Leander Vandegrift Cruises Past Round Rock

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: October 14, 2023

Round Rock Dragons and Leander Vandegrift Vipers

photos: Steve Thomas

Vipers dominate Dragons to remain unbeaten

For the past three years, the game between the Round Rock Dragons and Leander Vandegrift Vipers has been the de facto District 25-6A championship game. This season, the game once again had district title implications. Under first-year head coach Cody Moore, the Dragons were 3-3 overall and 3-0 in district. After going 0-3 in a grueling non-district schedule, the Dragons had righted the ship winning three consecutive games to open district play. Last week, the Dragons put on a dominant performance and beat the Manor Mustangs 42-13.

Vandegrift, meanwhile, entered the game at 6-0. Through the first six games, the Vipers made it look easy. The defense was allowing an average of 9.5 points per game while the offense was scoring an average of almost 43 points per game. In district play, the Vipers’ dominance was even more apparent. The defense was only allowing an average of 5.3 points per game in the first three district games, and the offense was averaging 47 points per game in the same stretch. On Thursday night, the Vipers’ dominance continued with a 45-3 rout of the Dragons.

Throughout the game, the Vipers were firing on all cylinders. Defensively, the Vipers held the Dragons to 161 yards of total offense and recorded nine tackles for loss. In the first half, the Vipers forced the Dragons to punt on six consecutive drives. Offensively, star receiver Miles Coleman stole the show. Coleman had 11 catches for 119 yards. Coleman also returned two consecutive punts for touchdowns in the first half. Running back Zaid Oliver scored the other three touchdowns for the Vipers; and kicker Wiley Olsen netted a 22-yard field goal. Round Rock kicker Kai Haruki scored the lone points for the Dragons on a 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half.

After the game, Vandegrift head coach Drew Sanders had ample praise for his team. Defensively, Sanders credited his team for successfully shutting down the normally potent Round Rock offense, especially quarterback Mason Cochran. Sanders also praised his team’s execution on Coleman’s punt returns. “No one blocked in the back. No one held. Everyone just did their job,” Sanders said. With the win, the Vipers improve to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in district. Next week, Vandegrift returns home to host the Round Rock Cedar Ridge Raiders (2-4, 0-3.)

Round Rock, meanwhile, falls to 3-4 overall and 3-1 in district. After the game, Coach Moore acknowledged his team’s struggles but also credited his team for their progress throughout the season. Moore also said that he believed the biggest lesson for his team was, “If we want to be a playoff team and make deep playoff runs, we have to compete with guys like this.” Next week, the Dragons travel to Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex to face the Round Rock McNeil Mavericks (3-3, 1-2.)

by Steve Thomas

Players Pictured

Vandegrift