GAMES
RANKINGS
The Dripping Springs Tigers prepare for kick-off
THE POWER RANKINGS: Familiar faces climb to top of Austin-area football rankings
Let’s face it. Just two weeks into the 2024 high school football season, nobody really knows anything yet.
Teams are still sorting themselves out while playing unfamiliar foes; upsets and near misses unfold that would never happen when the teams are in their grooves, and so forth.
As a result, the cream rises to the top until a rising power curdles that cream by inflicting a second or third loss.
That’s why Lake Travis stays at No 2 despite a near-miss vs. Rockwall and Vandegrift stays at No. 3 despite their upset 2-OT loss at Cedar Park.
It’s also why Cedar Park – a team trying to reconnect with its own elite status from the recent past – has cracked this week’s list.
That said, here’s our stab at the Top 20 teams heading into Week 3.
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VYPE Austin Top-20 Combined Class 4A-6A
*Last parentheses indicates most recent game result
1. Westlake Chaparrals (6A) -- 2-0 (63-7 W v. San Benito)
2. Lake Travis Cavaliers (6A) -- 2-0 (45-42 W v. Rockwall)
3. Vandegrift Vipers (6A) -- 1-1 (49-46 L 2-OT v. Cedar Park)
4. Dripping Springs Tigers (6A) -- 1-1 (35-6 W v. SA Wagner)
5. Weiss Wolves (5A-1) -- 2-0 (54-0 W v. San Marcos)
6. Hutto Hippos (6A) -- 1-1 (31-29 L v. Judson)
7. Bowie Bulldogs (6A) – 2-0 (38-27 W v. Vista Ridge)
8. Liberty Hill Panthers (5A-2) – 1-1 (57-38 W v. Rouse)
9. Cedar Park Timberwolves (5A-1) – 1-1 (49-46 W 2-OT v. Vandegrift)
10. LBJ Austin Jaguars (4A-1) -- 1-0 (Bye)
11. Round Rock Dragons (6A) – 2-0 (42-21 W v. Temple)
12. Buda Johnson Jaguars (6A) – 2-0 (35-24 v. Stony Point)
13. Anderson Trojans (5A-1) – 2-0 (62-20 W vs. Elgin)
14. Pflugerville Panthers (5A-1) – 2-0 (46-7 W v. Hays)
15. Rouse Raiders (5A-1) 1-1 (57-38 L v. Liberty Hill)
16. Georgetown Eagles (5A-1) – 2-0 (39-10 W vs. Belton)
17. Glenn Grizzlies (5A-1) – 2-0 (41-40 W v. Copperas Cove)
18. Wimberley Texans (4A-2) – 2-0 (35-9 W v. Fredericksburg)
19. Vista Ridge Rangers (6A) – 1-1 (38-27 L v. Bowie)
20. Austin High Maroons (6A) – 2-0 (35-34 W v. Westwood)
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VYPE Austin Top-5 Private Schools
1. Regents Knights (TAPPS) – 1-1 (63-7 W v. San Benito)
2. St. Michael’s Crusaders (TAPPS) – 2-0 (34-9 W v. St. John XXIII)
3. Brentwood Christian Bears (TAPPS) – 1-1 (53-14 W v. Savio)
4. St. Andrew’s Highlanders (SPC) – 2-0 (55-13 W vs. St. Francis Episcopal)
5. Hyde Park Panthers (TAPPS) – 0-1 (41-22 L vs. Lutheran South Academy)
GAME BREAK: Hutto jammed by Judson
Hutto and Converse Judson traded body blows all night long, but a game-winning field goal in the waning controversial seconds eventually lifted the Rockets to a 31-29 win over the Rockets at San Antonio’s Rutledge Stadium.
After the Rockets scored twice in the opening four minutes, Hutto junior quarterback Kaden Stefek (17-27, 271 yds., 3 TD) tossed the first of his three touchdown passes to put the Hippos on the board. Stefek struck again following a Hutto interception to tie the game at 14-14 before a late touchdown sent Judson into the locker room leading 21-14.
Stefak capped off a roughly five-minute drive to start the second half with a 1-yard plunge to tie the game again at 21-all. The Rockets reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter, embarking on a long drive after recovering a Hippo fumble on the Judson 11-yard line.
Stefak completed the hat trick with his third scoring strike but the Hippos missed the extra point to trail 28-27. That’s when the Hutto defense notched a Safety to lead for the first time of the night, 29-28.
The Hippos burned four minutes off the clock after receiving the free kick but unfortunately turned the ball over to Judson on downs at the Rocket 45-yard line with under a minute left. The Rockets advanced just enough – aided by some arguable clock management -- to kick the game winning field goal and swipe the win.
Sophomore Jaiden Fields nabbed two touchdown receptions and Braeton Anderson added a third while junior running back Keilan Chavies carried 26 times for 128 yards for the Hippos.
Hutto (1-1) and new to District 25-6A, hosts Cedar Ridge in Friday night’s VYPE/ESPN Austin radio Central Texas Game of the Week on 102.7 FM.