The Van Vandals are the first Class 4A team to eight wins, but they remain one spot behind one-loss Kennedale in this week’s Texas Associated Press High School Football Poll.

It’s hard to argue Van’s position, considering Kennedale’s only loss this season was by three points to perennial state power West Orange-Stark, the No. 2 team in Class 4A. Also, Kennedale defeated Van in the state quarterfinals last season, 34-28.

The No. 8 Vandals (8-0) scored a whopping 31 points in the second quarter of Friday’s 51-21 win over Mabank. It was a huge game for senior Davonta Johnson, who rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries.

Sophomore Elijah Rankine led the Vandals with four TDs — three on the ground — and one through the air on a 5-yard throw from quarterback Garrett Moseley. Moseley was 8 of 16 passing for 107 yards, and added 41 yards rushing on five attempts in the victory. Van finished the game with 406 total yards of offense (316 rushing and 112 passing).

Van is off this week before taking on Kaufman (7-1) on Nov. 3 in a District 8-4A Division I showdown. Both teams are dominating the district at 4-0.

Carthage (7-0), the defending Class 4A Division I state champion, strengthened its hold on No. 1 in Class 4A with 22 of a possible 25 first-place votes after a 42-12 win over Center (2-6). The Bulldogs built a 21-0 lead after one quarter, led 35-0 at the half and took a 42-0 cushion into the final period.

Elsewhere in East Texas, Malakoff (7-0) remained at No. 5 in Class 3A after winning its 19th straight regular season game, 56-14, over Palestine Westwood.

West Rusk (6-0) kept the No. 8 spot for the second week in a row after beating Arp 24-0.

The Raiders posted their third straight shutout and fourth of the season. They forced four turnovers against Arp to run their season total to 22 (12 fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions). Sophomore defensive back Talon Winings leads West Rusk with five interceptions on the season.

Tenaha (7-0) remained No. 1 in Class 2A after the Tigers dominated Wortham 69-8. Tenaha returned to district play one week after getting a forfeit over Mount Enterprise and a 66-6 non-district win against Houston charter school KIPP Northeast on the same weekend.

Carlisle (6-1), which was No. 11 last week, suffered its first loss of the season as Alto pulled off a 31-28 upset in Price. Alto scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the back-and-forth contest.

Class 6A Poll – 1, Allen; 2, Converse Judson; 3, Katy; 4, DeSoto; 5, Austin Westlake; 6, Garland Sachse; 7, Waco Midway; 8, The Woodlands; 9, Klein Collins; 10, Duncanville.

Class 5A Poll – 1, Aledo; 2, Manvel; 3, Denton Ryan; 4, Corpus Christi Calallen; 5, Cedar Park; 6, Dallas Highland Park; 7, Angleton; 8, Mansfield Legacy; 9, Dripping Springs; 10, Frisco Lone Star.

Class 4A – Carthage; 2, West Orange-Stark; 3, Argyle; 4, Waco La Vega; 5, Cuero; 6, Midlothian Heritage; 7, Kennedale; 8, Van; 9, Texarkana Pleasant Grove; 10, Sweetwater.

Class 3A – 1, Gunter; 2, Wall; 3, Lexington; 4, Newton; 5, Malakoff; 6, Canadian; 7, Brock; 8, West Rusk; 9, Hallettsville; 10, Yoakum.

Class 2A – 1, Tenaha; 2, Mason; 3, Muenster; 4, Mart; 5, Albany; 6, Refugio; 7, Abernathy; 8, De Leon; 9, Bremond; 10, Milano.

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