Austin Vandegrift and Humble Summer Creek faced off in a dramatic Class 6A Division II state semifinal on Saturday night. Both teams brought powerful offenses and stout defenses, but it was the Vipers who emerged victorious, 34-31, after a back-and-forth battle that went down to the wire.
Summer Creek surged ahead early, scoring two first-quarter touchdowns behind quarterback Blake Thomas’ dual-threat ability. Vandegrift countered with an electric 87-yard kickoff return to stay within reach. The Bulldogs held a slim 24-21 lead at halftime, with wide receiver Benny Easter breaking free for a 64-yard touchdown just before the break.
In the second half, the momentum shifted repeatedly. Vandegrift’s Brendan Fournier punched in a 2-yard touchdown to take a 28-24 lead. Summer Creek answered quickly with a 3-yard rushing score by Keshawn Jackson. The game entered the fourth quarter with Summer Creek clinging to a 31-28 advantage.
The decisive moment came midway through the final quarter when Vandegrift’s Miles Teodecki connected with Jack Rudberg on a 57-yard touchdown pass, giving the Vipers a 34-31 lead. Summer Creek’s comeback efforts were thwarted by a late interception, sealing Vandegrift’s place in the state championship game. The Vipers will face Southlake Carroll on December 21 at AT&T Stadium.
Photos from Pat Carrigan of First Down Photos
