Just as Vandegrift did in 2018, Manor is looking to shake things up in their first year in District 25-6A. Manor (4-0,1-0) is off to a hot start, just like the Vipers in a season that led to them running the table and claiming the outright District Title. Vandegrift (3-1,1-0) has rebounded nicely from a season-opening setback to Dripping Springs and is poised to provide a hefty welcome to the Mustangs in their first big test since moving up to 6A. This will be the first-ever meeting between these two Austin area schools.
Manor Mustangs
The Offense
The Mustangs are averaging 451.3 yds/game on the season (217.8 Passing, 233.5 Rushing). Their balanced attack has put up 38.5 pts/game over the first four weeks.
Manor’s offense is driven by 4 Star USC RB Commit Quinten Joyner (654 yards, 13TD) and their massive O-line (Avg 6’4”/299lbs) opening holes for him to dart through. What most casual fans may not know is that Quinten’s younger brother, SO QB Quintaelyn Joyner (821 yards, 7 TD, 3 INT) can sling the ball downfield to a bevy of WRs if opponents look to stack the box to try and contain the run, averaging 19.8 yds/completion.
Players to Watch:
- SR RB Decondre Jeffery – 14 carries, 40 yards, 2 TD; 5 Catches, 77 yards
- JR SB La’dontae Carter – 13 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD
- SR WR Sean Harris – 8 catches, 231 yards (28.9 avg), 3 TD
- SO WR Peyton Guyton – 12 catches, 202 yards, 1 TD
- SR WR Torry Johnson – 7 catches, 109 yards 2 TD
The Defense
The Mustang defense is allowing 15.5 pts/game, with opponents averaging 210 yds/game* (122 Passing, 88 Rushing). (*Stats only posted for 3 games; SA Cornerstone Offensive Stats not listed on MaxPreps). As a unit they have 39 TFL/9 Sacks/1FmbRec, along with 4 INT so far on the season.
Manor D-line is led by 4 Star SR Princewill Umanmielen (29T/9TFL/3Sacks), along with SR Curnilius Shepard (15T/2TFL/1Sack), SR Jayden Cofield (14T/5TFL/1Sack) and SO Damien Godley (10T/3TFL/2Sacks). This will be the most difficult test yet for the Vandegrift O-line to keep Buchanan upright with time to throw or try to get RBs an open hole to run through.
Manor LB/Secondary Units have done well in run support and applying pressure to the QB with 17TFL and 4 INT. Vandegrift WR Unit will be the most diverse that they have seen so far, with multiple outlets on every play.
Players to Watch:
- SR LB Ike Esonwune – 24T/4TFL/1FmbRec/1INT
- SR LB Samuel Shaw – 23T/2TFL
- SR SS David Jeffery – 23T/2TFL/2INT
- SR CB DJ Shaw – 20T/1INT
- SO LB Jaxson Cofield – 18T/4TFL/1Sack
Vandegrift Vipers
The Offense
Vandegrift is scoring 38.5 pts/game, while averaging 406 yds/game (262 Passing, 144 Rushing).
SR QB Brayden Buchanan (988 yards, 12 TD, 0 INT) leads the Viper passing attack. The Vandegrift O-line, led by 4 Star SR T Ian Reed (6’6”,315) and Top 2024 Prospect JR T Blake Frazier (6’6”,260) is a solid group that has done well in keeping opposing defenses away from Buchanan, providing him time to find the open receiver downfield. SR RB Alex Witt (334 yards, 3 TD), SR RB Reece Trevino (97 yards, 1 TD) and JR RB Zaid Oliver (84 yards, 2 TD) combine for an effective running attack to keep opposing defenses from flooding the secondary.
Players to Watch:
- JR WR Miles Coleman – 28 catches, 506 yards, 5 TD
- SR WR Ray’Jean Middleton – 10 catches, 113 yards, 2 TD
- SR WR Beck Ormond – 10 catches, 142 yards, 1 TD
- JR TE Jase Skoglund – 10 catches, 140 yards, 2 TD
- SR WR Grant Lindley – 6 catches, 84 yards, 1 TD
The Defense
The Viper Defense has allowed only 36 total points through the first four games, 23 of those coming against Dripping Springs in the opener. Even with plugging in nine new starters this season they have shown that ability to reload and perform as well or better as the 2021 unit. They also continue the Viper tradition of forcing Turnovers in almost every game, with (5 INT/4 FR) on the season.
Led by 3 Star SR Daemian Wimberly (15T/3TFL/6Sacks), SR Oliver Yndo (10T/1TFL/1Sack) and JR LBs Ben Booher (28T/3TFL/3Sacks) and Blaine Becker (24T/4TFL), the Viper Defense is holding opponents to only 189 yards/game (113 Passing, 76 Rushing). They will need to duplicate their effort in the last game where they kept contain on Stony Point 4 Star RB Cam Cook on all but a few plays.
Players to Watch:
- JR Alex Foster – 35T/4TFL/2Sacks/1INT
- SR Isiah Thompson – 17T/1TFL
- SR Cruz Orta – 16T/1TFL/1Sack
- SR Andrew Scott – 13T/2INT
- SR Davis Scott – 12T/2TFL/1Sack
Who Comes Out on Top
The competition steps up for both teams this week, in a game that could decide the top Div-II team in District 25-6A. Manor has the skill and size to take Vandegrift head-on, but will their roster depth come into play with the Vipers able to rotate multiple players in on both the offensive and defensive lines to try and wear them down. Vandegrift has struggled with solid running games in the past and will want to try and control the pace of the game to avoid a high-scoring shootout with the Mustangs. I think in the end, the depth and experience of the Vipers will come out on top, but in a lower-scoring game than most expect. Vipers 27, Mustangs 14.
CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz
