Vandegrift wide receiver Brock Chilton (1) runs the ball into the end zone to score in the fourth quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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CEDAR PARK — One year after winning a state championship, the 2025 Vandegrift football team aspires to create its own identity.
When the Vipers walked out of Gupton Stadium Friday night with a 21-10 victory over Vista Ridge, they spoke openly about a goal that has nothing to do with the Class 6A DII state trophy. The rest of the regular season is dedicated to winning another District 25-6A trophy and the Vipers appear on their way to checking off that goal.
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Vandegrift improved to 3-1, but a 2-0 district start is where the pride kicks in. The Vipers have won the last seven titles, and when talking about dominance, their 52-2 record in district games since 2018 sums it up.
Vandegrift wide receiver Brock Chilton (1) outstrips a tackle attempt from Vista Ridge defensive back Carson Miller (6) in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift defensive back Tobias Gray (8) attempts to stop a run from Vista Ridge wide receiver DeShaun Castillo (1) in the second quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge quarterback Cameron Lacek (10) prepares to take the field with his team ahead of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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The Vandegrift Vipers play the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift quarterback Miles Teodecki (12) takes a tackle from Vista Ridge linebacker CJ Milligan (42) in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift running back Justin Moore (3) evades a tackle attempt from Vista Ridge linebacker Wyatt Porowski (40) and braces for a tackle from defensive back Dylan Gonzales (16) in the first quarter between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge wide receiver DeShaun Castillo (1) runs the ball in the second quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge quarterback Cameron Lacek (10) slots a pass to a teammate in the first quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge quarterback Cameron Lacek (10) is sacked by Vandegrift defensive lineman Gavin Law (94) in the first quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift running back Justin Moore (3) runs through a tackle attempt from Vista Ridge linebacker Wyatt Porowski (40) in the first quarter between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift tackle Carter Mannon (77) listens to teammates during a huddle in the first quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge tight end Mason Kuehn (14) runs out of a tackle in the first quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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The Vandegrift defense, including tackle Carter Mannon (77) collide with the Vista Ridge offense in the first quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge wide receiver Will Johnson (12) receives the ball in the second quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge wide receiver Will Johnson (12) returns the ball in the second quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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The Vandegrift defense celebrate a defensive play in the second quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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The Vista Ridge student section throw water to begin the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge wide receiver DeShaun Castillo (1) runs the ball past defense from Vandegrift linebacker Luke Davis (39) defensive back Griffin Gorrebeeck (0) in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift quarterback Miles Teodecki (12) passes the ball over the defense in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift running back Sam Brown (40) gets through the defense to advance the ball in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift running back Sam Brown (40) runs through the defense in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift wide receiver Brock Chilton (1) runs the ball up the sideline in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vista Ridge wide receiver Kieran Paegle (5) spins to evade the defense and advance the ball in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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“Winning district is the starting point,” longtime Vipers coach Drew Sanders said. “You can’t go anywhere else until you win these eight games. We do a really good job of preaching and we’re proud to win district.”
Here are a few takeaways from a hard-fought football game.
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Vandegrift quarterback Miles Teodecki (12) slides down after advancing the ball in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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A special connection sealed the victory
Vista Ridge wide receiver Kieran Paegle (5) spins to evade the defense and advance the ball in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Vandegrift is fortunate to have quarterback Miles Teodecki, the MVP of last year’s state championship game. But while he had another strong performance, no one wearing black and silver played any bigger than wide receiver Brock Chilton, who seemingly made every big play. He finished with 11 receptions for 193 yards and a touchdown, and his 21-yard scoring catch with 3:16 to play was the decisive blow in an otherwise tight game.
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“We don’t like those guys over there,” Chilton said. “We’re able to play through adversity because we love each other. We want to win for the player next to us. …Â Behind Cedar Park, Vista Ridge is our biggest crosstown rivals. I’ve been playing against these guys forever. Being able to beat them is awesome. We’ve dominated them every single time since I’ve been here.”
Vandegrift held a 14-10 lead early in the fourth quarter when the Vipers took possession of the ball at their own 18-yard line. That was the starting point for Teodecki, who relied on Chilton to move the chains while running back Sam Brown churned for chunks of yardage behind a strong offensive line.
The only setback was a 16-yard touchdown catch by Chilton that was called back because the Vipers were flagged for an illegal man downfield penalty. A minute later, Chilton ran the same route and scored on Teodecki’s strike to give the Vipers their 21-10 lead.
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Vista Ridge quarterback Cameron Lacek (10) prepares to take the field with his team ahead of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.
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The Vipers defense didn’t break
Vista Ridge (4-1, 1-1) had averaged 30 points in its first four games, but Vandegrift’s defense was tough to crack. The Rangers scored their only touchdown on a 34-yard toss from quarterback Cameron Lacek to receiver DeShaun Castillo in the first quarter. The Rangers had a golden opportunity to score another touchdown after driving to Vandegrift’s 1-yard line in the third quarter, but had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Marcos Nigaglioni.
Vipers defensive end Hugo De la Vara Vazquez, one of the key defenders in last year’s championship, was among several defenders who made plays Friday.
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“At the end of the day we’re just playing to Vandegrift’s standard,” said Vazquez, who played with a broken thumb he suffered two weeks ago against Stony Point.
Sanders had the last word: “We knew it would be a bend-but-don’t-break kind of night. We talked about that all week. We got the pressures when we needed them, we got the turnovers when we needed them.”