Vandals take 2-0 district record into road meeting Oct. 6 against the Rusk Eagles
DAVID BARBER
After winning their first two district games, the Van Vandals are ready for the ‘stretch run’ of their District 8-4A, Division 2, schedule as they look to stay undefeated in district play when they visit the Rusk Eagles Friday, Oct. 6 in Rusk.
Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals are currently 5-1 overall and 2-0 in district action after blowing past their Van Zandt County rival, the Canton Eagles, 49-3, Sept. 29 at Van’s Memorial Stadium.
The Vandals are tied for first place in the district with the Carthage Bulldogs and the Center Rough Riders, with all three teams currently having 2-0 district records.
Van, currently on a four-game winning streak, has outscored their first two district opponents, 77-10, entering their game at Rusk.
Rusk, 3-2 for the season and 0-1 in district play, lost their district opener Sept. 29 at Center against the Center Rough Riders, 76-48.
“The kids for Rusk play extremely hard and their defense is playing with tremendous effort,” pointed out Moffatt. “They are doing exactly what their coaches are telling them to do. They know their job. They fly around and get to the football. Rusk will show an ‘odd front’ on defense. They want to make it tough for you to run the football. They have an attack style of defense with a lot of blitzing. We will have to work for the yards we will get.
“Offensively, they have a sophomore quarterback who is a coaches’ son,” continued Moffatt. “He is playing well. He throws the ball a lot with great accuracy. He can run the ball as well. They are moving the ball well and scoring a lot of points. In their game against Center, Rusk was only down 11 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Rusk is impressive offensively. They present quite a challenge for our defense. Our secondary will be challenged. Rusk probably throws the ball more than anyone else we have played against so far. It is going to be a war.”
Rusk will operate primarily out of the ‘spread’ formation offensively and they have a good running back to go along with their passing attack, according to the Vandal head coach.
On the injury front, the Vandals will again be without the services of junior kicker Aiden Moore, who was scheduled to have surgery this week on a meniscus tear in his knee on his plant leg, according to Moffatt.
“He may be able to be back in a couple of weeks so he might be back in time for our game at Carthage Oct. 27 after our bye week,” said Moffatt. “In the meantime, we will continue to roll with Josh Christian and Alex Aceves as our kickers moving forward.”
In addition to the Van/Rusk matchup, the other games in scheduled for Oct. 6 in District 8-4A, Division 2, will feature the Canton Eagles (2-4, 0-2) hosting the Carthage Bulldogs (6-0, 2-0) and the Bullard Panthers (4-1, 0-1) traveling to Brownsboro to take on the Brownsboro Bears, (4-2, 0-2). The Center Rough Riders (5-1, 2-0) will be enjoying an open date.
So far as the sub-varsity schedule is concerned, the Vandal freshmen and junior varsity teams will host Rusk Thursday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. while the junior high squads will travel to Rusk with the action kicking off at 4:30 p.m.
For results of the Van/Rusk game and a preview of the Vandals’ home game against Center Oct. 13, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.