By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
The Austin Sports Journal ranks Austin-area high school football teams before the start of the 2024 football season. Here are the top Class 6A teams in the Austin area.
More rankings
Class 6A | Class 5A | Small school
Read more about the season in the 2024 Austin Sports Journal Football Preview e-edition
1. Westlake Chaparrals
Head coach: Tony Salazar
2023 record (district, finish): 14-1 (8-0, district champions)
2023 playoff results: Lost to Galena Park North Shore in semifinals
Returning starters: 7offensive, 5 defensive
Players to watch: LB Elliot Schaper; QB Rees Wise; WR Brody Wilhelm; DB Payton Luther; DL Connor Vasek
Outlook: The Chaps will be have one of the most clinically efficient defenses in Class 6A, if not the state. The scarier part is that Westlake will also possess one of the biggest offensive lines in the state, which should give a more experienced Wise time to sling the football all over the field. If Bowie makes the playoffs, the Chaps will return to Division II and won’t have to worry about another meeting with Galena Park North Shore in the semifinals.
2. Lake Travis Cavaliers
Head coach: Hank Carter
2023 record (district, finish): 11-3 (6-2, 3rd)
2023 playoff results: Lost to Westlake in state quarterfinals.
Returning starters: 6 offensive, 5 defensive
Players to watch: QB Chaston Ditta; DL Gus Cordova; DB Cam’Ren Chance-Brooks; RB Vann Hopping; TE Josiah Thomas
Outlook: The Cavaliers defense is going to be a stout as they were last year where they allowed just 13 points per game. Offensively, Lake Travis will be much improved with a solid passing attack behind QB Ditta and TE Thomas. We’ll have to wait and see if it’s enough to end the Cavaliers’ losing streak to rival Westlake.
3. Vandegrift Vipers
Head coach: Drew Sanders
2023 record (district, finish): 10-1 (7-0, district champions)
2023 playoff results: Lost to Lake Travis in bi-district playoff
Returning starters: 3 offensive, 5 defensive
Players to watch: RB Brendan Fournier, DB Hollister Stephens; WR Brock Chilton; OL Will Wood; DB Daeshon Morgan
Outlook: The Vipers will rely on its defense early in the season while Sanders puts the offensive puzzle together that features a lot of new faces. RB Fournier is the most experienced skill player and will have a brand new offensive line in front of him. Vandegrift is still Vandegrift, so anyone counting out the chances of a third-straight district title should reconsider.
4. McNeil Mavericks
Head coach: Scott Hermes
2023 record (district, finish): 7-5 (4-3, 2nd)
2023 playoff results: Lost to Cibolo Steele in area playoff
Returning starters: 9 offensive, 3 defensive
Players to watch: ATH Jarell Gary; RB Josh Williams; QB Jadon Sultz; DB/WR Aden Taylor; DB Josh Gayden
Outlook: The Mavericks had its best season in nearly two decades and even won a playoff game. ATH Gray is a dangerous player for opposing defenses and can line up in the slot as a receiver or explode out of the backfield. QB Sultz will only improve on an impressive sophomore season where he threw for 1,697 yards and 13 touchdowns.
5. Dripping Springs Tigers
Head coach: Galen Zimmerman
2023 record (district, finish): 11-3 (7-1, 2nd)
2023 playoff results: Lost to Cibolo Steele in state quarterfinals
Returning starters: 5 offensive, 1 defensive
Players to watch: QB Maddox Maher; RB Jack Tyndall; WR Cooper Reid; DL Clive Wahl; WR Merrick Bloomgren
Outlook: The Tigers have had a lot of success at the Class 6A level, but Zimmerman will face his biggest test since moving up to 6A in 2022. There’s a lot of inexperience on defense. Luckily for Dripping Springs, several offensive standouts return. That includes last year’s leading rusher Tyndall. If the defense catches on, the Tigers will challenge Westlake and Lake Travis once again for the district title.
6. Bowie Bulldogs
Head coach: Jeff Ables
2023 record (district, finish): 4-7 (4-4, 4th)
2023 playoff results: Lost to McNeil in bi-district playoff
Returning starters: 8 offensive, 3 defensive
Players to watch: QB Cruz Tello; WR Rowen Wells; WR Owen Langdon; WR Oewn Ball; DE Jackson Long
Outlook: QB Tello is a dual threat and is just as dangerous with his arm than he is with his legs. He has a plethora of weapons at wide receiver, which makes the Bulldogs offense problematic for opposing defenses.
7. Austin High Maroons
Head coach: Bernard Riley
2023 record (district, finish): 3-7 (3-5, 6th)
2023 playoff results: N/A
Returning starters (O/D): 9 offensive, 8 defensive
Players to watch: RB/DB Bryson Batts; QB John Latham; RB Reid Childers; DL Lawson Strouse; LB Will Peeler
Outlook: With nine starters returning on offense and eight on defense, the Maroons are positioned to shake things up in the chase for the final playoff spot. Austin High will have to beat the two teams it is supposed to and then take care of business at home against Bowie on Nov. 1.
8. Buda Johnson Jaguars
Head coach: Sam Carlin
2023 record (district, finish): 5-5 (4-4, 5th in District 26-6A)
2023 playoff results: N/A
Returning starters (O/D): 8 offensive, 6 defensive
Players to watch: DB/WR Tim Boyd; DB Carlos Lujan; OL Warner Erwin; LB Dre Giello; RB Kael Hatnot
Outlook: The Jaguars will have the second coach in the school’s short history. Carlin inherits an experienced offense that average 28 points a game last year. RB Hatnot is explosive out of the backfield and could have the Jaguars right in the playoff hunt.
9. Westwood Warriors
Head coach: Anthony Wood
2023 record (district, finish): 7-3 (4-3, 5th)
2023 playoff results: N/A
Returning starters: 4 offensive, 7 defensive
Players to watch: RB Xavion Sutton; WR Drew Norrell; QB Cooper Waits; DE Casius Coy; DB Scott Uffelman
Outlook: The Warriors are playing with a chip on their shoulder in 2024 after having their best season in years and still missing the playoffs. Veteran coach Wood will have a stellar defense that continues to get better every year. Experience will be an issue on offense as Westwood will have a new QB in Waits and will need to find a playmaker to replace Demani Stewart, last year’s 6A leading rusher.
10. Round Rock Dragons
Head coach: Cody Moore
2023 record (district, finish): 4-7 (4-3 4th)
2023 playoff results: Lost to Westlake in bi-district playoff
Returning starters (O/D): 4 offensive, 5 defensive
Players to watch: LB Justin Lee; DB Aiden Walker; DL Jacob Medina; AT Dylan Jaegar; WR Reggie Hurley
Outlook: If defense is the key to winning football games, the Dragons should have a lot of success. Anchored by LB lee and DB Walker, Round Rock has one of the better defenses in 25-6A. QB Jack Appl takes over the offense but has some experience in front of him on the line.
