DAVID BARBER

Sports Correspondent

A furious second half rally by the Van Vandals came up short at the end against the defending Class 4A, Division 2, state champion Gilmer Buckeyes, 31-23, Oct. 18 at Buckeye Stadium in Gilmer.

Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals (5-2 overall and 1-1 in District 7-4A, Division 2) will try to get back on the winning track at home against the Pittsburg Pirates (1-6, 1-1) Friday, Oct. 25 in a 7 p.m. kickoff at Van’s Memorial Stadium.

Against Gilmer, the Vandals finished with 24 first downs and 352 yards of total offense, including 210 yards rushing and 142 yards passing while executing 72 offensive plays.

Gilmer registered 15 first downs and 301 yards of total offense including 212 yards rushing and 89 yards passing.

Running back Austin Moffatt led the Vandal running attack with 19 carries for 90 yards rushing and one touchdown. Reserve RB Chris Fabian had 42 yards rushing on seven carries.

Quarterback Jaxon Moffatt completed 13 out of 34 passes for 142 yards, two TD’s and two interceptions in addition to rushing for 72 yards on 11 carries.

Caden Rowe led the Vandal receivers with six receptions for 81 yards and one TD.

Defensively, Vandal defensive back Cade Christensen finished with 13 total tackles.

The Buckeyes received the opening kickoff and began the first of four consecutive TD drives in the first half as they moved 72 yards in seven plays.

“I was real proud of the way the kids played against Gilmer,” recalled Jared Moffatt. “The first half did not go like we wanted it too by any means. We had two turnovers. We got down on the scoreboard. Even we were down, 28-10, at halftime, I told our kids that the game would not be decided in the first half. It would be decided in the fourth quarter. We came back and fought in the second half. We had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. We did a lot of things well against Gilmer but there were some things we could have done better. We have a lot of respect for Gilmer and their program.”

Gilmer RB Zade Taylor (11 carries, 52 yards, two TD’s) ended the initial march with an 8-yard TD run. Brayden Pate added the extra point to give the Buckeyes a 7-0 advantage with 9:53 remaining in the first quarter. Key plays in the opening scoring drive for Gilmer included a 16-yard run by RB Trillyon Butler, pass completions from QB Brady McCown covering 10 yards each to WR Brendan Webb and a face mask penalty against the Vandals.

Van responded to tie the game as the Vandals moved 71 yards in seven plays ending with a 6-yard TD run by Austin Moffatt. Aiden Moore added the extra point for a 7-7 deadlock with 6:56 to play in the first quarter. Key plays in the scoring march for the Vandals including running gains of 16 yards by Jaxon Moffatt and 18 yards by Austin Moffatt in addition to a 31-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe.

It did not take long for the Buckeyes to regain the lead as Butler raced 60 yards for a TD on third down and two on Gilmer’s next offensive series. Pace added the extra point giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead with 5:34 remaining in the first quarter.

Van’s offense suffered a turnover on its next offensive series as Jaxon Moffatt’s pass over the middle was intercepted by Gilmer free safety Webb and returned to the Vandal 38.

A total of 10 plays later, Taylor ran two yards for a TD. Pate added the extra point extending Gilmer’s advantage to 21-7 with 42 seconds still to play in the first quarter. Key plays in the scoring drive for the Buckeyes included a 13-yard run by McCown, an 11-yard pass completion from McCown to Webb and a 12-yard run by Taylor.

The Vandals advanced from their own 36 to the Gilmer 37 in nine plays including a 16-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe but the scoring threat ended on fourth down and nine when Jaxon Moffatt’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Gilmer noseguard Tyler Hagler and returned to the Vandal 48.

Four plays later, Gilmer found the end zone again on a 3-yard TD run by Butler (12 carries, 152 yards, two TD’s). Pate added the extra point giving Gilmer a seemingly comfortable 28-7 lead with 5:08 remaining in the second quarter. A 41-yard pass completion from reserve QB Caden Tennison to WR Trace Haynes was the key play in the scoring drive for the Buckeyes.

The Vandals showed no signs of giving up as they moved from their own 14 to the Buckeye 8-yard line in 16 plays including running gains of 11 yards by Jaxon Moffatt, 12 and 13 yards by Austin Moffatt and 14 yards by Fabian in addition to an 11-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe.

Facing fourth down and goal at the Gilmer 8-yard line, Moore was sent in to attempt a 25-yard field goal which was good cutting Van’s deficit to 28-10 with 21 seconds to play before halftime.

“There were adjustments at halftime,” pointed out Jared Moffatt. “They had a motion play that gave us some problems in the first half. We got that figured out. Overall, we just played better in the second half. Gilmer ran three plays in the third quarter. We did a lot of things we needed to do to put ourselves in position to win the game. I still don’t think we have played our best football yet this season. We are 14 points away from being 7-0 right now. Everything we want to accomplish is still in front of us.”

After an exchange of punts to open the third quarter, the Vandals began to make their comeback attempt as they moved 64 yards in nine plays ending with a 13-yard TD pass play from Jaxon Moffatt to WR Foster Rust. Moore had his extra point blocked but a personal foul penalty against the Buckeyes moved the ball half the distance to the goal allowing Moore a second try at the extra point which was good cutting Van’s deficit to 28-17 with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter. Key plays in the Vandal scoring march included an 11-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Austin Moffatt and a 20-yard run by Jaxon Moffatt.

Van’s comeback momentum continued when an onside kick attempt by the Vandals was recovered by Van’s Josh Christian at midfield.

Eight plays later, Jaxon Moffatt connected with Rowe on a 9-yard TD pass play cutting Van’s deficit to 28-23 with 9:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed. An 11-yard run by Fabian was a key play in Van’s scoring drive.

Jared Moffatt discussed his decisions against Gilmer on his approach regarding when to go for a two-point conversion.

“For me, I am not a fan of chasing points early in the game,” pointed out Jared Moffatt. “My thought was what was the best way to get the game down to a one-score game in the second half. We were still toward the end of the third quarter when I decided to go for the extra point to make it an 11-point difference. On the next TD, we were down by five points so there was no hesitation going for two points in that situation with a chance to cut the deficit to a field goal.”

Gilmer moved from its own 45 to the Vandal 33 but on fourth down and three, Van’s defense rose to the occasion forcing an incomplete pass from McCown to WR Geremiah Noble giving the Vandals possession.

Van advanced from its own 33 to the Buckeye 32 in eight plays including a 17-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to WR Asher Hawkins but on fourth down and eight, the scoring threat ended when Jaxon Moffatt’s pass to Rowe was incomplete giving the ball back to the Buckeyes with 3:23 to play in the game.

Gilmer moved from its own 32 to the Vandal 15 in four plays including a 46-yard run by Butler but on fourth down and three, Van’s defense forced the Buckeyes to attempt a 33-yard FG which was good by Pate extending Gilmer’s lead to 31-23 with 1:33 remaining.

Van’s final offensive series did not result in a first down starting from its own 25 as Jaxon Moffatt’s fourth down and 11 pass to Rowe was incomplete allowing the Buckeyes to run out the clock.

The Vandal head coach recognized individual performances from offensive right tackle Landon Robinson, center Justus Anderson, Austin Moffatt, Fabian, Jaxon Moffatt, Rowe, defensive back Easton Hinch, DB Da’Quavion Williams, DB Blaise Lineberry, DB Ian Hopson, Christensen, defensive lineman Rust, defensive end Maeson Ray.

Jared Moffatt further discussed Christensen’s 13 total tackles in the game. “Cade is a fierce competitor,” emphasized Jared Moffatt. “He is a warrior. He is one guy that embodies Van football. He is a great high school football player every Friday night. I can’t say enough good things about what he does for our football team.”