ARLINGTON - - As long as Drew Sanders is the head coach, Vandegrift’s football program will never wear ‘Vipers’ across their chests, no matter how cool the mascot is. They play for their school’s namesake, a Leander ISD grad who lost his life overseas.

“Matthew Vandegrift sacrificed his life for his country on April 21, 2008,” Sanders said. “From there, the entire structure of our thought process begins.”

Last year, Vandegrift went 10–0 in the regular season and lost for the first time in program history in the first round of the playoffs. Sanders said many thought they were doomed to repeat that after losing multiple Division I signees. But over the offseason, the coaches instilled in the 2024 team that great things could be accomplished when no one gets the credit. They instilled sacrifice. They got back to their namesake.

“It was a really long offseason,” senior defensive back Aidan Jones said. “That let us go from individual to group, group to team, team to family.”

Saturday afternoon’s 24-17 victory over Southlake Carroll in the Class 6A Division II State Championship embodied that transformation.

Jones rotated from right outside linebacker to Vandegrift’s ‘Dime’ nickelback position for the injured Hollister Stephens. Jones and Defensive MVP Scott Buchanan helped hold Southlake Carroll to a season-low 17 yards despite passing 39 times.

But Southlake was forced to throw so often because it couldn’t get past nose guard Ian Witt and Arizona State signee Daeshon Morgan in the run game. Southlake’s backfield, without Baylor commit Davis Penn and USC signee Riley Wormley due to injury, managed just 53 rushing yards and only attempted four runs in the first half. Once Vandegrift knew Southlake had to throw, it was able to intercept Southlake twice.

“We didn’t feel like they could knock us back because of these big guys up front,” Sanders said.

Offensive MVP Miles Teodecki started the game with 11-consecutive completions, finding senior wide receiver George Farley for an 84-yard touchdown on a perfectly placed go route to jump start the offense.

Once Vandegrift jumped out to the lead, the Vipers leaned on Southlake Carroll with senior running back Brendan Fournier. Fournier’s 28 carries for 160 yards more than tripled Southlake’s entire ground output.

The state title marks Vandegrift’s first in program history, and adds another seat to the table of Austin’s elite high school football programs. When Sanders started the program in 2009, he said many asked him if he truly thought there was room for another powerhouse in an Austin area already stocked with Lake Travis, Westlake and Cedar Park.

The 2024 Vandegrift team kicked in the door, crashed the party, and doesn’t plan on leaving soon.

“I guarantee you in future years we’ll be back,” senior linebacker Adam Scott said.

BOX SCORE

Austin Vandegrift Passing

Austin Vandegrift Rushing

Austin Vandegrift Receiving

Southlake Carroll Passing

Southlake Carroll Rushing

Southlake Carroll Receiving

Austin Vandegrift Defense

Austin Vandegrift Fumble Recoveries

Southlake Carroll Defense

Southlake Carroll Fumble Recoveries