Vandegrift and DeSoto will square off Saturday afternoon at 3:00 in the 6A Division II State Title Game.
The Vipers upset Katy to secure their first ever state title appearance a week ago as Hayden Arnold nailed a game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.
Across the field, DeSoto is back in the state title game for the second time in school history. The Eagles won their only other appearance back in 2016 when they defeated Cibolo Steele 38-29.
Here’s what to watch for on Saturday.
Vandegrift Vipers (14-1)
Head Coach: Drew Sanders (13th season; 121-43)
Distance to AT&T Stadium: 202 miles
2022 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 28-14 vs. Austin Bowie
Area: W 37-7 vs. Converse Judson
Regional Semifinal: W 49-21 vs. San Antonio Harlan
Regional Final: W 27-24 vs. Dripping Springs
State Semifinals: W 38-35 vs. Katy
Key Players and Storylines
Vandegrift has done an exceptional job of performing in the clutch the past two weeks.
First, against Dripping Springs in the Regional Final, the Vipers stopped the Tigers on fourth and goal from the one yard line with just under two minutes to go.
Vandegrift head coach Drew Sanders said he remembers observing his team at halftime at that game and feeling like they would have a good shot to win.
“The feeling in the locker room [at halftime] was clear. Our kids and staff knew that we could win that game,” Sanders said. “That confidence and trust showed itself in that goal line stand where our kids knew that we would get a stop. That kind of stuff happens when you just keep playing hard.”
Last week, after Katy tied the game on a 64-yard touchdown run with just two minutes to go, the Vipers responded by driving into field goal territory to allow Hayden Arnold to boot the game-winning 37-yard field goal.
On to Jerry World! I was 1/1 on fg and 5/5 on PAT. Here is the game winner from 37 yards. @VHSFootball @RecruitVandyFB @FlxAtx @KickingWorld pic.twitter.com/OS5xWOamFw
— Hayden Arnold (@HaydenArnold37) December 13, 2022
“Our kids displayed these traits [resiliency, trust, and love] again after a couple of big plays led to Katy tying up the game late in the fourth quarter,” Sanders said referring in part to Katy’s late touchdown. “Watching our team encourage each other with great energy on the sideline led to some big time plays being made that got us into field goal rang.”
If Vandegrift is to have similar success in the state title game, it’ll likely need a big game from quarterback Brayden Buchanan (3,292 yards and 29 touchdowns), who has been a gunslinger under center this year.
His favorite target by far has been Miles Coleman. The junior receiver has 1,604 receiving yards on the season and is coming off a 183-yard performance in the state semifinals.
Up front, the Vipers have size in the trenches to rely on as four-star tackle Blake Frazier and Clemson commit Ian Reed anchor the offensive line.
That offensive line will help pave the way for running back Alex Witt, who leads the Vipers with 1,085 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season.
On the other side of the ball, expect defensive back Alex Foster to make plays all over the field. He leads the Vipers with a remarkable 182 tackles on the season.
In the trenches, the Vipers have some notable size with SMU commit Daemian Wimberly (74 tackles, 14 TFLs), while Blaine Becker (104 tackles) and Ben Booher (103 tackles) will anchor the linebacking corps.
DeSoto Eagles (13-2)
Head Coach: Claude Mathis (11th season (across two stints); 118-27 record)
Distance to AT&T Stadium: 25 miles
2022 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 37-20 vs. Pflugerville Weiss 
Area: W 52-7 vs. Rockwall-Heath
Regional Semifinals: W 38-14 vs. Tomball
Regional Final: W 60-24 vs. Harker Heights
State Semifinal: W 47-28 vs. Denton Guyer
Key Players and Storylines
The Eagles have been dominant in their playoff run, winning every game by at least three scores.
In a state semifinal where most expected Denton Guyer to win, the Eagles came out and punched them in the mouth behind 231 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Deondrae Riden Jr. Fellow running back Jaden Trawick and quarterback Darius Bailey also contributed two touchdowns each as the Eagles rushed for 447 yards on the afternoon.
If Vandegrift wants to win this game, they’ll have to slow down DeSoto’s rushing attack.
But that’s not all they’ll have to be weary of.
Bailey can sling the ball as well, having thrown for 3,552 yards and 42 touchdowns to just three interceptions on the year. He has one of the most dangerous receivers in the state of Texas to aim for as well in Texas commit Johntay Cook (1,366 yards and 21 touchdowns).
DeSoto has plenty of talent on the defensive end as well.
Junior linebacker Brandon Booker has been a force in the middle of the field this year with 132 total tackles and four interceptions.
In the secondary, DeSoto is stacked.
North Texas commit Caimon Mathis is tied for the team lead with four interceptions, while SMU commit Jaden Milliner-Jones (82 tackles), Texas Southern commit DeMichael Porter (52 tackles), and four-star cornerback Mario Buford are all players Buchanan will have to be weary of when he lets the ball fly on Saturday afternoon.
Up front, nose guard Marshall Kirven will look to suffocate Vandegrift’s run game having racked up 18.5 tackles for loss on the season so far.
Final Thoughts
The scoreboard operator could be in for a busy afternoon on Saturday if both Bailey and Buchanan play to their potential.
And while DeSoto might have more raw talent than Vandegrift, the Vipers have proven throughout their playoff run that they can hang with anyone in the state.
Sanders said his team has lived up to their motto for the year with their performances the past two weeks.
“I think the same resiliency, trust and love that brought us through those games will be on display Saturday against DeSoto,” Sanders said. “Our kids set the tone with this year’s team theme “Legacy.” It fits this team. They have secured their legacy in the history of our program, and now in the state of Texas, as a team that doesn’t want to be finished. We are excited about the challenge. ”
If Vandegrift can slow down the DeSoto run game and if Buchanan takes care of the football, expect them to have a shot down the stretch at earning their first state title.
And what a legacy that would leave.
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