DAVID BARBER

davidb@vanzandtnews.com

For the second week in a row, the Van Vandals were put in a position to run out the final six minutes-plus of the game and hold on to a lead and for the second week in a row, they were successful as their latest fourth quarter effort led to a 28-27 victory over the Paris Wildcats on Homecoming night Sept. 15 at Van’s Memorial Stadium.

Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals are now 3-1 for the season as they closed out non-district play with District 8-4A, Division 2, action set to begin Sept. 22.

The Vandals visit the undefeated Brownsboro Bears (4-0) in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff to begin the race for a district championship.

Against Paris, the Vandals again showed a dominating running game as they finished with 28 first downs and 427 yards of total offense including 315 yards rushing and 112 yards passing.

Van had two 100-yard rushing efforts led by Austin Moffatt with 102 yards rushing on 15 carries followed closely behind by Cannon Rainey with 100 yards rushing on 15 carries and one touchdown.

Quarterback Jaxon Moffatt had 15 carries for 59 yards rushing and two TD’s in addition to completing seven out of 10 passes for 112 yards, one TD, and one interception.

Wide receiver Caden Rowe caught four passes for 100 yards and one TD to lead the Vandal receivers.

Paris finished the contest with 15 first downs and 308 yards of total offense including 218 yards rushing and 90 yards passing.

Wildcat QB Trevin Hohenberger completed 10 out of 12 passes for 91 yards, one TD, and no interceptions in addition to carrying the ball 16 times for 91 yards rushing and one TD.

“It was a great win for us,” summarized Jared Moffatt. “Paris is a good football team. They are talented. They presented problems for us on both sides of the ball. We got off to a terrible start, but we got back into the flow of the game. Offensively, we did a lot of good things. Our offensive line blocked really well, especially in the second half. Our running backs, including Jaxon, ran really hard and are fighting for those extra yards. We completed some big plays in the passing game to Caden Rowe. We are on the verge of really being tough to stop. Defensively, we held Paris to 21 points. It was a really good win for us. Our kids are playing with tremendous effort. We are not where we are going to be. We have to keep getting better.”

Paris received the opening kickoff and two plays later, turned the ball over to the Vandals as an 11-yard pass completion from Hohenberger to Malik Johnson resulted in a fumble by Johnson that was recovered by Vandal defensive back Gabriel Bachert at the Wildcat 40 giving Van excellent field position.

The scoring threat came to a stunning end five plays later on second down and 10 at the Paris 18 when an Austin Moffatt fumble was picked up by Paris DB Corday Cooper and returned 85 yards for a TD. Paul Torres added the extra point giving Paris a sudden 7-0 advantage with 8:50 remaining in the first quarter.

Following a Vandal punt, the Wildcats threatened to stretch their lead as they moved from their own 25 to the Vandal 14 in seven plays including a 41-yard run by Hohenberger and a 13-yard pass completion from Hohenberger to WR Dycurian Douglas.

Facing fourth down and four at the Vandal 14, Torres was sent in to attempt a 31-yard field goal try but his attempt was wide left giving the ball back to the Vandals.

Six plays later, including a 13-yard run by Austin Moffatt, his twin brother, Jaxon Moffatt, connected with Rowe on a 56-yard TD pass play. Aiden Moore added the extra point tying the game at 7-7 with 2:01 remaining in the first quarter.

After a Wildcat punt, the Vandals appeared to be on the verge of taking the lead as they moved from their own 15 to the Paris 29 in nine plays including a 25-yard run by Jaxon Moffatt and a 23-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe.

A 15-yard loss on a fumble by Jaxon Moffatt on the previous play forced the Vandals into a fourth down and 23 situation at the Wildcat 29 but Jaxon Moffatt’s pass into the end zone was intercepted by Douglas for a touchback keeping the score deadlocked.

The Wildcats regained the lead before halftime as they moved 80 yards in 11 plays with Hohenberger connecting with RB Marcove’us Washington for a 22-yard TD pass play. Torres added the extra point giving Paris a 14-7 lead with 53 seconds to play before intermission. Key plays in the Paris scoring drive included an 18-yard pass completion from Hochenberger to Washington and an 11-yard run by Hochenberger.

Van received the third quarter kickoff and set the tone for another impressive second half ball control performance as the Vandals moved 52 yards on nine consecutive running plays. Rainey, on his sixth consecutive carry, powered into the end zone on a 1-yard TD run. Moore added the extra point tying the game at 14-14 with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter. Key running gains on Van’s TD drive included runs of 11 and 12 yards by Austin Moffatt and 14 yards by Rainey.

Paris responded with a scoring drive of its own as they advanced 61 yards in 10 plays to re-take the lead again as Hochenberger ran 10 yards for a TD to complete the march. Torres added the extra point giving the Wildcats a 21-14 lead with 4:12 to play in the third quarter. A 22-yard pass completion from Hochenberger to Keshawn Roberts was a key play in the scoring drive for Paris.

The Vandals came right back with an 81-yard scoring drive in eight plays as Jaxon Moffatt ended the march with a 1-yard QB sneak for a TD. Moore added the extra point deadlocking the contest again, this time at 21-21, with 1:09 remaining in the third quarter. Key plays in Van’s scoring march included a 12-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Austin Moffatt, and running gains of 11 yards by Austin Moffatt and 22 and 28 yards by Rainey.

Following a Wildcat punt, the Vandals drove for their first lead of the game as they advanced 74 yards in 10 plays with Jaxon Moffatt ending the march with a 2-yard TD run. Moore added the extra point giving the Vandals a 28-21 advantage with 7:42 to play in the fourth quarter. Running gains of 10 and 15 yards by Austin Moffatt, and 24 and 10 yards by Colton Miller, were key plays in what proved to be the game-winning drive.

In that drive, the Vandals converted a fourth down and one at their own 45 to keep the scoring march alive.

“I learned early in my coaching career not to be too conservative,” recalled Jared Moffatt. “We were running the ball really well at that point. In that moment, I felt good about our chances to make that first down.”

Paris wasted little time in coming back on what turned out to be its final offensive possession of the contest as they moved 72 yards in four plays. Washington, on a reverse handoff, raced 28 yards for a TD cutting Van’s lead to 28-27 with 6:20 remaining. The TD run was set up by a 35-yard run by Roberts and a personal foul penalty against the Vandals.

Torres attempted the tie up the game for the fourth time in the contest, but his kick sailed wide right and no good keeping Van ahead by one point.

The Vandals then executed a final offensive drive that took the remaining time off the clock and not giving the ball back to Paris as Van executed 11 plays (10 running) in the final six minutes of the game including a 10-yard run by Rainey and a 14-yard pass completion from Jaxon Rainey to Rowe on third down and six. Van ended the game with a kneel-down at the Paris 32.

“We have developed a confidence and a belief that we can go out and do a lot of good things in the fourth quarter,” emphasized Jared Moffatt. “Those are not easy situations. Those yards in the fourth quarter are tougher to get. There is a confidence among our guys that we can do it again. That can only help us going forward.”

In addition to the offensive line, Jared Moffatt recognized several other individual performances against Paris including defensive end Logan Fattig, Rowe, Jaxon Moffatt, Austin Moffatt, Rainey, Miller, H-back Colton Grier, receiver Jackson Admire, receiver Austin Johnson, defensive back Cade Christensen, cornerback Gabe Bachert, defensive tackle Armando Lozano, and special teams’ member Garrett Phillips.

“We are getting contributions from a lot of players in all three phases,” emphasized Jared Moffatt. “I am excited about where we are right now as a football team. We have to take that next step.”

Defensive statistics from the Paris game were recently released by the Vandal coaching staff and the numbers were as follows:

Cade Christensen, 13 total tackles; Logan Fattig, 10 total tackles and three tackles for losses; Foster Rust, 10 total tackles and two QB pressures; Luke Horton, nine total tackles; Gabe Bachert, nine total tackles and one fumble recovery; Wyatt Dale, nine total tackles, one tackle for a loss and one QB pressure; Tuff Arozemena, seven total tackles and one tackle for a loss; Colton Miller, seven total tackles, one tackle for a loss, two batted passes/pass breakups and one QB pressure; Cannon Rainey, six total tackles and one fumble caused; Reggie Johnson, five total tackles; Bruce Shaw, three total tackles; Blaise Lineberry, two total tackles; Garrett Phillips, one total tackle; Armando Lozano, one total tackle; and Da’Quavion Williams, one total tackle.