Vandegrift Rides Defense and Special Teams to 34-6 Victory Over the Manor Mustangs
What was supposed to be a high-scoring District 25-6A football game more closely resembled an old school heavyweight title fight on Friday night at the Manor ISD Sports Complex. Both the Vipers and the Mustangs had come into the contest with explosive offenses both averaging over 400 yards and 38 points a game.
Manor took the opening kickoff and behind a heavy dose of RB Quinten Joyner runs, drove 80 yards in seven plays, capped off by Joyner’s 44-yard TD run to go ahead early 6-0 over Vandegrift (XP failed due to low snap). The Vipers responded with a seven-play drive of their own ending in a 35-yard Hayden Arnold FG to cut the lead to 6-3. Like boxers exchanging body blows, the defenses from both sides then took over, as the next five drives for both teams ended in a Viper Interception by Davis Scott, Vipers punt, Mustangs punt, Vipers turnover on downs, and another Mustang punt.
With 8:47 left in the first half, the Vipers put together their longest drive of the night, going 70 yards in 11 plays, started off by a 38-yard slant pass from QB Brayden Buchanan to WR Miles Coleman, and ending with a three-yard Wildcat touchdown run from RB Alex Witt to go up 10-6 with 4:18 left in the half. The Mustangs then countered with an 11-play 72-yard drive of their own to setup 1st and goal at the Vandegrift 3-yard line with 42 seconds left before halftime. On the following play JR LB Brent Booher met Quentin Joyner head on and pulled him down just short of the goal line. With no timeouts left, the Mustangs hurried to line up for one final play, and a rushed low snap was recovered by SO DL Ian Witt as the clock ran out, leaving the score at 10-6.
Second Half
The second half started out similar to most of the first half with both teams exchanging punts on their opening possessions. Vandegrift broke through on their next possession when Buchanan hit Coleman for a 31-yard touchdown pass to go up 17-6. On the ensuing kickoff, the Vipers stripped the ball from the Manor returner and recovered the fumble to takeover at the Manor sixteen. Four plays later, Hayden Arnold kicked his second field goal on the night from 32-yards to put Vandegrift up 20-6. After forcing a Mustang punt, the Vipers then struck on another explosive play, with Buchanan throwing a 44-yard pass that SR WR Ray’ Jean Middleton high pointed over two Mustang defensive backs to pull the ball in and set Vandegrift up 1st and Goal at the Manor four-yard line. On the next play Witt took the ball across the goal line to extend the Viper lead to 27-6. The Vipers then finished off the scoring for the night mid-way through the 4th Quarter when JR DB Alex Foster blocked a Manor punt that was recovered in the end zone by Cruz Carrasquillo to set the final score at 34-6.
Behind the Numbers
Manor RB Quentin Joyner showed why he is a 4 Star prospect, rushing for 153 yards on 26 carries (5.8 yds/run) and scoring the Mustangs sole touchdown. QB Quintaelyn Joyner was 7 for 15 passing, finishing with just 63 yards (avg 217.8 passing yards/game coming into Friday night) and 1 INT. The Manor Defense recorded 9 Tackles For Loss, holding the Viper running attack to just 60 yards (were averaging 144 yards/game on the season). They also kept pressure on Buchanan all night along and added sacks by Curnilius Shepard and Jayden Cofield.
Vandegrift QB Brayden Buchanan went 9 for 17, 175 yards passing with two touchdowns. RB Alex Witt ran for 73 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. Miles Coleman caught 6 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. The Vipers Defense forced three Mustang fumbles, recovering two, and had the Davis Scott 1st Quarter interception.
Vandegrift Special Teams showed out in the games third phase. Hayden Arnold was 2-2 on Field Goals (32,35) and 4-4 on extra points. Hudson Lillie had just three punts but put two inside the 20 while averaging 47 yards/punt to help pin the Mustangs deep. Kick and Punt Coverage Teams forced a fumble on a 3rd Quarter kickoff and added the Alex Foster blocked punt in the 4th Quarter that was recovered for the final touchdown. Ray’ Jean Middleton had two explosive kickoff returns of 20 and 27 yards to setup the Vipers Offense with good field position.
Week 7
Things don’t get any easier for Manor (4-1, 1-1) as they head on the road to Dragon Stadium to take on the undefeated Round Rock Dragons (5-0, 2-0). The Vipers (4-1, 2-0) return home to Monroe Stadium to take on the McNeil Mavericks (2-3, 0-2).
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