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This is the second time in the history of playing the Vandegrift Vipers that the Tigers have won the regular season game and then lost a heartbreaker to them in the playoffs. The Tigers 41-14 victory in the first game and the easy wins in the playoffs had to give the Tigers the confidence an easy second win was coming. No doubt, despite warnings by the coaches that this was not going to be the same Viper team they played before.
Anytime you ask any coach before the game what the keys to a win are going to be, they all read the same script, with very few creative adds. The most common being “avoid turnovers”. It may be trite but it is a tried and true reason. Turnovers usually dictate the winners in close matches. Nevermore than in this game when the Tigers had the misfortune of having three turnovers. Two led to TDs and two prevented the Tigers from scoring drives. All came on good defensive plays and not poor offensive execution.
It was obvious from the beginning this game would not mimic the last one. Vandegrift showed the same intensity to repeat the state championship as the Tigers did in wanting that first championship. A big difference was the QB was in charge this game and made the plays when they counted. Their offense kept a varied attack that featured the run and pass and control of the clock, plus a pass defense that played the Tigers as well as any team all year. Also, their punting game was a major key by leaving the Tigers in a deep hole several times.
The Tigers got off to a great start when Ryder Frost broke the KOR for 54 yards to the Viper 45. The Tigers would stall at the 28 and Ian French split the uprights from 40 yards for a 3-0 lead. Vandegrift answered with a 10-play, 75 yard drive but missed the PAT. 6-3 after one.
The next three possessions ended in punts before the Vipers put together a 9-play, 69 drive for a score. Next possession the Vipers intercepted a Tiger pass at their 28 and drove the ball 72 yards to make it 20-3. On the final play of the half, French split the uprights for a school record 51 yards. 20-6.
The Vipers had their own 54 KOR to start the half but the Tiger defense was in a bad shutdown mood and stopped a fourth and two. Chase Ames would hit Merrik Bloomgren in stride for a 32 score and get within seven. 20-13. After a Tiger missed FG, Vandegrift had a three and out.The punt left the Tigers facing 94 yards. A penalty put the ball on the three. On the first play the ball was forced out of the Tigers back arm and the Vipers recovered on the six and on the first play of the fourth they scored. 27-13. Vipers intercepted another pass at the 26. Tigers forced another three and out and started an 80 drive, culminated by an amazing 48 pass run to James Montgomery with 5.35 remaining. Vandegrift rushed for 12 plays and three first downs before being forced to punt which they did to the one with little time remaining. Even so, the Tigers battled to the bitter end, never giving up the fight. The feeling for this team is best expressed by an old DS cheer. It goes like this: WE Are from DRIPPING SPRINGS and NO ONE can be PROUDER. If you cannot hear us, WE’LL YELL A LITTLE LOUDER.
Team stats (DS first): First downs: 17-16; Rushing: 19-45, 43-168; Passing: 352-183; Passes: 28-41-2, 17-19-0; Punts:2-44.5, 5-40.4; Penalties: 4-28, 2-15; Turnovers: 3-0.
Tiger stats: Rushing: Jaceton Gotta 13-45; Ames 3-3; Lawson Attaway 3-(-) 3. Passing: Ames 28-41-352-2 (2TD); Rec: Cooper Reid 10-115, Bloomgren 5-109TD, Montgomery 5-70TD, Attaway 3-17, Ronnie Fowlkes 2-25, Gotta 2-4, Bobby Wilkinson 1-12. KOR: Frost 3-86, Frank Accetta 1-12.
