VAN — Sophomore running back Matt Savis ran for 212 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries, and Van topped Pine Tree 41-28 on Friday night at Van Memorial Stadium.

Van quarterback Garrett Smallwood threw a first-quarter touchdown pass to Austin Lockwood and also ran eight times for 85 yards.

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Van (1-0) led 21-14 at halftime and took a 28-14 lead on Hunter Hopkins' 42-yard run with 9:18 left in the third quarter. Savis scored his third rushing touchdown of the night to give the Vandals a three-score lead, 35-14, and Pine Tree (0-1) could not recover.

Pine Tree quarterback Jake Oden completed 8 of 11 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, which went to Victor Hawkins and Mason Hays for two touchdowns. Hawkins' and Hays' touchdown catches covered 6 and 32 yards, respectively.

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Oden also gained 41 yards on seven carries for Pine Tree. Oden's passing yardage in Friday's season-opening loss surpassed the Pirates' season total of 143 from 2011.

Pine Tree's Chris Chadwick picked off a pass by Smallwood with 56 seconds left in the first half, but three false start penalties prevented the Pirates from cutting into Van's 21-14 lead before intermission.

Van visits Hallsville (0-1) next Friday, while Pine Tree hosts Center (1-0) for the Pirates’ senior night contest. Hallsville lost 35-18 at Whitehouse on Friday, and Center edged Buna 33-30.

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