Vandals pound Comets to advance

In the fourth quarter of the playoff game in Greenville, Vandals defensive lineman Rilley Smock said the headline for that game should read “Defense makes a statement.” Then, Smock followed up that claim with a quarterback sack.

And while the Vandalia defense was smothering Comets quarterback Wil Harnetiaux and stuffing standout running back Christian Moss, the Vandals offense was using multiple players in multiple roles to put points on the board.
The result was a 27-14 win over Greenville that both avenged an earlier defeat which left a bad taste in the mouths of the Vandals and advanced the Vandals to the third round of the state playoffs for the first time in school history.
With the win, the Vandals, seeded No. 15 in the IHSA southern bracket with an 8-3 record, earned the right to host Anna-Jonesboro, the No. 3 seed touting a 10-0 record.
In Saturday’s contest at Greenville, two of the Vandals four touchdowns were of abnormal fashion.
Trevor Smalls, who has ran for 28 touchdowns while amassing 2,055 yards on the ground, threw for his second touchdown of the season, and Marcus Zimmerman, who has caught 15 touchdown passes this year, scored on a running play.
On defense, the Vandals were led by Chandler Boyd, Ethan Bayles, Erick Roman and Garett McNary, who had six, five, four and three solo tackles, respectively.
“I think it was our best team game of the year, special teams, offense, defense,” coach Jason Clay said.
“Our defense just owned the line of scrimmage,” he said. “We went to a five-man line, and we shut Moss down.
“Then they threw the ball a little bit, and that’s not what they wanted to do.
“Moss still got his yards,” Clay said. “He’s a special player, a special running back. But, he didn’t hurt us that bad.”
Moss, who gained about 170 yards, most of them up the middle, in the Comets’ win over Vandalia in week three of the regular season, was stuffed up the middle all day on Saturday.
The Vandals jumped out to an early lead, with Zimmerman taking the ball on the Vandalia 23-yard line about 90 seconds into the game and outrunning defenders. The extra-point kick by Bayles put Vandalia up 7-0.
Greenville countered quickly on a 38-yard run by Moss, but the Comets were unable to add the extra-point due to a bad snap.
Late in the half, the Vandals defense put Greenville in a fourth-and-18 situation on their own 12-yard line, and a pooch punt gave Vandalia possession on the Comets’ 38-yard line.
After a screen pass to McNary, a Zimmerman reception took the ball to the Greenville 1-yard line. Smalls breezed into the end zone a play later, with 34 seconds left in the half.
Up 14-6 at the start of the second half, Clay and his staff decided to try something to extend that lead quickly.
That decision paid off, with Smalls tossing a pass to Zimmerman for a 52-yard scoring play, giving the Vandals a 21-6 lead.
“We just sat down at halftime and talked about coming out of the half,” Clay said. “We hadn’t thrown out the wildcat (with Smalls taking the snap from center), and we know that Trevor can throw the ball, so, let’s take a shot at seven.
“And that kind of set the half up,” he said.
Smalls closed out the scoring with his second touchdown with just over 11 minutes left in the game.
The Vandals came close to adding two other scores. Thomas Ritchey broke off a long run and made it to the end zone, but it was called back when an official saw him step out of bounds near midfield. Smalls was on his way to another score when a Greenville knocked the ball loose near the goal line and the Comets recovered in the end zone for a touchback.
Greenville was moving the ball into Vandalia territory in the third quarter when Zimmerman stripped Moss of the ball.
The Comets scored their second and final touchdown on a 53-yard pass play with 3:06 left in the game, one of the few times that the Comets were able to do anything against the Vandals’ defense.
“We did a little bit of holding on after that (second touchdown by Smalls), because of penalties, but the defense was there every time and did a great job,” Clay said.
Getting an early lead was key, he said.
“We’ve been a second-half team most of the year, so we went into halftime with the lead, and you’ve got to be feeling good about that.
“But we knew that we needed to come out and make some plays,” Clay said.
“We knew that we needed a couple more scores, and we were able to get that.”
Going into the rematch with Greenville, he said, “There was a lot of excitement.
“They won the first game, and we still thought we were the better football team. When that happens, I think that puts you at an advantage, because you’re ticked and you’re ready to prove something, whereas they’re trying to hold onto something they got (earlier),” Clay said.
“Yeah, they beat us the first game, but our kids were ticked and ready to play football and prove that we’re the better team,” he said.
“They’re a great football team, too. It was a hard-hitting, physical game, and it’s something to be proud of,” Clay said.
Zimmerman agreed that the Vandals were looking for revenge.
“We’re a more disciplined team now,” Zimmerman said.
“We, for sure, wanted to get revenge,” he said.
“We definitely had a chip on our shoulder.”
The more-disciplined approach has given the Vandals more confidence, he said.
“I know we can go and play with tough competition, and I go in thinking that we can win every game we play.
“We just have to take it one step at a time,” Zimmerman said.
Rushing – 42 carries/327 yards, three touchdowns. Smalls 28/220, two touchdowns; Wells 5/-4; McNary 1/3; Zimmerman 3/86, touchdown; Ritchey 5/22.
Passing – 7 for 13, 114 yards, touchdown. Wells 6/12, 62 yards; Smalls 1/1, 52 yards, touchdown.
Receiving – Zimmerman 2 catches/65 yards, touchdown; Smalls 2/18; McNary 3/31.
Defense –  Zimmerman 3 solo tackles, forced fumble; Ritchey 1 assisted tackle; C. Phillips 1/1; Bayles 5/5, two tackles for loss; Smock 3/8, sack; Boyd 6/4; Garrett 4/4, tackle for loss; Smalls 3 solos; McNary 3/3; Lott 2/1; Largent 0/1; Ulmer 2 solos; Boren 1 solo; Enlow 2/1, sack, tackle for loss; Roman 4/2; Stanley 0/2; Taylor 2 solos.

Vandalia’s Trevor Smalls, center, receives an escort into the end zone from Blake Morrison, left, and Marcus Zimmerman, right.

Vandalia’s Rilley Smock records one of his two sacks in Saturday’s playoff win against Greenville.

Ethan Bayles (61) finishes up a tackle of Comets running back Christian Moss. Rilley Smock, who started the attack by latching onto Moss’ jersey is at left, and Marcus Zimmerman is in the foreground.

Head coach Jason Clay and the Vandals captains meet with Comets captains and the referees for the coin toss prior to Saturday’s playoff game in Greenville. From left are Chandler Boyd, Trevor Smalls, Garett McNary, Marcus Zimmerman and Clay.

Vandalia’s Anthony Enlow stops Greenville running back Christian Moss at the line of scrimmage in the first half of Saturday’s win.

Vandalia’s Dustin Lott stops Greenville’s Drew Frey in his tracks on a punt return.

Vandalia defensive back Cole Phillips pulls down a Greenville ballcarrier in the second half.

Vandalia’s Garett McNary heads upfield after catching a pass from quarterback Matthew Wells (9).

Vandals defensive coach Mark Reinhart lets out a big yell after his crew makes a big play on Saturday.

Vandals Linebacker Zane Ulmer pulls down Greenville’s Christian Moss early in Saturday’s win in the second round of the playoffs.

With Ethan Bayles (61) serving as an escort, Marcus Zimmernan heads to the end zone for the Vandals’ first score of the game on Saturday at Greenville.

Marcus Zimmerman celebrates after scoring the first touchdown of the game.

Marcus Zimmerman celebrates after a successful goal-line stand by the Vandals defensive in the third quarter.

Marcus Zimmerman hauls in a pass from Trevor Smalls to start out the second half of Saturday’s win over Greenville in the second round of the state playoffs.

Taking advantage of blocks by Garett McNary and Trevor Smalls, Thomas Ritchey cuts outside for a big gain. Ritchey reached the end zone, but the play was called back due to him stepping out of bounds.