It wasn’t Van-Far’s day on Saturday.

The Indians lost their Class 1 state quarterfinal game 38-14 to Hayti at home in the afternoon after falling behind 18-0 in the first quarter and finishing with five turnovers. Van-Far finishes this season 7-5 and the program’s first district championship team since 2000. 

Head coach Lucas Gibson said the game went south since Van-Far allowed a safety. The Indians were placed at their own six-yard line, were tackled in the end zone and then proceeded to allow a 45-yard passing touchdown to Hayti (7-5).

Van-Far vs Hayti Photo Gallery

“The opening kickoff, we returned it down to the 20 and then we didn’t score,” Gibson said. “After that, it was downhill from there.”

Gibson said Van-Far made mistakes it usually doesn’t make, including a fumbled kickoff return and muffed punt to contribute to three first-half turnovers. 

Hayti took advantage with its “tremendous athletes,” Gibson said, as Van-Far’s tackling was also uncharacteristic of his team. Even when the passes were short, Van-Far struggled to stop Hayti athletes in space and that issue was exacerbated when defensive back Gaven Gaston left the game with a leg injury after making a long return on an interception. Gaston had 128 all-purpose yards.

“We tried to play it aggressively,” Gibson said. “We’ve just got to make tackles. We didn’t make enough of them. A lot of times, we had them in the backfield but just didn’t make tackles.”

Despite Saturday not being Van-Far’s day, this season was a special year for the Indians. Before winning their districts, the Indians won their third straight Farmers Cup against Mark Twain and took the trophy in another rivalry game by beating Bowling Green to claim their first Wagon Wheel since 2005. 

Gibson said Van-Far was behind the sticks before the first game when it lost its starting running back and cornerback Cayden Douglas to injury. The Indians have dealt with various other injuries to its already small roster.

“It takes true grit and determination,” Gibson said. “They fought through all that all year long.”

When Van-Far had to fill a void in the backfield last season, Evan Utterback stepped into the role and found a new home back there up until running for two touchdowns in his final game on Saturday. He was the leading rusher with 68 yards on 23 carries. Gaston moved from receiver to running back when the Indians had more injuries in that area and ran for 376 and six touchdowns in Van-Far’s first two district games. 

Those kids along with the eight other seniors served as a core for Van-Far football the last several years. Ty Evans led with 4.5 tackles; Gibson Condie had 3.5 tackles; Gaston had three tackles, Utterback had 2.5 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble; Jackson Fischer and Kasen Christian each had 2.5 tackles; and Pacey Reading had 1.5 tackles; and Easton Sharp had one tackle for loss and one tipped punt. 

Gibson said he will never forget winning that district title after winning 22-18 at Grandview (Hillsboro) because of the eventful game and players he coached. He remembers those players when they were in elementary school.

“That is what’s neat about the community,” Gibson said. “We’ve known these kids all the way growing up. That is what it’s about — the hard work that goes into the season to accomplish some goals.”

The kids grew up and were in Gibson’s care as freshmen. After Gibson’s first year as head coach ended at 1-7 with a forfeited district game due to a roster shortage, that core led the Indians to 21-13 record. 

“Absolutely,” Gibson said when asked if he thought years ago that the seniors had the potential to accomplish much in their careers. “That’s what it takes. You’ve got to stick together and keep coming out for football. It’s hard to get kids to do that nowadays, but they all stuck with it really well and that’s why we are where we are.”

Van-Far needs to look to the future now but can always enjoy looking back on the past year.

“It’s been a fun ride,” Gibson said.