By SCOTT W. COLEMAN, Four Points News

The secret is officially out. Two of the youngest programs in Central Texas have quickly risen from the ranks of the unknown to become contenders for a district title and possibly much more. Having both gotten off to 3-0 starts in District 25-4A this season, neither Rouse nor Vandegrift will surprise anyone at this point. Everyone knows a meeting with either team is dangerous.

Viper Head Coach Drew Sanders coaching on the sidelines at the Oct. 4 game vs. Dripping Springs.
Photo by Scott W. Coleman

Two weeks ago, the Raiders went on the road to Marble Falls and held a high-flying Mustangs offense that came in averaging nearly 500 yards a game to a season low 281 yards while piling on 370 rushing yards — their third 300-plus yard performance of the season. Even in last week’s loss to Cedar Park, the Raiders put up more than 200 rushing yards and intercepted Cedar Park’s Nate Grimm twice.

Meanwhile, just a week after Vandegrift notched its first win over LISD rival Leander — a game in which the Vipers held the run-happy Lions to a mere 48 rushing yards — coach Drew Sanders’ squad became the first team in 25-4A to clinch a playoff berth with a come-from-behind 31-27 victory over the Mustangs.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Four Vandegrift High School alumni moved from gaming enthusiast to entrepreneurs as they developed a video game called “Subject X”.

Dylan Locke, Clay Lancashire, Charlotte Calvin and Matt Earp have been squeezing development time in between class work and jobs.

Once they realized the quality of their product matched or surpassed much of what is popular in independent gaming, the got serious about their venture. They formed Ludum Games LLC and are ready to take their game to market.

(L to R) Clay Lancashire, Matt Earp, Dylan Locke and Charlotte Calvin formed Ludum Games LLC and are ready to take to market their first game “Subject X,” a first person cosmic horror video game.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Vandegrift High School was awarded a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam grant in the amount of $8,900 to create an indoor personal mapping device for the visually impaired. Vandegrift’s all-girl team is one of 15 high schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam this year.

A Vandegrift High School all-girl team of inventors is one of only 15 from high schools nationwide to be selected as an InvenTeam this year.
The team is made up of Monica Phan, Marina Bendele, Katie Frierson, Sahar Rashed, Trudy Bui, Gloria Bui, Adley Greear, Ruchika Mitbander, Avni Shah, Lillie Hammer, Caroline Naples, Sam Trinh, Neha Mulpuri and Sondra Rahmeh.

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By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

One driver was arrested after he fired a 9mm handgun at another car during a road rage incident in Four Points last week. The bullet shattered the passenger side window of Stephen Johnson’s 1999 Lexus. No one was injured but one local mom says she will think twice about rendering aid again at an accident.

Lisa Olsen, her husband, in-laws from Denmark and 8-year-old daughter were heading home to Steiner Ranch after attending the Vandegrift High School homecoming pep rally. They arrived at RM 620 N near Comanche Trail around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 to find that a silver Lexus and a silver Dodge had collided.

Wanting to help, the Olsens turned on their hazard lights and went to check on the people in the accident. They didn’t know the one driver had a gun and had just used it.

Olsen said the driver of the Dodge, later identified as Donathan Harris, 33, was pacing and really upset and saying “I was trying to get in and he wouldn’t let me in… I (expletive) took a shot at him.”

At that point, Olsen didn’t think he was talking about a gun. They tried to check on the driver of the Lexus, later identified as Johnson, 66, but he left his window up.

Picture from the Olsen’s point of view.

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By RICH KEITH, Four Points News

More than 1,400 new students are expected to fill the halls of schools in Four Points over the next decade.

Leander ISD commissioned Population and Survey Analysts Inc. to complete a demographic update. The report released last week both affirms and challenges some long-held beliefs about LISD and Four Points.

LISD grows 29.5 percent in five years

In terms of growth, LISD still is among the fastest-growing districts in the state. Only Lake Travis outstripped LISD’s growth over the last five years. Lake Travis grew 33.7 percent while LISD grew 29.5 percent.

However, the absolute growth of LISD was 6,815 students over the same time period as compared to Lake Travis, which grew only by 2,071 students.

Leander’s absolute growth locally was challenged only by Round Rock ISD, which grew by 4,797 students over the last five years.

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