PREVIEW: Van’s Undefeated Season on the Line at Kaufman
DISTRICT 8-4A Division I
Van Vandals (8-0, 4-0)
vs.
Kaufman Lions (8-1, 5-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Lions Stadium, Kaufman
Coaches
- Van: Jared Moffatt
- Kaufman: Jeramy Burleson
Last week
- Van: Bye
- Kaufman: def. Mabank 33-21
Next week
- Van: vs. Terrell, Nov. 10
- Kaufman: Bye
Playmakers
Van
- QB Garrett Moseley, Sr., 5-11, 190 (92-of-160, 1,829 passing yards, 21 passing TDs, 98 carries, 937 rushing yards, 14 rushing TDs)
- OL Kris Dike, Sr., 6-6, 275 (Committed to TCU)
- LB Jake Kellam, Sr., 6-0, 210 (47 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks)
- OL Caleb York, Sr., 5-10, 250
- WR/DB Bray Doring, Jr., 5-11, 155 (23 catches, 536 yards, 7 TDs)
- WR Gus Brewer, Sr., 6-0 (31 catches, 589 yards, 7 TDs)
- DL Tristan Gentry, Jr., 5-9, 170 (22 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
- DB Zeke Betancourt, Sr., 5-9, 160 (10 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 PBUs)
Kaufman
- LB Devyn Morris, Sr., 6-2, 235
- QB Trey Collier, Jr., 5-11, 150
- OL/DL Landon Taylor, Jr., 6-0, 220
- WR/DB Casey Smith, Sr., 5-10, 160
Just the facts
- Kaufman is averaging 28 points per game.
- The Lions are on a six-game winning streak, their last loss coming on Sept. 15.
- Kaufman's opponents are 31-42 this season (.425).
- Van's opponents are 28-37 this season (.431).
- Garrett Moseley is responsible for 210 of Van's 383 points (55 percent) this season.
- Van is putting up 471.9 yards per game with almost equal passing and running attacks.
- Van is 3-2 against Kaufman since 2012.
- The Vandals won last season's matchup, 33-14.
Key matchup: Garrett Moseley against the Kaufman defense. This is the key matchup for anybody taking on Van this season. Moseley generates more than half of the Vandals' offense.
He is a threat to kill offenses through the air, where he has four receivers with more than 300 yards this season. Bray Doring and Gus Brewer are the favorites, having combined for more than 500 yards.
If that weren't enough, Moseley is also the team's leading rusher. He is nearing 1,000 yards on the ground this season, which would make him the first player in East Texas to reach 1,000 passing and rushing yards this season.
There hasn't been a team that can slow Moseley down this season. Unless Kaufman can change that, Van will keep humming along.
Don't be surprised if: Trey has a big game for Kaufman. The quarterback had a big season last year and has kept it up for the Lions.
It's a big reason why the Lions are 8-1 this season. If they want to soil Van's undefeated season, Collier are needs to carve up the defense. The Vandals will put up points, but perhaps the passing game can outshine Moseley and company.