Vandals To Close Memorial Stadium With Title Game

This Friday night’s home regular season finale at Van’s Memorial Stadium will be anything but typical.

Not only will it be the Vandals final appearance at home for 2008 but it will be the final game ever to be played in the old stadium as they will move to a new facility next season.

Also, the game itself has a great deal of importance as the Vandals host the Eustace Bulldogs in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff that will decide the District 14-3A championship.

Van enters the regular season finale with an 8-1 overall record and they lead the district with a 4-0 mark.

Eustace currently is 5-4 overall and 3-1 in district play.

Both squads are assured of berths in the upcoming Class 3-A state playoffs regardless of Friday night’s outcome.

Van will be in post-season play for the first time since 2004.

The Class 3-A state playoffs begin next week.

The Canton Eagles, 5-4 overall and 2-2 in district, travel to Kemp Friday night for a meeting with the Kemp Yellowjackets , 4-5 for the season and 2-2 in district, that will determine third place in the district and the final playoff berth in District 14-3A.

Vandal head coach Brady Pennington said before the season began that the team’s number one goal was to make the playoffs and that was achieved last Friday night when Van outlasted the Canton Eagles 24-14 in Canton.

There is still some unfinished business as the Vandals continue preparations for Eustace.

"We set two other goals that are very important to us," emphasized Pennington. "We wanted to win the district championship and finish our final home season at Van’s Memorial Stadium undefeated. We can accomplish both of those goals by winning Friday night."

Pennington is impressed with the progress that the Bulldogs have made throughout the season.

"No doubt, Eustace is the best team that we have played in district," pointed out Pennington. "They are a great team and they are the real deal. Eustace is very physical and very well coached."

Defensively, the Bulldogs operate out of a 4-3 alignment.

"They have a huge defensive line, good linebackers and a talented secondary," said Pennington.

Eustace has also impressed Pennington and his staff offensively.

"They are averaging over 30 points per game," emphasized the Vandal head coach. "They run an offense that we do not see that much of and that is a split bone with lots of motion. Eustace has a big fullback and a big offensive line. They have a lot of speed in their backfield. It is going to be very important that we play disciplined football on defense. This is definitely a district title type of game."