Tigers fall to the Vipers, 27-24

The football game between the Dripping Springs High School Tigers and the Vandegrift High School Vipers started the season with a match-up full of suspense — one which was ultimately decided by a field goal as time expired. So, the rematch between the Tigers and Vipers was a much anticipated quarterfinal game in the playoffs.

Following the Dripping Springs loss, Vandegrift reeled off 12 consecutive wins. Meanwhile, the Tigers lost a big battle with Westlake for their only loss of the season. This meant both teams entered the game with 12-1 records. Everyone expected the rematch to be just as close and nailbiting as the first, and for sure, they were right.

There are many games in sports decided by a matter of inches or a few seconds of time. This game saw the effect of both factors with the two teams so evenly matched.

DSHS Coach Zimmerman's strategy was to control the game and the clock with their powerful ground attack. It worked as planned. The Tigers held onto the ball for 78 plays while the Vipers only had 40. DSHS held a 65-22 edge in running plays, eating up the clock and keeping the explosive Vipers off the field.

Dripping Springs won the toss and elected to kickoff. On their second offensive play, the Vipers would attempt a pass that Tiger Landon Requard intercepted, running 26 yards to the 10-yard line. A holding call brought it back to the 38. Seven plays later, Kade Curry powered in from the one-yard line. Walker Wright kicked true on the extra point. 7-0 with 9.55 showing. Vandegrift struck quickly, returning the kickoff 34 yards. The Viper running back popped for a 56-yard run and then broke a tackle to sprint in the remaining ten. The extra point for the Vipers was good. 7-7.

After exchanging punts, the Tigers started from their 37-yard line. The Tigers marched down to the 24 before stalling out. Wright split the uprights with a 41yard field goal to give the Tigers a 10-7 edge. Greyson Jones pilfered another Viper pass at the Tiger 32-yard line. Dripping Springs went on a 10play drive, climaxed by Jack Tyndall's 4-yard run. Aiden Burgess kicked the extra point as the Tigers stretched their lead to 17-7. This seemed to fire Vandegrift up, and they proceeded to move the ball 67 yards in six plays, including two big pass plays. The Viper running back took it in from the 11-yard line. The Viper extra point was good. 14-17. DSHS punted to the eight-yard line. The Vipers moved it in seven plays to the 33 and kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game at the half.

Both teams like to pride themselves as second half teams, but this was the chance to prove it. The Tigers started the second half at the 25-yard line. They methodically moved the ball down the field, chewing up half the quarter and scoring on the thirteenth play with a 22-yard pass to Kyle Koch from Austin Novosad. Wright kicked the extra point. 24-17. 6.51. The Vipers always seemed to respond and returned the kickoff 41 yards to the 46-yard line. Four plays later, a 27-yard pass knotted the score at 24 with 4.58 left in the third quarter. The Tigers ate up the rest of the quarter with twelve plays; ultimately, the drive was stopped at the 41-yard line on a sack.

When the Vipers faced a fourth down at the Tigers’ 15-yard line, they turned to their all-state kicker. He obliged with a 32-yard field goal with 10.19 remaining. It was the first time Vandegrift had enjoyed the lead.

After a penalty, the Tigers began their drive from the 19-yard line. They steadily moved the ball down the field, again using up the clock. After their seventeenth play, they found themselves facing a fourth and goal from the half-yard line. The Tigers decided to go for all the marbles with a quarterback sneak. The scrum of bodies pushed and shoved, with most of them ending up in the endzone. It appeared that a score had been made.

Unfortunately, an important part of the play had been left behind: the ball. A black-jerseyed Viper raced out with the ball in his hands. 1.56 remained in the game, and when a critical first down was made on a third and four, the game slipped away.

But after the feeling of dejection faded, reality set in: the 2022 Tigers had made a tremendous accomplishment. In a true baptism of fire, the DSHS football team conquered their first season in 6A and made it to the quarterfinals.

Game stats (DSHS first): First downs 23-15; Rushing 65-285, 22-195; Passing 100-164; Passes 8-13-0, 12-18-2; Punts 2-44.5, 1-29.0; Penalties 5-35, 1-5; Fumbles lost 1-1, 0-0.

DSHS rushing: Tyndall 32-161 TD; Curry 20-78 TD; Koch 5-31; Novosad 8-15. Passing: Novosad 8-13-100 TD; Receiving: Koch 4-59 TD, Garon Duncan 2-30, Curry 1-6, Tyndall 1-5. Int: Requard, Jones. PR: Jones 1-1. KOR: Duncan 1-15, Tyndall 1-15.

DSHS tackling (Unasst/ asst): Jones 6-2, Keller Stafford 3-3, Raphael Siewen 3-3, Reguard 4-2, Derek Edgar 3-2, Gunnar Betts 3-1, Daniel Sedillo 1-3, Elijah Gonzales 0-6, Gabriel Quintana 2-1, Nathan Prehar 1-1, Tomsen Vickery 0-2, Bryson Amrine 0-1.