(This story has been updated to fix a typo in the headline.)
ARLINGTON -- For the first time in school history, Vandegrift is a state football champion.
Brendan Fournier rushed for 160 yards and scored two touchdowns and Vandegrift made a late defensive stand to give the Vipers a 24-17 victory over Southlake Carroll in the Class 6A Division II state championship game.
One year after losing in the first round of the playoffs, the Vipers rallied with a new crop of players. Vandegrift (15-1) dominated Carroll for most of the game and finished with 441 total yards, 248 by quarterback Miles Teodecki.
Southlake Carroll (15-1) was searching for its ninth state title.
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But it was Vandegrift's muscle and might that determined the outcome. The offensive line deserves much of the credit for Vandegrift's 193-53 edge in total yards.
While the offense had a good day at the offense, the game wasn't decided until the defense withstood a late Carroll drive. The Dragons, which reached the Vandegrift 5-yard line late in the game, had three straight pass attempts denied.
Viper safety Scott Buchanan was named the defensive player of the game. He had seven tackles and knocked down a pair of passes on Carroll's final drive. On fourth-and-goal at the 5, Caleb Mooring knocked down an Angelo Randa pass with 2 minutes to play.
Teodecki had a terrific day and was named offensive player of the game. He completed 14 of 17 passes, two that resulted in touchdowns. The most memorable play was an 84-yard scoring pass to George Farley in the first quarter.
Fournier gave Vandegrift a 14-7 lead with a touchdown run in the second quarter. The Vipers would not lose that lead.
Another key play was a 33-yard field goal by Vandegrift's by Wiley Olson extend the lead 24-14 in the fourth quarter.
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