By SCOTT W. COLEMAN, Four Points News

The District 25-6A playoff picture is set.

Vandegrift will join Westlake, Lake Travis and Hays in the playoffs beginning next week.

For this week, pride is on the line as Vandegrift has an opportunity to get a first-ever win over Lake Travis at Monroe Stadium on Friday.

“We have definitely matured and improved as the season has gone on, and it’s good to see the fruits of that as we continue to get better,” said Vandegrift head coach Drew Sanders.

Lake Travis (7-2, 4-1) started the season as one of the favorites to make it to championship weekend. Losses to Converse Judson and Westlake may have derailed the Cavaliers’ district title hopes, but they’ll be battling for an overall second-place finish in the district against Vandegrift.

The Vipers lost to state-ranked teams — Odessa Permian and Cedar Park — in back-to-back weeks to open the season and then nearly toppled a Top 5-ranked Westlake team on Sept. 29 before rattling off four straight 25-6A wins.

Quarterback Justin Moore has improved steadily since the opener and is one of the most efficient passers in the district, with 1962 yards with 20 touchdowns and just two interceptions on the season. Isaiah Smallwood has been the workhorse when the running game has worked for the Vipers, and has 822 yards and 15 touchdowns going into the regular season finale.

Lake Travis quarterback Matthew Baldwin is another highly efficient passer, with 2709 yards and 31 touchdowns to just four interceptions, in a pass-oriented offense where Baldwin also leads the team in rushing with 214 yards and six touchdowns.

The Cavaliers lead the district with an average of 46.22 points scored per game. Vandegrift’s defense is second overall, allowing just 19.88 points per game.

The key to victory for Vandegrift on Friday will likely lie in establishing an offensive ground game and putting pressure on Baldwin, since Lake Travis relies so heavily on the pass.

Vandegrift Vipers junior wide receiver Reese Watson (81) bats a pass intended for Leander Lions junior wide receiver Ismael Sanchez (17) away in the end zone during a high school football game between the Leander Lions and the Vandegrift Vipers at Bible Stadium in Leander, Texas, on October 13, 2017.

Vandegrift Vipers senior quarterback Justin Moore (12) prepares to take a snap during a high school football game between the Leander Lions and the Vandegrift Vipers at Bible Stadium in Leander, Texas, on October 13, 2017.