Vandegrift falls to Westlake in second-straight trip to regional finals
Photo credit: Scott W. Coleman
One game does not define the body of work for Vandegrift.
The Vipers lost 70-7 to back-to-back state champion Westlake in the regional final Saturday afternoon at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
In the last four years, Vandegrift has won the outright district or a share of the title and advanced to at least the third round of playoffs in three of those four seasons.
“I’m so proud of these guys to play into December and win a share of the district title and all the amazing relationships we built along the way,” head coach Drew Sanders said. “Our seniors leave a legacy of doing things right, being super coachable and being fun to be around.”
Junior quarterback Brayden Buchanan passed for 116 yards for the Vipers. Senior receiver Graylan Spring caught six passes for 54 yards, and Miles Coleman had 29 receiving yards on three receptions.
Senior running back Ryan Sheppard rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Alex Foster led the Vandegrift defense with 12 tackles. Max Uhl finished with seven tackles, and Sterling Emerson and Braden Holter each had six.
Westlake outgained Vandegrift 470-200, including 153 yard and six rushing touchdowns by sophomore Jake Kayser. The Chaparrals also came away with three interceptions and recovered two fumbles and blocked three punts.
With Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney on the sideline, Westlake quarterback, and Clemson commit, Cade Klubnik completed seven of eight passes for 117 yards and rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown.
“I wish we could’ve given our crowd a better game because they came out to support us,” Sanders said. “Sometimes football is a very humbling game, and that was today for us.”
Westlake went 80 yards in seven plays on the first drive of the game. The Chaps picked off Buchanan on the first offensive play for the Vipers and scored three plays later.
“To give the No. 1 offense in the state a short field, you can’t do it,” Sanders said.
The Chaps scored on all but one drive in the first half when they turned the ball over on downs and scored seven touchdowns. They didn’t punt until the fourth quarter and held the Vipers their fewest yards of the season.
“I’m hurting for our guys right now, I felt like we’re a better team than we put on display today,” Sanders said. “Sometimes in big games that will happen where one team gets rolling and the other is kind of shell-shocked. That was us today. We could never get our footing.”
Westlake will face Katy next Saturday at 2 p.m. at McLane Stadium in Waco in the state semifinal as it eyes a third straight state title to send off legendary head coach Todd Dodge, who will retire at the end of the season.
For Vandegrift, Sanders said they’ll spend the next few days recognizing this team and this group of seniors before getting back to work planning for 2022.
“For now, all I want is to pump our senior class up and tell them how great they are and thank them for all the great memories they gave the coaches and the community,” Sanders said. “Overall, besides this last tough loss, it was a really fun year.”