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6A

District 26-6A Season Preview

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District 26-6A drops from nine teams down to seven teams after Anderson headed back to 5A and Buda Johnson was aligned to another district.

The past two seasons, Westlake, Dripping Springs, Lake Travis, and Bowie have had a stranglehold on this district. Can anyone else breakthrough in 2024?

Here’s what to watch in District 26-6A.

Austin High Maroons

Head Coach: Bernard Riley (3rd season; 5-15 record)

Last Season: 3-7; 3-5 in district

Austin High Key Players and Storylines

The Maroons made a one-win improvement in year two under head coach Bernard Riley, but it could have been much more. Three of their seven losses were by three points or less.

There’s an experienced group leading the Maroons this season with seven starters back on offense and eight returning on defense.

Senior Bryson Batts is Austin High’s go-to offensive player. He can play running back or receiver and is a “dynamic play maker” with top-end speed. Fellow receiver Dunaven Kurak is also back after starting a year ago. He has a high football IQ, which will be key as the Maroons settle in a new quarterback this year.

Jack Bisson brings great versatility to the offensive line. A three-year starter, he’s started at every position up front.

Riley has high hopes for the defense with several three-year starters leading the way. Linebacker Will Peeler was the team’s top tackler a year ago, while defensive end Lawson Stouse is back from injury and will be a threat in the Maroons’ pass rush.

In the secondary, defensive back Kaleel Green is a “great tackler” who is a playmaker on the back end.

Riley said with so many starters back, they must learn from last year’s shortcomings and find a way to win games down the stretch to make the next step as a program.

Austin Akins Eagles

Head Coach: Joey Saxe (4th season; 4-26 record)

Last Season: 0-10; 0-8 in district

Akins Key Players and Storylines

Akins took its lumps at times a year ago with a young football team.

However, head coach Joey Saxe is feeling optimistic ahead of this season with nine starters back on offense and six returning on defense.

The Eagles will have a backfield shuffle as last year’s starting quarterback Dylan Cagle slides over to running back. That will allow Chris Gonzales to step in behind center. Saxe said he’ll give the Eagles “a true quarterback presence behind center” with his arm talent.

Jamarion Carter is a three-year starter on the offensive line. Saxe said he’s getting looks from colleges with his speed and strength in the trenches.

The Eagles have a strong presence in the secondary with junior defensive backs Pablo Espinoza and Jayden Tovar. Look for Espinoza to “make plays all over the field,” while Tovar is developing into an impact player who will be “a difference maker in all three phases of the game.”

Defensive tackle Chris Herrard is one of the “most aggressive defensive tackles” Akins has had in years. Saxe believes he’ll be a consistent force up front.

The Eagles are poised for a much more competitive 2024 season with the talent they have back on both sides of the ball. Saxe said his group is “all in” as they get ready to take the field this fall.

Austin Bowie Bulldogs

Head Coach: Jeff Ables (23rd season; 151-93 record)

Last Season: 4-7; 4-4 in district (Lost to McNeil in bi-district)

Bowie Kye Players and Storylines

Bowie scraped into the playoffs a year ago with a 4-4 finish in district play. A 21-16 win over Buda Johnson by the Bulldogs ended up serving as the tiebreaker for the final playoff spot.

Head coach Jeff Ables believes his squad should be improved this year with eight starters back on offense.

Cruz Tello is a dual threat option at quarterback (1,633 passing yards and 729 rushing yards). He has quite the options at receiver. Rowen Wells was an all-district honorable mention in his first year playing football. Seniors Owen Ball and Owen Langdon have the speed to give defenses problems.

At running back, the Bulldogs will lean on the duo of Joe Delmark and Kayson Mathabela (500 rushing yards).

Paving the way up front will be an offensive line that returns every single one of its starters (Cedric Walls, John Martino, Carlos Ortiz, Cole Beachy, and Clayton Migl). They’re all seniors too.

Ables and his coaching staff have more work to do with its defense where just three starters returning. Ables noted the secondary in particular will be quite young.

Reagan Cooper, Bowie’s leading tackler last season, and Wyatt Barnes (62 tackles) will hold down the fort in the middle of the field at linebacker. Their presence will be vital with the youth they’ll have surrounding them.

Bowie has made the playoffs in 16 of the last 17 years. Ables will expect his squad to extend that streak this season with their veteran-led offense carrying the torch early on.

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Austin Westlake Chaparrals

Head Coach: Tony Salazar (3rd season; 28-2 record)

Last Season: 14-1; 8-0 (Lost to North Shore in state semifinals)

Westlake Key Players and Storylines

Westlake has been on a dominant run. The Chaparrals haven’t lost a regular season game since 2019.

The last two seasons, they have come up short to North Shore in the state semifinals. They will be determined to make it one step further in 2024.

Eight starters are back on offense, while six return on defense.

Junior quarterback Rees Wise (1,848 passing yards, 472 rushing yards, 32 total TDs) burst onto the scene a year ago, earning the district’s Newcomer of the Year award.

Brody Wilhelm (663 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) gives Wise a great jump ball option at 6’5″. He and Cal Livengood (347 receiving yards and five touchdowns) shuold be Westlake’s two go-to receivers this year.

Up front, Bennett Wilkin was a first team all-district offensive lineman a year ago.

Defensively, the Chaparrals will be a handful for opposing offensive lines to handle.

Maddox Flynt (56 total tackles) will anchor them at defensive tackle after a strong sophomore season, while defensive end Connor Vasek (27 tackles, six TFLs), a three-star prospect, certainly has the bloodlines. His older brother Colton currently plays at Texas, while his dad also played for the Horns.

Linebacker Elliott Schaper (108 tackles, 13 TFLs) was Westlake’s leading tackler a year ago. Payton Luther (87 tackles, two INTs) will be a reliable last line of defense from his safety position. His presence will be key in a secondary that lacks some experience heading into this fall.

The Chaparrals have won four-straight district titles. With playmakers back on both sides of the ball, they have their eyes set on adding to that collection and making another run at state this fall.

Del Valle Cardinals

Head Coach: Todd Patmon (2nd season; 1-9 record)

Last Season: 1-9; 1-7 in district

Del Valle Key Players and Storylines

Del Valle didn’t have the first year Todd Patmon would have envisioned as the Cardinals won just one game. He’ll hope what he and his staff has been preaching will take hold in year two.

The Cardinals will have to settle on a new starting quarterback, but the skill positions are stacked. Kenelle Hodges (439 rushing yards and three touchdowns) is a physical runner who can also serve as a pass catcher. He’ll form a strong one-two punch with Joel Jordan (336 rushing yards and two touchdowns). In the passing game, they have shifty receiver Donovan Douglas (207 receiving yards and one touchdowns) and Kevin Meeks (138 receiving yards).

Defensively, Del Valle has talent at all three levels. Defensive end Jeremiah Robinson (82 tackles, 5.5 TFLs) is a huge threat in the pass rush. Michael Dent (62 tackles) was a second team all-district selection at linebacker, while in the secondary, Coleman Patton (41 tackles and three INTs) has great size at corner at 6’2″ and 190 pounds. He’s committed to Arizona.

Del Valle had a lot of juniors playing key roles a year ago. The Cardinals will hope that experience served them well as they look to take a step forward on the field in 2024.

Dripping Springs Tigers

Head Coach: Galen Zimmerman (10th season; 87-23 record)

Last Season: 11-3; 7-1 in district (Lost to Cibolo Steele in regional final)

Dripping Springs Key Players and Storylines

Dripping Springs has made the regional finals in back-to-back seasons. Last year, the Tigers knocked off Lake Travis for the second year running and then went toe-to-toe with Cibolo Steele in that 28-21 regional final defeat.

If the Tigers want to reach similar heights in 2024, they’ve got their work cut out for them. While five starters are back on offense, just one returns on defense.

Among those five starters on offense are a couple of skill weapons that can give defensive coordinators a headache. Running back Jack Tyndall is a “powerful runner with a great burst.” He’s coming off a 1,600-yard season.

In the passing game, quarterback Maddox Maher (1,713 passing yards and 22 touchdowns) won 10 of his 11 starts last year. He’s got a “strong arm” and the intelligence to know where to put the football. The height of receiver Cooper Reid (636 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) will help. At 6’5″, he’s a matchup problem with his hands and his physicality.

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers are great in the trenches. Defensive lineman Clive Wahl (32 tackles, four TFLs) and sophomore Major Bettridge both have the power to assert their will up front.

In the secondary, the Tigers will lean on Jackson Mills. He’s got “good feat and a burst to the ball.”

The Tigers may be young, especially on the offensive line, but they have great belief and team chemistry after the past couple of seasons. They’ll need that confidence to deal with the ups and downs that come with an inexperienced squad as they look to make another run come November.

Lake Travis Cavaliers

Head Coach: Hank Carter (15th season; 165-29 record)

Last Season: 11-3; 6-2 in district (Lost to Westlake regional final)

Lake Travis Key Players and Storylines

The Cavaliers were back in the familiar spot of playing December football a year ago. However, they couldn’t solve the Westlake puzzle, suffering two one-possession losses to the Chaparrals a year ago, including in the regional final.

This year, half of the Cavaliers’ starters return as they gear up for what they hope will be another long season.

East Carolina commit quarterback Chaston Ditta (1,286 passing yards and 17 touchdowns) and physical running back Vann Hopping (618 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns) are ready to run the show in the backfield after splitting time a year ago.

Playmaking receiver Dylan Cullers is one to watch in the passing attack. He led the Cavaliers in receiving yards last season.

On the other side of the ball, the Cavalier coaching staff expects the defensive line to be one of the strengths of the team. USC commit Gus Cordova (65 tackles, five TFLs) and junior Carter Buck bring plenty of physicality opposing linemen will have to try and combat.

Behind them, Cam’Ren-Chance Brooks will be patrolling the field at safety. He’s a hard-hitter who can also make plays with his hands. He led Lake Travis with four interceptions last season.

The Cavalier coaching staff said the current group of players they have are strong leaders both on and off the field. Now, they’re ready to see them continue to grow as they look to peak at the right time this fall.

 

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