GAMES
RANKINGS
THE POWER RANKINGS: District 26-6A sweeps inaugural 2025 Austin area football
Playing Pick-up Sticks; throwing darts at a dartboard; pulling names out of a hat. Every one of those highly scientific methods is as equally valid as any rankings any honest person can come up with after just one game complete in the 2025 high school football season.
But we’ve gotta start somewhere – and that “somewhere” is a podium sweep by the top three teams in District 26-6A. Lake Travis leads the parade after dominating Arlington Martin while Dripping Springs raised eyebrows with a convincing 41-14 win over defending 6A-DII state champ Vandegrift. Nestled in between is last year’s 6A-D1 state finalist Westlake, not falling far despite a close loss to Prosper.
Bastrop battered Alvin to snag the highest ranking for a 5A club, although Weiss, Georgetown and Anderson also populate the Top 10. Cedar Ridge earned a tough road win over Buda Johnson to place 9th, while Liberty Hill rounds out the Top 10 despite a rough loss to 6A powerhouse Cibolo Steele.
Austin LBJ just missed the Top 10, although they are the highest 4A team on the list. Behing the Jags is Bowie, the leading contender for the final 26-6A playoff spot, and a gaggle of four 25-6A teams – Vista Ridge, Round Rock, Stony Point and McNeil – that promise to make a wild playoff scramble in that district.
Rankings rarely mean anything, especially this ridiculously early in the system. No doubt, some of these teams will drop out like anvils from a hot air balloon, while other teams not listed here will pop up by the time we’re decorating for Halloween.
But it’s never too early to start the water cooler debates, so here’s our first Power Rankings, heading into Week 2.
VYPE Austin Top 20 Combined Class 4A-6A
*Last parentheses indicates most recent game result
1. (3) Lake Travis Cavaliers (6A) – 1-0 (W 48-21 vs. Martin)
2. (2) Westlake Chaparrals (6A) – 0-1 (L 29-22 @ Prosper)
3. (5) Dripping Springs Tigers (6A) -- 1-0 (W 41-14 vs. #1 Vandegrift)
4. (1) Vandegrift Vipers (6A) - 0-1 (L 41-14 @ #5 Dripping Springs)
5. (4) Bastrop Bears (5A-2) – 1-0 (W 55-14 vs. Alvin)
6. (6) Weiss Wolves (5A-1) -- 1-0 (56-28 W vs. McNeil)
7. (7) Georgetown Eagles (5A-1) – 1-0 (W 27-0 vs. Victoria East)
8. (NR) Anderson Trojans (5A-1) – 1-0 (W 37-2 @ McCallum)
9. (NR) Cedar Ridge Raiders (6A) – 1-0 (W 49-31 @ Buda Johnson)
10. (8) Liberty Hill (5A-2) – 0-1 (L 55-10 vs. Cibolo Steele)
11. (9) LBJ Austin Jaguars (4A-1) -- 1-0 (W 46-13 vs. Sam Houston)
12. (NR) Vista Ridge Rangers (6A) – 1-0 (W 30-14 vs. Killeen)
13. (NR) Bowie Bulldogs (6A) – 1-0 (W 49-14 vs. Manor)
14. (NR) Rouse (5A-1) – 1-0 (W 55-33 vs. Pflugerville Connally)
15. (NR) Round Rock Dragons (6A) – 0-1 (L 56-28 @ Killeen Shoemaker)
16. (NR) Stony Point Tigers (6A) – 1-0 (W 42-20 @ East View)
17. (NR) McNeil Mavericks (6A) – 0-1 (L 56-28 @ Weiss)
18. (NR) Pflugerville Panthers (5A-2) – 1-0 (W 21-14 @ Leander)
19. (NR) Buda Johnson Jaguars (6A) – 0-1 (L 49-41 vs. Cedar Ridge)
20. (NR) Wimberley Texans (4A-2) – 1-0 (W 36-35 @ Canyon Lake)
Photo Courtesy of Coach Derek Ward, Westwood High School
Fresh Faces: Derek Ward to open new era at Westwood
One of the oldest cliches in football is that defenses win championships. That’s the mindset that new Westwood Head Coach and Athletic Coordinator Derek Ward brings with him from Houston as he heads into his first campaign at the helm of the Westwood Warriors.
After playing high school football at Salado, the 43-year-old Plainview, TX native has been on the defensive staff of several outstanding Houston-area squads. Following three seasons as Houston Bellaire’s defensive coordinator, Ward was the defensive backs coach for three seasons at powerhouse Katy. That run began in 2015 when the Tigers gave up an astonishing 3.9 points per game on their way to being the top defense in the United States, winning the 6A Division II State Championship and being named one of the UIL's 100 Greatest Teams of All-Time.
Ward, who holds a Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration from Concordia University–Irvine and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Texas State University, next became the defensive coordinator at Humble Summer Creek for two seasons, was an assistant coach at Katy Tompkins from 2020-23 and spent last season as the defensive coordinator at Katy Freeman before accepting the top spot at Westwood. He takes over from longtime Head Coach and Athletic Coordinator Anthony Wood, who retired last spring.
“There were a number of factors that attracted me to the position,” states Ward, an avid golfer and fisherman who share sons Jaxson (8) and Jacob (5) with his wife, Ashika. “I believe the factor that attracted me the most was the small town feel of the school within a big city.
“Westwood has a strong and passionate alumni base and a very tight-knit and supportive community,” he continues. “I believe the elements are here to create sustained success.”
Westwood has seen a series of talented quarterbacks and other skill players over the past few years, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but the program has struggled with depth and numbers. Ward hopes that his defensive background will help keep his squad in games as he looks to build on the program’s deep history.
“My expectation is to have a well-coached team in playoff contention in November,” he states. “Moving forward the expectations are to grow the program numbers, bring the best out of our kids, and to be in the playoffs on a regular basis.
“I'm looking forward to starting a new chapter at Westwood High School.”