Austin Vandegrift 34, Humble Summer Creek 31

December 14, 2024

McLane Stadium

Waco, TX

The final game of state semifinal Saturday lived up to the hype at McLane Stadium on the campus of Baylor University as the last two 6A-Division II state runners-up tangled with a trip to the state championship game on the line.

Defenses dominated early in the game as both teams combined for just one first down on their first two possessions of the game. Summer Creek on their third drive would finally get the offense going as QB Blake Thomas connected with WR Caleb Williams for a 26-yard touchdown pass to put the Bulldogs up 7-0 with 5:37 left in the first quarter.

After a Vandegrift punt, the Bulldogs marched right back down the field to take a 14-0 lead with 1:14 left in the first quarter on Thomas’ run from nine-yards out. It appeared Summer Creek may run away and hide from Vandegrift, but sophomore Gavin Koester had other ideas as he took the ensuing kickoff 93-yards for a score to put the Vipers right back in the game at 14-7.

On the first play of the second quarter with Summer Creek into Vandegrift territory, Vandegrift’s defense came up with a big play as DB Jack Huerkamp recovered a fumble forced by LB CJ Mooring. The Vipers wouldn’t waste much time in tying the game up as RB Brendan Fournier would break a huge run to the SCHS one-yard line and he’d punch it in two plays to tie the game at 14-14.

Summer Creek would take the lead back on the next drive as Brian Mayes would kick a 35-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead halfway through the second quarter. Vandegrift would punt on their next series and it appeared the Bulldogs would take back control of the game as Thomas connected with Benny Easter for a 64-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-14 with 2:55 left in the first half.

Vandegrift would respond right before halftime on a sensational leaping touchdown reception from George Farley who hauled in the scoring pass in the corner of the end zone from QB Miles Teodecki and the Vipers would cut the lead to 24-21 at the half.

Vandegrift would get the ball to start the third quarter and march right down the field in impressive fashion taking their first lead of the game with 9:20 left in the third on a two-yard run from Fournier to make the score 28-24 Vipers.

This time it was Summer Creek’s turn to answer as RB Keshawn Jackson would score on a three-yard run to put the Bulldogs back up 31-28 with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter. Again it looked like Summer Creek would be poised to seize momentum as late in the third quarter, the Bulldogs stuffed Vandegrift on a 4th and 1 at the SCHS 21-yard line.

However Vandegrift’s defense was up to the task as well as the Vipers forced a SCHS punt to start the fourth quarter. After the two teams exchanged punts, Vandegrift would strike with a huge play as Teodecki connected with TE Jack Rudberg for a 57-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-31 with 8:50 left in the game as the PAT was blocked.

Summer Creek would move deep into Vandegrift territory on the next drive the Bulldogs leaned on QB Blake Thomas, but facing a 3rd and 3 at the Vandy 32, Thomas was picked off by DB Matt Draeken giving VHS the ball back with 4:53 left in the game. Vandegrift would work the clock and pick up two first downs before pinning Summer Creek inside their own ten with eighteen seconds left and no timeouts and the Vandy defense prevented a Summer Creek miracle and secured their second trip to the state championship game in three years.