Vandegrift Shocks Carroll, Captures 6A Division II Crown in Front of 26,000 Fans
ARLINGTON — The lights were brightest, the stakes were highest, and Vandegrift refused to blink.
Behind explosive plays, relentless defense, and a star-making performance from their senior leaders, the Vipers stunned powerhouse Southlake Carroll 24–17 on Saturday at AT&T Stadium, claiming the Class 6A Division II state championship in front of 26,247 fans.
It’s the first football state title in program history for Vandegrift (14–2), and it came in storybook fashion: rallying from an early deficit, seizing momentum with record-breaking plays, and holding off Carroll’s trademark late-game surge.
Dragons Strike First — But Vipers Bite Back
Southlake looked every bit the seasoned juggernaut in the opening minutes. Quarterback Angelo Renda marched the Dragons downfield, capping the drive with a nine-yard touchdown strike to Brody Knowles for a 7–0 lead.
But Vandegrift’s answer was as swift as it was stunning. Quarterback Miles Teodecki found George Farley streaking downfield for an 84-yard touchdown — the longest receiving score in 6A state title history. Just like that, the momentum tilted.
Moments later, Brendan Fournier turned a short catch into a bruising 10-yard touchdown. Before Carroll could regroup, Fournier added a two-yard scoring run early in the second quarter, stretching the Vipers’ advantage to 21–7.
Defense and Missed Chances Define the Middle Rounds
The Dragons had opportunities to claw back before halftime but couldn’t cash in. A 47-yard field goal attempt clanged off the upright as the half expired, leaving Carroll staring at a two-touchdown hole.
Vandegrift’s defense — led by safety Hollister Stephens, a postseason tackling machine — continued to punish Carroll’s offense. Stephens, who had 19 tackles in the semifinal, was again everywhere. Jack Huerkamp’s second-quarter interception snuffed out another Dragon drive and underscored the Vipers’ physical edge.
Carroll Mounts a Push
True to form, Carroll refused to go quietly. Renda sparked a third-quarter drive with a 48-yard strike to Caden Mackey, then zipped a 23-yard touchdown to Brock Boyd to trim the deficit to 21–14.
The Dragons threatened again late, driving to the Vandegrift 5 with under three minutes to play. But the Vipers’ defense stood tall, stuffing the Dragons on fourth down to preserve a 24–14 lead after Wiley Olson’s clutch 32-yard field goal.
A desperate Southlake rally yielded only a last-second field goal. It was too little, too late.
History for the Vipers
When the final horn sounded, Vandegrift players sprinted across the turf, helmets aloft, a sea of black and silver finally able to call themselves champions.
For Carroll (14–2), the defeat ended a quest for its ninth state crown — and first since 2011. For Vandegrift, the victory erased the sting of its 2022 finals loss to DeSoto and stamped the program as one of Texas high school football’s newest giants.
Final: Vandegrift 24, Southlake Carroll 17.
The Vipers’ 13-game winning streak carried them all the way to the summit. This one wasn’t just a win — it was a breakthrough.
