Vandals Dominates Grand Saline In Lightening-Shortened Contest

The Van Vandals were looking for a total team effort in their 2008 regular season opener and they accomplished that in impressive style as they dominated the Grand Saline Indians 38-0 Friday night in Grand Saline.

Lightning forced the contest between the two Van Zandt County rivals as officials called the game with one minute remaining in the third quarter.

Coach Brady Pennington’s Vandals, 1-0, will travel to Rusk for a 7:30 p.m. contest against the Rusk Eagles Friday.

Coach Kenny Phelps’ Indians, 0-1, will try to get on the winning track as they host Cayuga in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.

Van had several impressive individual performances against the Indians led by junior quarterback Tyler Sharpe, who made his varsity debut.

Sharpe completed his first 13 passes as he finished with 16 completions on 17 attempts for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

Running back Michael Terry, also playing in his first varsity contest, registered 111 yards rushing on 12 carries and two TDs.

Defensively, the Vandals held Grand Saline to one first down and minus 29 yards of total offense as they also sacked the quarterback four times.

Grand Saline received the opening kickoff and did not register a first down before punting the ball to the Vandals.

Van moved from midfield to the Indian 5-yard line in 10 plays that included running gains of 16 and 10 yards by Terry.

The Indian defense kept the Vandals out of the end zone and forced a field goal attempt by the Vandals on fourth down and goal.

Blake Pennington drilled a 22 yard FG to give the Vandals a 3-0 advantage with 2:17 remaining in the first quarter.

Following another Indian punt, the Vandals moved 44 yards in two plays to extend their lead.

After a 10-yard pass completion from Sharpe to receiver Tanis Cotton, Terry raced 34 yards for a TD. Blake Pennington was good on the first of his five extra points to extend the Vandal lead to 10-0 with 15.2 seconds to play in the first quarter.

Grand Saline suffered a turnover on its next offensive series as QB Taylor Phelps’ pass was intercepted by Vandal defensive back Colt Oliver and returned to the Indian 36.

On the next play, the Vandals stunned the Indian defense as Sharpe connected with receiver Blake Pennington on a 36-yard TD pass play. Blake Pennington also added the extra point to give the Vandals a 17-0 advantage with 10:47 remaining in the second quarter.

Blake Pennington, moved from quarterback to receiver, caught four passes for 69 yards and two TDs.

Another Grand Saline punt led to another quick scoring strike for the Vandal offense as Sharpe tossed a 40-yard TD pass to receiver Damon Hightower (three receptions, 51 yards). Blake Pennington added the extra point to give the Vandals a 24-0 lead with 7:56 to play before halftime.

It was three plays and out for the Grand Saline offense again as the Vandals took over from their own 24 following an Indian punt.

Van then moved 76 yards in 11 plays to extend its advantage.

Terry ended the time-consuming march with a 17-yard TD run. Blake Pennington added the extra point to give the Vandals a commanding 31-0 lead with 2:34 to play before intermission.

The TD run by Terry was set up by a 12-yard scramble by Sharpe.

Grand Saline picked up its only first down of the contest on a Vandal holding penalty but the drive stalled at the Indian 43 as time ran out in the first half.

Van received the second half kickoff and moved 80 yards on four consecutive pass completions to get on the scoreboard again.

Sharpe ended the march with a 23-yard TD pass completion to Blake Pennington. The Vandal senior again added the extra point to give Van a 38-0 lead with 10:30 to play in the third quarter.

After another Indian punt, the Vandals faced third down and six at the Grand Saline 43 when the Indian defense forced a turnover.

Sharpe fumbled as he was being sacked for a loss and Grand Saline defensive end Tyler Lucas recovered the ball at midfield.

The Indian offense could not take advantage of the good field position and was forced to punt as the Vandals took over controls at their own 40.

Six plays later, including a 13-yard run by Terry and an 11-yard pass completion from Sharpe to Oliver, the Vandals had a fourth down and 10 at the Indian 33 when officials sent both teams to the locker room due to lightning around the stadium.

Following an approximate 30-minute wait, the officials made the decision not to resume the contest.