The varsity football team will take on the Vandegrift Vipers on Friday at Monroe Stadium after a 52-35 defeat against Harker Heights Aug. 29. Both teams head into the rivalry game at 0-1 after Vandegrift was upset by Dripping Springs in a 41-14 loss last week.
Last year, the Timberwolves won in double overtime, ending the game with an unanswered field goal to bring the score to 49-46. That defeat was the only one that the Vipers suffered on their way to a 6A Division II state championship, finishing the season 15-1 overall and 8-0 in district play.
“The Cedar Park game was the one game we lost last year and we are constantly reminded about that sour feeling,” Vandegrift senior quarterback Miles Teodecki said in an interview with the Vandegrift Voice. “We have revenge on our minds and are definitely going to be ready for that game.”
Notable players for Cedar Park include junior quarterback David Cooper, senior running back Trae Hill, senior defensive lineman Brooks Bouffard and senior linebacker Jaheim Porter, on a team that returns 14 starters, including four on the offensive line.
On offense, Vandegrift returns Teodecki, who threw for over 3,000 yards last season as the starter, as well as three starters on the offensive line and senior wide receiver Brock Chilton. On the other side of the ball, the Vipers have room for concern with only three returning defensive starters.
“I feel like there’s a lot of guys that we brought back as well, but I feel like all those guys that are going to step into those new roles will definitely succeed and do their thing because we always lose players,” Chilton said in an interview with the Vandegrift Voice. “It’s always just a part of football at this point in high school. There’s plenty of guys that will be able to fill in those spots.”
After Cedar Park’s loss last week, head football coach Michael Quintero said that he was impressed with the offensive and defensive lines but wants the team to work on staying consistent after success on early downs.
“We just weren’t consistent,” Quintero said. “We were good for three downs, then all of a sudden, we would bust.”
In the defeat, Cooper threw for 98 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 28 yards and one touchdown, with one interception.
“[There were] a lot of good things but also some bad things that we could work on,” Cooper said. “Our offense is going to keep on working and so is our defense. We’re going to be a different team next week.”
After Cedar Park’s loss against Harker Heights and Vandegrift’s loss against Dripping Springs, both teams go into Friday’s game with an 0-1 record, eager to avoid another non-district loss, especially against their biggest rival.
“We just have to keep moving forward,” head football coach Michael Quintero said. “We’re not hanging our hat on this one loss. We’ve got to attack each day.”