San Antonio Harlan Hawks
Head Coach: Matt McKinney (1st season)
Last Season: 10-2; 8-0 in district (Lost to Dripping Springs in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 33 (7 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)
Harlan Key Players and Storylines
For the first time in program history, Harlan will have a head coach other than Eddie Salas. Salas left to take the Pieper job over the offseason, but the Hawks didn’t have to look far for his replacement.
Matt McKinney heads into 2026 as the leader of the flock. He had served as Harlan’s offensive coordinator since the school opened in 2017.
Expectations remain high at a program that has had four-straight seasons with double-digit victories, especially since the Hawks return 15 starters this year.
One of the new starters is senior quarterback Aiden Pitchford, but the Hawk coaching staff expects it to be an easy transition. He’s a three-year letterman with “great knowledge of the offense.”
Receiver Brandon Robertson (302 receiving yards and three touchdowns) is Harlan’s firework waiting to happen with his big-play potential. Senior Elijah Julian will be Harlan’s leader on the offensive line after earning second team all-district honors last season.
The defensive line will be the strongest unit on the entire team with defensive end Seth Duby (40 tackles, 10 TFLs) “commanding attention” off the edge and all-district defensive tackles Conner Stevens (33 tackles, five TFLs) and Jayson Contreras (36 tackles, five TFLs) returning.
Behind them, junior linebacker Deshawn Simmons is a high-level Power Four prospect and one of the best linebackers in the entire state. Safety Addon Palmer (58 tackles, 4.5 TFLs) “has great speed and athleticism” and is Harlan’s leading returning tackler.
Hard work pays off not only off the field but on the field blessed to be here 😤💯 pic.twitter.com/3fCN4UI0Xi
— Deshawn Simmons (@deshawnsimmons_) November 21, 2025
With plenty of leadership and experience back this season, the Hawks are determined to bring home a district title this year and make another playoff run that the Harlan community has become accustomed to.
Harlan Hawks 2026 Football Schedule
*-Denotes District 29-6A Contest
August 28 (Friday) — vs. San Antonio East Central — 7:30 PM
September 4 (Friday) — @ Dripping Springs — 7:30 PM
*September 10 (Thursday) — @ San Antonio Stevens — 7:00 PM
*September 18 (Friday) — vs. San Antonio Warren — 7:30 PM
*September 24 (Thursday) — @ San Antonio Marshall — 7:00 PM
October 2 — BYE
*October 8 (Thursday) — vs. San Antonio Taft — 7:00 PM
*October 17 (Saturday) — @ San Antonio Sotomayor — 7:00 PM
*October 24 (Saturday) — vs. San Antonio O’Connor — 2:00 PM
*October 31 (Saturday) — @ San Antonio Holmes — 2:00 PM
*November 6 (Friday) — vs. San Antonio Brennan — 7:30 PM
