Austin Vandegrift Wins OT Thriller Over Round Rock
-
Updated: November 10, 2025
photos: Steve Thomas
Austin Vandegrift Wins OT Thriller Over Round Rock
Austin Vandegrift defensive back Brady Srncik blocked a field goal in overtime and Tobias Gray ran it back 70 yards for a touchdown to secure a 23-17 win over the Round Rock Dragons. For Gray, the opportunity to run back the blocked kick was almost surreal. “As soon as I saw the ball on the ground, I saw an opportunity; and I just started running,” Gray said. The win also earned Vandegrift at least a share of their eight consecutive district title.
In a game that matched the drama of the District 25-6A title race, the Vipers controlled the game for the first three quarters; but the Dragons put together a miraculous rally in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
Entering Friday night’s game, five teams including Vandegrift, Round Rock, Hutto, Round Rock McNeil, and Cedar Park Vista Ridge were competing for four playoff spots. For Round Rock, a win guaranteed the Dragons a playoff berth; but a loss put their fate in the hands of tiebreakers. Vandegrift was guaranteed a playoff berth, but a win offered them a chance at a district title and a more favorable playoff matchup at home.
With their season possibly on the line, Round Rock had made a miraculous comeback to tie the game at 17-17 and force overtime. The Dragons trailed 14-3 with under five minutes left in the game, but receivers Dylan Jaegar, Daniel Barry, and Carson Griffin made a series of crucial plays to tie the game. Jaegar caught a pass on fourth, and Griffin caught the Dragons’ first touchdown one play later. On the Dragons’ next drive, Barry made a spectacular 38-yard catch on fourth and 14; and running back Brady Cochran caught a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dov Stickler on the next play. Following the touchdown, Jaegar scored the game-tying two-point conversion.
On a night where quarterback Miles Teodecki’s absence limited Vandegrift’s offense, the defense rose to the occasion. One of the biggest plays for the defense came late in the third quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the Vipers’ one-yard line, the Vipers stopped Dragon running back Brady Cochran at the three-yard line. The Vipers also tallied two sacks and nine tackles for loss.
In addition to the blocked kick in overtime, the Vipers also blocked the extra point after Round Rock’s first touchdown. Vandegrift Head Coach Drew Sanders credited his special teams coach with finding a play Hutto used against Round Rock earlier in the year. “We found something that Hutto did (to block a kick),” Sanders said, “and we practiced it all week.” In overtime, Srncik came to Sanders and said, “I can make it through (to block) clean.”
With Teodecki out for a second consecutive week, running back Justin Moore and receiver Brock Chilton put the offense on their backs. Moore rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Chilton had 72 yards receiving including a 62-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Lawson Lombard in the third quarter.
With the win, Vandegrift finishes the regular season at 8-2 overall and 7-1 in district. Next week, the Vipers will host the Westlake Chaparrals (7-3, 4-2) in the UIL 6A-D2 bi-district round.
Round Rock, meanwhile, finishes the regular season at 5-5 overall and 5-3 in district. After the dust settled in the District 25-6A playoff race, Round Rock will travel to Dripping Springs to face Lake Travis (10-0, 6-0) in the 6A-D1 bi-district round.
by Steve Thomas
Players Pictured
Vandegrift
#1 Brock Chilton
#3 Justin Moore
#11 Lawson Lombard
Round Rock
#12 Dov Stickler
#26 Brady Cochran
#34 Jason Nold
Related Posts
