Eighth-Ranked Van Still Claims District Title Despite 19-14 Upset Loss to Terrell

TERRELL -- No. 8 Van left Terrell still the champion of District 8-4A Division I despite a 19-14 loss on Friday night, and the Vandals got a little creative in doing so.

Van let the game clock run out with two downs left and on its own 5-yard line to take the defeat, but the Vandals didn't want to risk Terrell getting the ball and winning by 13 points to take the top seed in the district.

The Vandals (9-1, 5-1) will face Princeton at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Royse City to open the Class 4A Division I playoffs. Terrell (8-2, 5-1) came out of the district as the No. 2 seed.

Van quarterback Garrett Moseley scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 6:46 left in the game to get the Vandals within five points, but the Vandals couldn't get in the end zone on its next two possessions.

After taking a 9-7 lead into halftime, Terrell went up 16-7 on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tiyea Zanders to Jarvis Walker with 10:20 left in the third quarter. Terrell extended its lead to 19-7 on a 26-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

A safety and a 12-yard Kanodrick Richardson touchdown run gave Terrell a 9-0 lead midway through the first quarter, but Van responded with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Moseley to Isaiah Allred to cut Terrell's lead to 9-7 with 2:54 left in the first.

Elijah McQueen led Terrell on the ground with 108 yards on 18 carries, while Zanders threw for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Moseley led Van in passing and rushing, throwing for 137 yards on 11 of 19 attempts and rushing for 79 yards on 27 carries. He connected with Allred six times in the game for 75 yards.