By TAYLOR CHRONERT, Vandegrift Voice
The Vandegrift Vipers are working hard this week in preparation to play against the Westlake Chaparrals at the University of Texas’ Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.
VHS beat Vela of Edinburg in the third round of playoffs on November 26 with a final score of 38-14.
“I felt confident in my team; us going down to Corpus was not an easy venture, but it made the victory all the more satisfying,” senior offensive lineman Kevin Corcoran said. “To hold that gold ball up after the game, and it feels good to make history at Vandegrift.”
Before making it into the third round of playoffs, the Vandegrift Vipers beat Cibolo’s Steele 38-0 and before that, San Marcos 52-14.
“Going into that third round playoff game, I’m feeling amazing,” senior and tight end receiver Landon Thomason said. “The team is really performing well right now, and everyone is working hard.”
The team traveled to Corpus Christi for last week’s game. Even though it was a long drive, Thomason said, he thought it went easy.
“The coaches took great care of us with a bunch of food and there was plenty of room,” Thomason said.
When they entered the field at Corpus Christi, and got ready to run on, Corcoran knew it was going to be a great game.
“I was feeling that it was going to be a really good game between two very good teams,” Corcoran said. “It all goes back to consistency in how we play to our level, not our opponents’ level whether that’d be up or down we just play our game.”
Vandegrift is 12-1 heading into the next game vs Westlake. The Viper’s only loss this season was to Round Rock on November 5.
Thomason says that making it this far into playoffs feels really great.
“I know we are not done yet; we just need to keep working hard,” Corcoran said. “Making history at Vandegrift means alot to me… And with the team we have, I am feeling confident.”
Thomason said he always knew that the team would be making it this far into the playoffs.
“Never did I doubt how far we’d go in the playoffs,” Thomason said.
This week in the fourth round of playoffs, the Vipers will be going up against Westlake.
“Westlake is a very good program and has lots of good players,” Corocran said. “So we just need to go back to playing our type of football, focusing on the basics of the game and play to our standard.”
Thomason said his main goal and focus this week is doing his job and doing it well.
“I have the same goal and focus every week,” Thomason said. “Just get myself ready to do my job and play my best for the team.”
Every year for the playoffs, the team always plays at a college stadium. This Saturday, they will be playing at the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at the University of Texas.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to play at UT,” Thomason said. “I know me and my brothers have grown up wanting to play on that field.”
As seniors, both Thomason and Corocran said they are both feeling mixed emotions, knowing that the end of their high school football career is coming to an end.
“It’s sad but also exciting because I know me and my senior brothers have worked so hard to get to this point,” Thomason said.
Taylor Chronert, VHS senior, has been involved in cross country and track for four years. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, running, spending time with friends, and working..