Leander Vandegrift Holds Off Leander Vista Ridge

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: September 28, 2019

photos: Steve Thomas

Vipers Improve to 5-0 in Quest to Defend Title

“Our theme this week was prove us right.”

Leander Vandegrift head coach Drew Sanders said that his team’s focus this week was proving that they believe in each other and can beat undefeated teams. On Friday night, the Vandegrift Vipers traveled to Gupton Stadium to face their undefeated district rivals, the Cedar Park Vista Ridge Rangers. While there was a lot of hype surrounding the matchup, Sanders said that his team treated this game as business as usual. Despite facing a high-powered Vista Ridge offense, the Vandegrift defense held the Rangers in check. Offensively, Bowen Lewis and Ryan Sheppard each ran for a touchdown; and Trey Mongauzy caught two touchdowns to lead the Vipers to a 31-12 victory.

On the opening drive, the Vipers managed to drive all the way to the Ranger seven-yard line; but the Vista Ridge defense held them out of the end zone. Kicker Charlie Fournier netted a 27-yard field goal to give Vandegrift a 3-0 lead. On the following drive, Vista Ridge drove the ball deep into Vandegrift territory. Receiver Adam Fogg appeared to have scored a touchdown on first-and-goal, but he was ruled down at the one-yard line. Despite having three additional attempts at the end zone, the Rangers were unable to punch it in; and Vandegrift took over on downs at their own one-yard line.

Following the turnover, Bowen Lewis scored on a 49-yard touchdown run to give the Vipers a 10-0 lead. The Vandegrift defense forced Vista Ridge backwards on the next drive, and snap over the punter’s head gave the Vipers the ball at the Ranger five-yard line. One play later, Ryan Shepard scored on a five-yard touchdown run which increased the Vandegrift lead to 17-0. After the touchdown, miscues hurt the Rangers again on their next drive. Running back Maximus Clark fumbled the ball, and Kaleb Lewis recovered the ball at the Vista Ridge 40-yard line. The Vipers capitalized on the turnover when quarterback Dru Dawson connected with Trey Mongauzy for a 14-yard touchdown pass just before halftime.

On the opening drive of the second half, the Rangers suffered another setback. Punter Seth Hughes muffed the snap, and the Vipers took over at the Ranger 25-yard line. Dawson then connected with Mongauzy again for an 18-yard touchdown pass which extended the Vandegrift lead to 31-0.

Late in the third quarter, receiver Ethan Heffelfinger caught a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle Brown. The kicker, however, bounced the extra-point attempt off the upright leaving the score at 31-6. Midway through the fourth quarter, Maximus Clark found the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run; but the Rangers failed to convert the two-point attempt.

After the game, Vista Ridge head coach Rodney Vincent praised his team’s effort, especially in the face of a large deficit. “This is a new step for us. That’s what I told my kids at halftime. The next step for us is how you’re going to respond when you’re down by that much; and I was proud of them. They put up some points and made some stops in the second half,” Vincent said. Vincent was also confident that his players will be hungry to bounce back in their game next week.

With the win, Vandegrift improves to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in district. Next week, the Vipers return to Monroe Stadium to face the Round Rock Dragons. The Dragons are 4-0 overall and 2-0 in district following a 67-21 win over the Round Rock Westwood Warriors (2-3; 1-2).

by Steve Thomas