove a 7-0 lead with 6:19 remaining in the first quarter. Key plays in the opening TD drive for the Hawks including running gains of 10 and 28 yards by Johnson and a 52-yard pass completion from Johnson to tight end Vic Shaw.

Following a Vandal punt, the Hawks advanced 58 yards in seven plays to extend their lead as Johnson connected with receiver Russell Collins II on a 17-yard TD pass play. The extra point was good giving Texarkana Pleasant Grove a 14-0 advantage with 46 seconds to play in the first quarter. A key play in the Texarkana Pleasant Grove scoring drive included a 21-yard pass completion from Johnson to Collins.

After another Vandal punt, the Hawks moved 79 yards in five plays to increase their advantage as the running back for the Hawks ended the march with a 7-yard TD run. The extra point was good as the Hawks led 21-0 with 9:11 to play in the second quarter. Key plays in the scoring drive for the Hawks were running gains of 12 and 45 yards by running back Krystian Wrightner.

The Vandals responded with their most consistent offensive drive in the first half as they moved from their own 24 to the Texarkana Pleasant Grove 32 in 12 plays including pass completions from Jaxon Moffatt to Bradshaw for 14 and 14 yards, and 16 yards to receiver Easton Hinch.

The scoring threat for the Vandals ended on fourth down and 18 at the Hawks’ 32 when Jaxon Moffatt’s pass to receiver Luke Horton was incomplete giving the ball back to Texarkana Pleasant Grove.

Two plays later, Johnson outraced the Vandal defense down the sideline on a 66-yard TD run giving the Hawks a 27-0 advantage with 3:04 to play before halftime. The extra point attempt was no good.

Following a Vandal punt, the Hawks ended the first half scoring as they moved 58 yards in seven plays as Johnson connected with Shaw on a 14-yard TD pass play to end the fifth consecutive TD drive for the Hawks. The extra point was good giving Texarkana Pleasant Grove a 34-0 lead with 12 seconds to play before intermission.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove received the second half kickoff and advanced as deep as the Van 48, but the Vandal defense stiffened on fourth down and two as Johnson’s pass to Landon Jackson was incomplete giving Van possession at its own 48.

The Vandals got on the scoreboard in their first offensive possession of the second half as they moved 52 yards in 12 plays with Jaxon Moffatt connecting with Bradshaw on a 14-yard TD pass play to end the march. Tristan Taylor added the extra point cutting Van’s deficit to 34-7 with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter. A 12-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Hinch was a key play in the first scoring drive for the Vandals.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove responded by moving 56 yards in four plays as Johnson connected with Shaw on a 16-yard TD pass play to end the drive. The extra point was good giving the Hawks a 41-7 advantage with 3:02 to play in the third quarter. A 41-yard pass completion from Johnson to Collins was a key play in the scoring march for the Hawks.

Van moved from its own 25 to the Hawks’ 49 in eight plays but the drive later stalled forcing Van to punt the ball back to the Hawks.

Three plays later, Johnson connected with his receiver for an 80-yard TD pass play on third down and 10. The extra point was good giving the Hawks a 48-7 advantage with 9:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Vandals rallied in what turned out to be their final offensive drive of the 2022 season with a TD as they moved 77 yards in 10 plays with Florey ending his senior season with a 2-yard TD run to end the march cutting Van’s deficit to 48-13 with 4:40 remaining. The extra point attempt was no good. Key plays in the final scoring drive of the season for the Vandals included a 12-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Horton and two Texarkana Pleasant Grove penalties (face mask and pass interference).

Texarkana Pleasant Grove ran six offensive plays to run out the clock and end the 2022 season for the Vandals.

Seniors playing in their final varsity football game for the Vandals included Reed Parish, Brayden Bradshaw, Beau Barton, Justin Gregory, Braydon Hullum, Garrett Florey, Christian Campuzano, Kenny Wright, Kepler Multhaup, Sergio Salinas, and Lazarus Caldwell.

“I really appreciate our senior class not only for what they did for this year’s team but for what they have done for our program overall,” emphasized Jared Moffatt.