The American-Statesman takes a look at Class 6A districts around Central Texas as the high school football season gets underway.
Fab Five: Central Texas’ top 5 teams from Class 6A
1. Lake Travis (14-1 last year, DI state semifinalist): The Cavs graduated 18 starters, but there’s never a lack of talent. DBs Luca Antoun and Jeremiah Strong and LB Owen Aird lead what should be one of the area’s best defenses.
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2. Vandegrift (12-2, DII state semifinalist): New QB Gavin Koester paces an offense that should thrive running the ball, and the Vipers are deep with talent at all three levels on defense.
3. Westlake (7-4, DII area round): There are more question marks than in the past decade for the Chaps. But like Lake Travis, Westlake always has talent. Wylie Nichols is one of Central Texas’ best defensive backs.
4. Dripping Springs (12-2, DII regional finalist): Chase Ames is the area’s most prolific 6A QB and has a massive offensive line to protect him. The Tigers seem primed for another double-digit win season.
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5. Hutto (9-3, DI area round): WR/DB Jaiden Fields is one of the area’s top three players. If the Hippos get good play from a new quarterback, the sky’s the limit for the offense.
Hutto receiver Jaiden Fields (1) breaks a tackle by Vandegrift defensive back Tobias Gray (8) during the game at Hutto High School on Friday, October. 24, 2025 in Hutto, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
District 24-6A
Our favorite district: Vandegrift
Our other playoff teams: Hutto, Cedar Park and East View
Key game: Hutto vs. Vandegrift (Nov. 6)
Notes: Cedar Park, East View, Leander and Rouse all make the jump to 6A, with Vista Ridge the district’s seventh team. This district is also in Region III, which offers a much tougher playoff route than Region IV. … While Vandegrift and Hutto seem to be a level above the rest of the district, the battle for the last two playoff spots should be fierce. …Keep an eye on whether or not Vista Ridge makes the playoffs. If it does, along with Vandegrift, Cedar Park and Hutto, that would push the Vipers into DII. … East View safety Jalani Culpepper is receiving Power Four interest. …Cedar Park’s David Cooper is the district’s only returning starting QB. He threw for 1,925 yards and 19 TDs in 2025. … Hutto (Casey Walraven), Rouse (Mark Hopkins) and Leander (Ahmad Zaidan) all have new coaches.
Bowie running back Rhys Moreno (20) runs the ball during the game against Austin at Burger Stadium on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman)
District 25-6A
Our favorite district: Lake Travis
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Our other playoff teams: Westlake, Round Rock and Cedar Ridge
Key game: Lake Travis vs. Westlake (Oct. 23)
Notes: Westlake and Lake Travis move into a district with the five Round Rock ISD schools. …Westlake’s Jackson Cook and Lake Travis’ Jackson Koeppel are arguably the two best offensive linemen in Central Texas, with Cook committed to Texas. … Round Rock has something neither Westlake nor Lake Travis do: an experienced starter at quarterback. Dov Stickler returns after throwing for 1,850 yards and 15 TDs during the Dragons’ final eight games. He also has one of the area’s top WRs in TCU commit Dylan Jaeger. … Stony Point has a new coach in Dustin Pleasant after longtime coach Craig Chessher retired. … Cedar Ridge is looking for its first playoff appearance since 2022 and first winning season since 2021. QB Dylan Snoga accounted for 1,736 yards and 17 TDs as a junior. …Jerry Gardner is McNeil’s new coach. …Westlake would need either Lake Travis or Round Rock to miss the playoffs to be in DI in the postseason.
District 26-6A
Our favorite district: Dripping Springs
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Our other playoff teams: Bowie, Johnson and Hays
Key game: Dripping Springs vs. Bowie (Oct. 16)
Notes: Realignment strangely didn’t put Dripping Springs in a district with nearby Lake Travis and Westlake, instead grouping the Tigers with fellow Hays County schools Johnson and Hays, Austin ISD’s three 6A schools (Austin High, Bowie and Akins) and Del Valle. Hays moves up from 5A DI and Johnson returns to an Austin-centric district after playing south the last two years. … Dripping Springs is the overwhelming favorite, but don’t count out Bowie. The Bulldogs return eight defensive starters and have a powerhouse RB in Rhys Moreno. …Johnson is the district’s wildcard. The Jaguars missed the playoffs a year ago but welcomed back QB Jonah Montgomery and eight other starters. …Austin High LB Ethan Kahle is arguably the best player the Central Texas public isn’t aware of. He tallied 121 tackles in 2025 and leads the Maroons’ hopes to reach the postseason. …Keep an eye on Hays RB Eyan Stigall. Hawks coach Mark Torres is high on his talent, and Stigall ran for 537 yards and seven TDs as a sophomore. …A DII regional final between Dripping Springs and Westlake seems likely.
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This article originally published at Lake Travis, Vandegrift top our Class 6A rankings as we preview Central Texas high school football.
