Vandegrift Travels to Take On Cedar Ridge Thursday Night
Vandegrift Vipers (6-1,4-0) –
Vandegrift stayed unbeaten in District play with their 30-22 win over Round Rock last week. SR QB Braydon Buchanan (102/1602 Yds, 16TD, 0INT) continues to pace the Viper Offense that is averaging 371.2 Yds/Game (242.9 Passing, 128.3 Rushing) and is scoring 38.9 Pts/Game on the season. While the passing game take center stage for the Vipers, last week Buchanan showed a new wrinkle as he utilized the Keeper for 66 Yds and 2 TD on 15 carries.
JR WR Miles Coleman (44/861, 8TD) and SR WR Ray’Jean Middleton (16/231, 2TD) are the focal points downfield, but JR TE Jace Skoglund (15/228, 3TD) has become a threat in the middle of the opponents Defense. Not to be forgotten, SR RB Alex Witt (92/469, 8TD) continues to gain yards consistently in the open field and running the Wildcat formation near the Goal Line.
Vandegrift’s Defense once again is at the top in yards allowed (209.5/game (105.1 Passing, 104.4 Rushing) and points allowed (9.1 Pts/Game) in District 25-6A. SR DE Daemian Wimberly (39T,7TFL,9Sacks) and SR DE Oliver Yndo (26T, 4TFL, 2Sacks) are the front line, with JR LBs Ben Booher (47T,3TFL,3Sacks) and Blaine Becker (36T,3TFL) shoring up the middle of the Defense. The Viper Secondary, led by JR Alex Foster (75T,5TFL,3Sacks,2INT), SR DBs Andrew Scott (29T,2TFL,2INT) and Davis Scott (34T,3TFL,1Sack,1INT) has been stellar all season long, only allowing 3 Passing TDs on the year.
Cedar Ridge Raiders (4-3,3-1)* –
Cedar Ridge shut down Manor in Week 8 22-0 to move up into the fourth playoff slot. Since a slow 1st Quarter start against Westwood in Week 6, the Raiders have outscored their opponents 107-20 during their three-game winning streak. Cedar Ridge utilizes dual QBs, SR Aidan Liston (31/390, 5TD, 3INT) and JR Jacari Killingsworth (P – 27/425, 3TD, 4INT; R – 41/65, 2TD), which they will alternate between throughout the game.
They will also rotate among a stable of Running Backs, led by SR Karlos Jackson (72/512,3TD), SR Sincere Best (32/129) and SO Reggie Hurley (29/69). SR DB Miles Brophy (2 Rushing TD) will also be called on for short yardage and Wildcat type opportunities. JR John Gentry (6’4”, 6/196, 4TD) and SO Reese Brooks (6’3”, 10/127) give the Raiders some height at Wide Receiver to go along with SR WR Zane Wofford’s steady hands (25/355,3TD). Raiders are putting up 26.3 Pts/Game.
The Raiders Defense, allowing 317 Yds/Game (136 Passing, 181 Rushing) and 19.9 Pts/Game on the season are coming off their first shutout of the season. Their Secondary, led by SR Miles Brophy (2 INT) and SR Zay Cox (3 INT) have held opposing Offenses to just 92.6 Yds/Game Passing during their winning streak, along with 6 INT in that same stretch. Look for their D-Line, led by JR Malik Cousin (6’2, 230) and SO Brandyn Mitchell (6’2, 245) to challenge the Viper O-line, and for SR LBs Julian Meza (2 INT) and Jason Taylor (2 INT) to blanket the center of the Raiders Defensive effort.
Common Opponents – Stony Point, Manor, and Cedar Park. Cedar Ridge went 3-0, winning over Stony Point 44-20, Manor 22-0, and Cedar Park 34-14. Vandegrift was also 3-0, taking down Stony Point 41-13, Manor 34-6, and Cedar Park 45-0 (one of three shutouts on the season).
Who Wins – Vandegrift is 4-0 all-time against Cedar Ridge. If the Raiders are to break through against this year’s Viper team, they will have to play aggressive mistake free football. Look for the Vandegrift Defense to focus on locking down the Cedar Ridge running game to force them to go to the air and let the Viper Secondary do what they do. Cedar Ridge will look to add to their nine interceptions on the season and keep the speedy Viper receivers from getting behind them, while also keeping Witt and the running game contained. The Raiders have played well over the past three weeks, but I think this Vandegrift team is still a step ahead, Vipers win 38-7.
*Cedar Ridge doesn’t post Stats to MaxPreps. All Offensive Stats are from my own film review from available games. No Defensive Stats other than INT and Fumbles Recovered have been compiled.
Manor Faces Must Win Against District Unbeaten Vista Ridge
Manor Mustangs (4-3,1-3) –
Manor dropped their third straight District game last week to Cedar Ridge 22-0. After starting the season out 4-0, including a District win over McNeil, the Mustangs have lost three straight games to Vandegrift (34-6), Round Rock (17-7) and Cedar Ridge (22-0).
While SR RB Quinten Joyner has moved the ball effectively the past three weeks (133 Rushing Yds/Game), the Manor passing attack has dropped off considerably, only averaging 74 Yds/Game during the three-game stretch (217.8 Yds/Game over first four weeks). If they want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they are going to have to find the open receivers to take the pressure off the running game for a more balanced attack that can sustain drives. On the season they are averaging 372 Yds/Game (156.1 Passing, 215.9 Rushing), scoring 23.9 Pts/Game.
The Manor Defense has played well, holding the last three opponents below their season Scoring and Total Yardage averages. Behind their aggressive D-Line, anchored by D1 Prospect SR Princewill Umanmielen and Texas Tech commit Jayden Cofield, along with Tulsa commit LB Ike Esonwune, the Mustang Defense has been able to keep Manor ahead or within striking distance in all but one game. Allowing 213.8 Yds/Game (108.6 Passing, 105.2 Rushing) and 19.3 Pts/Game, which is near the top of all District teams.
Special Teams, both the lack of a strong Field Goal unit forcing the Offense to go for it on fourth down on drives deep within opponents’ territory, and a punting unit that has given up two touchdowns on punts blocked into their own end zone, as well as a third score setup by a low snap that turned the ball over near their goal line last week.
Vista Ridge Rangers (5-2,4-0) –
In Week 8 Vista Ridge won their fourth straight District game, downing Stony Point 39-33. The surprise team this season in 25-6A, the Rangers are much improved from their 4-6 overall and 3-4 District record in 2021 and are looking to return to the playoffs after missing out last year. Led by SR QB Jackson Harrell (94/1357, 13TD, 3INT) and their pass first Offense (295.2 Total Yds/Game (194.3 Passing, 100.9 Rushing) they have found a way to win, coming from behind in four of their five victories on the season. Vista Ridge is averaging 24.7 Pts/Game.
SR RB Isaac Garcia (135/495, 5TD) is a solid runner, but a trio of JR WRs, Reece Heffelfinger (23/338,4TD), Tian Murray (17/294, 3TD) and Tanner Brosie (23/238, 4TD) will challenge the Manor Secondary if Harrell is given time by his Offensive Line.
Defensively Vista Ridge is allowing opponents 291 Yds/Game (146.6 Passing, 145 Rushing) and 22.7 Pts/Game. On the season the Rangers have forced 13 Turnovers (9INT, 3FmbRec) for an opportunistic unit. The LB Corp leads the team in tackles, SR Mark Lerma (45T,4TFL,2INT), JR Grant Anderson (45T,5TFL,2INT), and SR Josh Brewton (39T,5TFL,3Sacks,1INT). D-Line is anchored by SR Aidan Cruz (22T,3TFL,2Sacks), SR Kaden Dees (29T,8TFL,3Sacks), Jr Tyler Gilliland (23T,1TFL,2Sacks) and SR Gabriel Moore (10T). An active Secondary has done well, only allowing two teams to pass for over 200 yds against them (Georgetown – 276, Stony Point – 244). SR Brandon Bastow (37T,1TFL), SR Syian Allen (24T,1INT), JR Josaan Gaines (11T,2TFL,1Sack,2INT) and SR Emi Landers (12T,1INT) roam the backend of the Defense for the Rangers.
Common Opponents – Cedar Ridge and McNeil. Manor went 1-1, losing to Cedar Ridge 22-0 and taking down McNeil 45-14. Vista Ridge was victorious against both teams, beating Cedar Ridge 30-10 and McNeil 15-11.
Who Wins – This one will have a Playoff Game feel with Manor needing the win to keep their slim Playoff hopes alive. Vista Ridge has not panicked in games this season, even when down by double digits, and this could help them weather the Mustangs on Friday Night. I am going with the hot hand and picking the Rangers over the Mustangs in a close one 24-21.
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