NACOGDOCHES — Van scored at will on offense and dominated on defense to smother Splendora in an avalanche of 35 unanswered first half point en route to a 49-14 win Saturday in their Class 4A Division I area football playoff at Stephen F. Austin’s Homer Bryce Stadium.  

The Vandals (10-2) will now square off with district rival Henderson (8-4) next week in the regional quarterfinals. It is a rematch of district rivals. Van won the first meeting, 21-20. The game is tentatively scheduled to be played at Whitehouse’s Wildcat Stadium. Time and date are pending. 

Van junior Elijah Rankine visited the end zone four times with senior receiver Ethan Robinson also making two trips to paydirt. Rankine finished with 163 yards rushing and three TDs (8, 24, 27) while also catching three passes for 43 yards, highlighted by a 26-yard TD. Robinson led the Vandals with four catches for 70 yards and TDs of 23 and 32 yards. Van quarterback Liam Nielson threw for 190 yards and three TDs.  

Meanwhile, Van’s defense intercepted Splendora twice, the first by AJ Zarate and the second by Cole Catlin. In between, the Vandals stuffed the Wildcats offense with multiple sacks and lost-yardage plays. All told, Splendora combined for 48 yards of offense with its biggest play coming on a 15-yard completion off a fake punt.  

The game started promisingly enough for Splendora with the Wildcats taking the opening kickoff and methodically driving into Van territory. But on third-and-10 from the Vandals 35, Jayden Jacobs raced in and hauled down Splendora quarterback Cody Thorndyke for a 16-yard loss.   

Van was held to three-and-out on its first drive and returned the favor to Splendora to force the Wildcats second punt of the quarter.  

Marcos Orozco decided to return it, going up the middle for 25 yards down to the Splendora 39.  

That was all the spark Van needed to take over.   

On third-and-8, Nielson fired a pinpoint pass to Bray Doring, who raced up the seam for 29 yards. On first-and-goal, Rankine gave everyone a glimpse of what was to come, forcing his way into the end zone for an 8-yard TD. The first of five PATs was good from Calen McKinney to make it 7-0 with 4:26 left in the first quarter.  

Splendora tried to answer, but had two big yardage plays called back on chop blocks.  

Van gained possession back after the punt and went back to work. Nielson led the Vandals on a 51-yard drive in six plays. He finished it off with a 27-yard scoring pass to Robinson to give Van a 14-0 lead entering the second quarter.  

Miscues by Splendora were followed by long-yardage touchdowns from Van. Rankine took a draw 22 yards for a score, caught a 26-yard TD pass and Robinson turned a 15-yard catch into a 32-yard touchdown for a 35-0 halftime lead.  

Van tacked on a couple more TDs in the second half with Splendora getting on the board late in the fourth quarter. 

——— 

Class 4A Division I 

Area Playoff 

Van 49, Splendora 14 

At Stephen F. Austin’s Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches 

Van                 14   21   7   7  — 49 

Splendora      0   0   0   14  — 14 

First Quarter 

VAN—Elijah Rankine 8 run (Calen McKinney kick), 4:26 

VAN—Ethan Robinson 23 pass from Liam Nielson (McKinney kick), :21 

Second Quarter 

VAN—Rankine 24 run (McKinney kick), 8:26 

VAN—Rankine 26 pass from Nielson (McKinney kick), 7:34 

VAN—Robinson 32 pass from Nielson (McKinney kick), 1:02 

Third Quarter 

VAN—Rankine 27 run (McKinney kick), 2:41 

Fourth Quarter 

VAN—Alex Harris 4 run (McKinney kick), 9:28 

SPL—Kyle Weber 5 run (kick failed), 7:24 

SPL—Scott Norwood 87 pass from Cody Thorndyke (Thorndyke pass to Weber), 1:13  

SPL          VAN          

Rushes-Yards              37–67      28–259 

Passing Yards                  192        190 

Comp.-Att.-Int.               10–21–2        12–20–1 

Punts-Avg.                    6–30.8            1–28 

Fumbles-Lost                   4–1          0-0 

Penalties-Yards             5–38       1–5 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING—Splendora, Jessie Paris 20-51, Jagger Kenned 10-16, Cody Thorndyke 4-(minus 12), Kyle Weber 2-9. Van, Elijah Rankine 12-163, Alex Harris 6-43, Walker 6-40, Ryan Ramey 2-19, Liam Nielson 1-(minus 7). 

PASSING—Splendora, Cody Thorndyke 4-12-1 146, Jagger Kennedy 5-8-1 47.    Van, Nielson 12-20-1 190, Rankine 0-1-0. 

RECEIVING—Splendora, Tyler Gamble 5-74, Scott Norwood 1-87, Kyle Weber 1-9, . Van, Ethan Robinson 4-70, Rankine 3-43, Javonta Thomas 3-34, Bray Doring 2-52,.