VYPE/ESPN Austin Central Texas Game of the Week Preview: Vandegrift vs. Harlan
The Vandegrift Vipers played in the 6A D2 state championship game in 2022. The Harlan Hawks put a scare into them on the way, racing out to a 21-7 lead in the regional semifinal game before the Vipers stormed back for a 49-21 win. Two wild finishes later and Vandegrift was playing in AT&T Stadium.
Safe to say, Vandegrift won’t be caught off guard when the Vipers face the Hawks again, this time in a 6A D2 Region IV Final in the VYPE Central Texas High School Football Game of the Week, simulcast on 102.7 FM ESPN Austin radio.
After cruising through the first two rounds of the playoffs with easy wins over Austin High (56-14) and SA Sotomayor (51-0), Coach Drew Sanders’ Vipers (12-1) found themselves in a dogfight with Cibolo Steele last week. With their seemingly safe 20-point early fourth quarter lead whittled to just six and Steele on the move, the Viper defense recovered a fumble. Brendan Fournier rambled for a 44-yard touchdown run on the very next play and Vandegrift was back in the Elite Eight after a marquee 49-35 win over the Knights.
Senior quarterback Miles Teodecki (152-224, 2,453 yds., 37 TD, 7 INT) continues to find the open target amongst a fleet of receivers, led by junior Brock Chilton (46-873, 19.0 YPC, 12 TD) and senior George Farley (34-629, 18.5 YPC, 10 TD). Meanwhile senior running back Fournier (166-975, 5.9 YPC, 15 TD) has turned into a workhorse since his return from an early season injury. And although the Viper defense surrendered 35 points to Steele, that was still roughly 21 points below the Knights’ average for the season.
Head Coach Eddie Salas has quickly turned Harlan into a San Antonio power. The Hawks (12-1) have made the playoffs in five of their first six seasons of varsity play and have reached double digit wins for three straight years. Harlan defeated Clark (41-23) and drubbed Dripping Springs 55-24 in their first two rounds before holding off New Braunfels Canyon 39-36 to set up this rematch, one year removed.
Quarterback Aldric Trotter is a dual threat behind center for the Hawks. The junior signal caller has been effective through the air (134-207, 2,268 yds., 21 TD, 3 INT) and leads the Hawks’ rushing attack (129-891, 6.9 YPC, 14 TD). Senior Adrien McDade (128-881, 6.9 YPC, 10 TDs) complements Trotter in the ground game.
If 2022 was the game that got away for Harlan, it was the refocusing springboard that launched the Vipers on their “Jerry World” trajectory. The 2024 edition should be a more-than-worthy sequel.
What: 6A D2 Region IV Final/State Quarterfinal
When: 7:15 Pregame, 7:30 Kickoff
Where: Bobcat Stadium, Texas State University
Who: Merle Bertrand, Hank Hudson, Matt Sanders
Watch: https://www.vype.com/nfhs-6a-dii-football-reg-iv-final-vandegrift-vs-sa-harlan OR https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/uil/gam493b3d4452
Audio Stream: https://www.1027espn.com/listen-live/
