Van beat the host Bulldogs, 44-0, in a rain-soaked and late-starting game.
"I thought we played terrible," Burch Coach James "Butch" Joplin said. "I just have to wait on them to grow up. It's growing pains and someone has to go through it. Most of them don't have a clue what's going on.
"I have to keep teaching and teaching. We should be preparing for teams, but we're still teaching."
Joplin said his team never quits.
"They're still out there," Joplin said. "They play until the last whistle and I've got to give them that much credit."
The contest was delayed until 9 p.m. due to not having an ambulance on call at the game. Referees and coaches agreed to shorten the quarters to six minutes each.
Unfortunately for Burch, by the end of the first 12 minutes, Van had already scored 32 points.
Van scored a TD in the third quarter and then the final score of the game in the fourth to take home the big win.
Burch was led on the ground by Gabe Vinson with 50 yards on eight carries. Next was Trevor Woolum with 40 yards on 10 carries.
"My little freshman, Gabe Vinson, ran real hard and I'm proud of him," Joplin said. "Trevor Woolum always runs hard."
In the air, quarterback Tyler Lanham completed 2-of-11 passes for 29 yards and an interception, which was returned by Van's Tyler Gunnoe for a 50-yard score.
On defense, Gabe Vinson led with five assisted tackles and two solos. Austin Dempsey had one solo tackle and a trio of assists. Woolum had two tackles, while Brandon Maynard had a solo tackles.
"These kids are young and it's a little frustrating, but I knew it would be when I took the job," Joplin said. "These kids will be better next year. We won't have this problem next year. They're getting a lot of valuable playing time right now. They might not see it and they're mommies and their daddies might not see it, but they're getting a lot of valuable playing time. The playing time they are getting is valuable on down the road, no matter how much they're getting - if they'll just stick with it."
Van was led by Nick Green with 85 yards on nine carries, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Matt White ran the ball three times and rushed for 76 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Next was Tyler Gunnoe with 53 yards, a rushing TD and a touchdown run on defense. Gunnoe also scored a two-point conversion.
Van quarterback Jared Thomas completed three passes for a 102-yard scoring strike to Gunnoe.
Van only had 13 players dressed during the game Friday night.
Prior to the game, Rachel Simpkins and Jordan Croaff were crowned Burch High School Homecoming Queen and King, respectively. The homecoming ceremony was moved to the pre-game due to the heavy rain that was coming down and game getting started so late.
Burch falls to 0-8 with the loss, while Van now has three wins on the year.
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