The close matchup between Dripping Springs and Vandegrift High Schools that was expected last Friday night did not materialize — with Vandegrift controlling every bit of the 27-7 win.
There were some missing ingredients that prevented the Tigers from staying in the game this time. Coaches like to push and judge the first five minutes of the first and second halves as indicators. The main difference from last season was in the control of the line of scrimmage by the Vipers and in the skills of the two new starting quarterbacks.
Vandegrift made short work of the first score, and on the third play, a 54-yard pass to a receiver behind everyone put them up 7-0 with 11 minutes remaining. A lost fumble and bad penalty cost them momentum in the rest of the quarter. They regained it in the second when drives culminated in two and fouryard run scores. An ill-advised Tiger pass with time running out was returned 25 yards to make the score 27-0 at the half.
Meanwhile, the Tigers struggled to combat the aggressive nature of the Viper defense. Yardage was hard to come by. Jack Tyndall was taking good blows in his hard-earned yardage. In addition, starting quarterback Jack Williams received a leg injury early in the first quarter.
The second half was what could best be described as a yawner. The Viper reserves managed to lose four more fumbles and no scores. Tiger receiver Kyle Koch provided the Dripping Springs team with a moment of excitement in the third quarter, skirting the defense and going untouched for 80 yards for the lone Tiger score. Aiden Burgess toed the extra point.
The Tigers travel to San Antonio on Friday, Sept. 1 to take on the Wagner High School team. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. This will be the final non-district game with the next week being a bye week. The first district game will be at House Park against Austin High School.
Game stats (DSHS first): First downs 7-13; Rushing 165-168; Passing: 51-160; Passes: 7-182, 12-17-0; Fumbles lost: 1-5.
DSHS individual stats: Rushing: Koch 3-871TD; Tyndall 22-70; Williams 2-9. Passing: Maddox Maher 6-17-43-2, Williams 1-1-8. Receiving: Koch 2-34, Tyndall 3-10. KOR: Tristan Felder 1-26, Koch 1-22.
DSHS tackling (Unasst/ asst): Theo Howard 6-3, Elijah Gonzales 3-3, Gabriel Quintana 3-2, Tomsen Vickery 2-2, Nolan Dahl 2-1, Chris Gustafson 2-1, Landon Requard 2-0, Case Hubbard 2-0, Deacon Ivey 1-2, Clive Wahl 1-1, Rio Hay 1-1.
