Lake Travis, Westlake, and Dripping Springs are the headliners in District 26-6A.
However, there was one big change last year. Austin High grabbed the final playoff spot, leaving Bowie on the outside looking in for just the second time since 2006.
The battle for the district title and for the final playoff spot should be tight again this fall. Here’s what to watch for in District 26-6A.
Austin High Maroons
Head Coach: Jason Cecil (1st season)
Last Season: 5-6; 3-3 in district (Lost to Vandegrift in bi-district)
Returning Lettermen: 18 (4 returning starters on offense; 4 on defense)
Austin High Key Players and Storylines
Jason Cecil has quite the experience coaching in the Austin area. He spent two years at the helm at McCallum and another nine leading Pflugerville Connally.
Now, he takes over an Austin High program that just made the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Much of the leaders from that group graduated as the Maroons return just four starters on each side of the ball. They do still have some skill talent with powerful running back Reid Childers and receiver Logan Davis, who can line up in a variety of spots.
#23 Reid Childers Austin TD!! #MaroonNation#LoyalForever#TXHSFB@Austin_Football@AustinMaroonFB pic.twitter.com/2s89JZzWzG
— Austin High Football Boosters (@Austin_Football) November 2, 2024
Guard Alonzo Garcia is a returning starter on the offensive line. Cecil said he’s had a great offseason too.
On the other side of the ball, the Maroons will feel good about their ability to stop the run with an “active defensive line” led by defensive tackles Michael Friday, a two-year starter, and Hardison Borth.
Linebacker John Burns is a “good tackler in space” who can clean up whatever slips through the defensive line.
With a lot of young players stepping up this season, Cecil said the Maroons will have to “grow up fast.” He wants his group to be “constantly competitive” as they chase that second-straight playoff berth.
Austin Akins Eagles
Head Coach: Joey Saxe (5th season; 7-33 record)
Last Season: 3-7; 0-6 in district
Returning Lettermen: 29 (6 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)
Akins Key Players and Storylines
Akins started 3-1 last year, and although the Eagles didn’t get a win in district play, Joey Saxe and company are looking to build on that early season success this fall.
They’ll be excited to get Dylan Cagle back. He suffered a season-ending knee injury after just four games, but still rushed for 900 yards and 11 touchdowns even in his limited action.
Non-District Highlights:
85 attempts
805 Rushing Yards (9.47 YPC)
11 Rushing Touchdowns
Full highlights: https://t.co/f7OvSHwo3g pic.twitter.com/pD8tybaTTh— Dylan Cagle (@Dylancagle07) September 22, 2024
Dual threat quarterback Chris Gonzalez should take a step forward in his second season behind center. Tight end/wide receiver JoJo Gonzalez is a player who Saxe believes could be in for a breakout year.
The biggest question mark offensively is who will be blocking for all this skill talent after the Eagles graduated several key offensive linemen.
On the other side of the ball, defensive back Pablo Espinoza Jr. and defensive lineman Chris Herard are both three-year starters. They bring plenty of production with them too. Espinoza Jr. led the Eagles in interceptions, while Herard paced the team in sacks.
Herard won’t have to do it alone either. Fellow defensive lineman Jackson Strobel “has great get off and relentless motor” off the edge.
Saxe said consistency is the focus for Akins this year. He said they “know what they can do when everything is clicking,” but now the key is making sure they can stay on the right track with all the ups and downs a season can bring.
Austin Bowie Bulldogs
Head Coach: Jeff Ables (24th season; 157-97 record)
Last Season: 6-4; 2-4 in district
Returning Lettermen: 34 (3 returning starters on offense; 4 on defense)
Bowie Key Players and Storylines
The Bulldogs missed the playoffs for just the second time in 18 seasons in 2024.
If this year’s group is to bounce back, it will start with its front six on defense. Linebacker Mason East is the team’s leading returning tackler (92 tackles). He’s got quite the defensive line group in front of him with ends Jackson Lang (75 tackles and 14 sacks) and Marrell Hinton and nose guard Cade Venable.
Love the pass rush!
Outstanding team win last night! Here are some clips from our 48-0 win against Akins.@bowie_football pic.twitter.com/MGONujZgZB— Jackson Lang (@JacksonLang0) October 25, 2024
Head coach Jeff Ables said the Bulldogs don’t have a ton of experience in the secondary, so they’ll need to lean on returning starters cornerback Tramell Banks and fellow defensive back Taylor Gibbs.
Offensively, the Bulldogs will have a new quarterback and several new starting offensive linemen. Ables still feels good about the run game though with junior Rhys Moreno (174 rushing yards). Receiver Rowen Wells (676 receiving yards and nine touchdowns) is a big target for the passing game at six-foot-two.
Seniors Tyler Glowacz and Tyler Merkel are both returning lettermen who will be called upon to lead in the trenches.
The Bulldogs had two district losses by three points each last year. With margins that tight between making the playoffs and sitting at home, they’ll know every detail will count as they aim to go back dancing this season.
Austin Westlake Chaparrals
Head Coach: Tony Salazar (4th season; 42-4 record)
Last Season: 14-2; 6-0 in district (Lost to North Crowley in 6A Division I Title Game)
Returning Lettermen: 30 (6 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
Westlake Key Players and Storylines
Westlake ran into a buzzsaw in North Crowley in the 6A Division I State Title Game last year, falling 50-21.
This year, they’ll let Ole Miss commit quarterback Rees Wise (2598 passing yards and 23 touchdowns) do his thing again offensively. He’s got 26 games of starting experience under his belt.
2024 (14-2) 6A/D1 State Finalist
1st Team All State QB.
1st Team All District QB.174/266 (65%)
Passing yds-2,598
Passing TD’s- 23 TD’s
Rushing yds- 464
Rushing TD’s- 16@247recruiting @On3Recruits @dctf @Rivals @TomLoy247 @HankSouth247 https://t.co/amfRkpi2CW— Rees Wise (@rees_wise) February 20, 2025
The Chaparrals will be reloading at the skill positions, but the offensive line will be fortified with the presence of senior tackle Will Hesse and junior center/guard Jackson Cook, a move in from Lago Vista.
TCU commit defensive tackle Maddox Flynt (65 tackles, 10 TFLs) is the name to know defensively. Fellow defensive lineman Jack Burnham can get after it too. He had 38 quarterback hurries in 2024.
Safety Thompson Bennett (87 tackles) is Westlake’s playmaker on the back end while the Chaparrals can lean on junior Wylie Nichols (35 tackles) at cornerback.
Westlake is now four years removed from its last state title, meaning the last of the players from the program from that year have now graduated. After making it to Jerry World last December , this year’s group is “hungry to get back to the title game and finish” the job this season.
Del Valle Cardinals
Head Coach: Colin Williams (1st season)
Last Season: 3-7; 1-5 in district
Del Valle Key Players and Storylines
Former LBJ offensive coordinator Colin Williams takes over at Del Valle this season. He’s looking to revitalize a program that hasn’t won more than three games in a season since 2019.
Running back Bradley Dent (676 rushing yards and five touchdowns) can be the engine for the offense with his playmaking ability out of the backfield. The Cardinals are also going to be looking for some receivers to emerge this season. Senior Kaden Nunez and junior Gavynn Patina are among the players to watch out wide.
BETTER ANGLE OF THE SNAG.
many more to come. @coachWillCo @CoachBMarshall pic.twitter.com/uIQlcPaWXA— Gavynn Patina (@gavynnpatina) August 17, 2025
On the other side of the ball, it’s another Dent leading the way. Linebacker Michael Dent (78 tackles, nine TFLs) was Del Valle’s leading tackler last season. Behind him, Carmello Jones (57 tackles, seven TFLs) has proven his ability to get down hill from his safety position.
Williams will know that a turnaround doesn’t happen overnight. However, he’s made effort and attitude two non-negotiables at Del Valle as the Cardinals look to get better throughout the fall.
Dripping Springs Tigers
Head Coach: Galen Zimmerman (11th season; 95-27 record)
Last Season: 8-4; 4-2 in district (Lost to Harlan in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 25 (3 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)
Dripping Springs Key Players and Storylines
The Tigers have had to rebuild the majority of their offense this offseason with just three starters returning.
However, they still have plenty of weapons especially in the receiving corps. Both Arizona State commit Cooper Reid (1,006 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns) and Merrik Bloomgren (417 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) have great size at 6’3″. They’ll be a formidable duo for opposing cornerbacks to try and deal with.
PLAY OF THE NIGHT⭐
Dripping Springs’ Cooper Reid (@Cooper_Reid4 ) hauls in a clean one-handed snag from Maddox Maher for a TD.
The Tigers roll past Vista Ridge in Round 1.@DripFB | @CoachGZimmerman | @maddox_maher pic.twitter.com/Wyl1qkVv1b
— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) November 11, 2023
Speedy running back Jaceton Gotta (355 rushing yards) is next in line to lead the Tiger backfield. He’ll have three-star tackle Hudson Whitewright in front of him anchoring the offensive line.
Linebacker Dylan Brasher (103 tackles, nine TFLs) is Dripping Springs’ quarterback on defense. He led the Tigers in tackles last season. Nose guard Major Bettridge has the “strength and ability to work off block from bigger linemen.”
The Tigers will trust cornerback Malachi Igaro (52 tackles, four INTs) to go against some of the top receivers in the district with his covering ability.
Despite the roster turnover, head coach Galen Zimmerman said the program’s “expectations and goals don’t change.” He believes in the culture and team chemistry this group has as they aim to compete for both district and regional championships.
Lake Travis Cavaliers
Head Coach: Hank Carter (16th season; 177-31 record)
Last Season: 12-2; 5-1 in district (Lost to Westlake in regional final)
Returning Starters: 6 on offense; 5 on defense
Lake Travis Key Players and Storylines
Lake Travis will be counting down the days to this year’s Battle of the Lakes against Westlake. Last year, the Chaparrals handed the Cavaliers their only two losses on the season.
For as much as a quarterback factory Lake Travis has been the past decade and a half, the Cavaliers don’t have a clear cut starter this year.
Their running game though should flourish with senior Vann Hopping (1,531 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns). He’s got an experienced offensive line paving the way for him with seniors Victor Cruz and Sam Fishman and junior Jackson Koeppel all returning.
Jr Season Highlights
🚨1,531 rush yds
🚨7.3 avg
🚨29 rush TDs
Full highlights: https://t.co/M3s5nWpcxb pic.twitter.com/rhcUYU4LOf— Vann Hopping (@VannHopping) December 10, 2024
The Cavalier coaching staff also feels good about their weapons in the passing attack with “perimeter threats” Patrick Colby (613 receiving yards) and Lark Sidle.
Defensively, edge rusher Carter Buck (80 tackles, 17 TFLs) is a menace in the trenches, and that’s not all. Quarterbacks will have to worry about Kentucky commit and fellow defensive end Ben Duncum (65 tackles, 15 TFLs) too.
Behind them, the Cavaliers got a big pick up when Air Force commit Logan Kendall (153 tackles, 12 TFLs) transferred in from Regents. The Cavalier coaching staff expects fellow senior Braeden Lott to step up and lead that position alongside him.
The Cavaliers have made back-to-back trips to the regional final. Quarterback is the biggest question, but the coaching staff “remains confident that someone will rise to the challenge.” Elsewhere, the roster is ripe with talent, so don’t be surprised if Lake Travis is a contender into December again in 2025.
