THE FINAL 48: UIL Football State Championship Preview -- Southlake Carroll vs. Vandegrift (6A-D2)
The 2024 UIL 6A-D2 State Championship is set for this Saturday at 3:00 PM at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where the Southlake Carroll Dragons (15-0) will face the Vandegrift Vipers (14-1) in what promises to be an electric showdown.
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Ranked No. 5 in the state (MaxPreps), Southlake Carroll enters the championship game with an undefeated 15-0 record.
Coach Riley Dodge and co. certainly have tenure at this stage, considering they’ve advanced to the Final on 10 prior occasions, and won it all in 8 of them – the last of which was in 2011 (Class 5A-D1).
Fast forward to the present, and the Dragons have shown resilience throughout the postseason, outlasting teams like Mansfield Legacy (69-7), Frenship (49-42), and most recently Longview (20-17) with explosive offense and clutch play.
Carroll's offense revolves around a powerful ground game and an efficient passing attack. While the loss of USC-signee Riley Wormley to a season-ending knee injury in October was a blow, the Dragons have continued to thrive.
Running backs Davis Penn (1,040 all-purpose yards, 20 TDs) and Christian Glenn (510 yards, 7 TDs) have stepped up in his absence, providing a dynamic duo in the backfield.
At quarterback, Angelo Renda has been the driving force. The junior has thrown for 3,550 yards and 36 touchdowns while also rushing for 644 yards and 14 scores, showcasing his dual-threat ability.
His go-to target, junior Brock Boyd (TCU-commit), has been a nightmare for opposing defenses, with 98 catches for 1,690 yards and 18 touchdowns.
If Boyd is covered, Carroll's depth at receiver with sophomores Blake Gunter (43 receptions, 726 yards, 8 TDs) and Brody Knowles (31 receptions, 464 yards, 7 TDs) ensures there’s no shortage of weapons.
Defensively, Carroll is led by a formidable front-seven, including senior Austin Davidge (79 tackles, 9.5 sacks), as well as juniors Zac Hays (66 tackles, 9.5 sacks) and Tennessee-commit Jack Vandorselaer (78 tackles, 7 sacks).
Linebackers Marcus Brouse (82 tackles, 6 TFL) and Robbie Ladd (82 tackles, 6 TFL) anchor the middle, while the secondary – featuring William Chen (77 tackles, 2 INTs) and Luke Bussmann (38 tackles, 6 PD) – provides strong coverage in the backfield.
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Vandegrift’s impressive 14-1 record speaks to the growth of the program, which has only been around since 2010. After a State Final appearance two years ago, the Vipers are looking to capture their first state championship.
Under the guidance of Coach Drew Sanders, Vandegrift has been a shining example of complementary football, with an offense that averages 43 points per game and a defense that holds opponents to just 14.
Junior quarterback Miles Teodecki has been an enthralling development, as he’s thrown for 3,016 yards and 46 touchdowns, while adding four rushing touchdowns for good measure.
His favorite targets – Brock Chilton (47 receptions, 904 yards, 12 TDs), George Farley (44 receptions, 838 yards, 13 TDs), and Gavin Koester (30 receptions, 431 yards, 7 TDs) – have helped power a high-octane passing attack.
In the backfield, senior tailback Brendan Fournier (Columbia-commit) has been a workhorse, rushing for nearly 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns. His ability to balance the offense makes Vandegrift a dangerous, multi-dimensional team.
Defensively, Arizona State-bound Daeshon Morgan has been a standout in the trenches, recording 82 tackles, 14 TFL, and 10 sacks.
The Vipers’ linebacker corps, led by Adam Scott (92 tackles, 14 TFL, 3 sacks), Parker Davis (62 tackles, 9 TFL, 6 sacks), and Caleb “CJ” Mooring (69 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 INTs), provides a stout front, while seniors such as break-out star safety Hollister Stephens (104 tackles, 1 INT) and Matthew Draeken (46 tackles, 5 INTs) offer leadership in the secondary.
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Will Southlake Carroll secure its 9th UIL trophy? Or will Vandegrift make history by claiming its first? Find out this Saturday (3:00 PM) at AT&T Stadium!