District 25 6A

By Rodney Rodriguez Warriors Chief Anthony Wood returns for season 19 after a 1-9 campaign in 2021. The future is bright at Westwood as 15 players return for the 2022 version of the team including 5 offensive starters and 3 on the defense.

Sr. 1st Team AD Jack Ziebell - OL anchors the team and will once again be a major force on the team with fellow senior’s 2nd Team AD Grant Jaeger - WR, Brian Romero - LB, Evan Herrera- OL, Hayden Schultz- DB and Emarion Lopez- DB. As has been the case through his tenure Coach Wood has 2 quarterbacks developing and competing for snaps Juniors Owen Norrell and Mike Davis return to help lead the Westwood attack on offense. Juniors Demani Stewart and Ananias Vance will work in the new backfield while Lane Wood and Kaleb Payten will be major factors in the air attack on the outsides.

On defense junior Aiden Cheng will have a big role in the veteran secondary. This Warrior team will be young and sophomores Caius Coy- LB/TE, Scott Ufflemen- WR, Dylan Cullers- WR and Aebren Whitley will be called upon to be key contributors and appear ready for those roles. Look for a bounce back year for Westwood with depth and key pieces in place times seem to be on the rise along Mellow Meadow Dr.

MCNEIL

Coach Scott Hermes enters his third season as the Mavericks Head Coach. In 2021 the Mavericks really seemed to have turned the corner as they finished at 3-7 including two straight wins against Stony Point and Westwood to end the season. Ironically McNeil currently has the longest winning streak in 25-6A. Coach Hermes told IHSFAN, “2021 saw us take steps in the right direction. I expect us to continue to grow and improve in 2022.”

The Mavs will return 4 starters on offense and 8 on defense. The offense will have to replace the amazing Luke Hutchison as he will now be playing on Saturdays for Navy. The offense will be led by Sr. QB Brad Whittenberg, Jr. WR Andrew Lesieur and Sr. RB Kaleb Cooper.

The defense will be led by Sr. 2nd Team AD DB Aaron Crowe, Jr. 2nd Team AD DB Keegan McBryde, and Jr. LB Bobby Holland. The defense will be the strength of the team and should keep the Mavs close in most games. Someone check the McNeil season rushing record as Kaleb Cooper should both literally and figuratively make a run at a school record breaking season.

Coach Jeff Cheatham heads into his 13th season at the helm of Dragon Football. Last season his Round Rock squad finished 9-2 sharing the district championship with Vandegrift. Coach Cheatham, who was named district 25-6A 2021 Coach of the year, told IHSFAN, “We are returning key positions on both sides of the ball this season. We are working hard to sure up the offensive line.”

The Dragons will return 6 offensive starters and 5 defensive starters. The offense will be led by Offensive newcomer of the year Jr. QB Mason Cochran. Other leaders on offense will be Sr. WR Adam Borel and Sr. TE Clayton Charlton. The stingy defense will be the strength of the team as they return 5 starters including Jr. DB and co-defensive newcomer of the year Leonard Moore, Sr. DL and 1st Team AD Jett Jones, Sr. DB and 1st Team AD Jalen Gilbert, and Sr. DL and Defensive Lineman of the Year Ansel Nedore. Once again, Round Rock Dragon regular season games will be broadcast on the IHSFAN Webcast Network.

CEDAR RIDGE

Coach Sam Robinson heads into his 6th season as head coach of the Raiders. In 2021 the Raiders finished 7-4 and kept up their streak of beating perennial power Round Rock as well as their amazing ninth straight playoff appearance. Coach Robinson told IHSFAN, “We will be very scrappy and solid throughout. We have great experience returning on defense at Linebacker and in the secondary. In addition, we have some big play ability on offense as soon as the offensive line gels.” The Raiders will return 3 starters on Offense and 4 starters on defense. The offense will be led by Sr. OL 2nd Team AD Ian Wollard, Sr. WR 2nd Team AD Zane Wofford, and Sr. TE Iyioluwa Adekoya. The defense will be led by Sr. DB Julien Meza, Sr. DB Xavien Cox, Jr. DL Malik Cousin, and Sr. LB Jason Taylor. Once again, Cedar Ridge Raiders regular season games will be broadcast on the IHSFAN Webcast Network.

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Coach James Keller heads into his 3rd season as the leader of Mustang Nation (19th overall at Manor). Last season he led his talented squad to a 9-3 record going two rounds into the playoffs. This season the Mustangs will move to 6A as they will take Hutto’s place in the always tough 25-6A district with the RRISD schools and two LISD schools. Coach Keller told IHSFAN, “We have a very strong senior team this season, I expect big things. We will be ready for the jump to 6A.” The Mustangs return 8 starters on offense and 8 starters on defense making them one of the most experienced teams in the area. The offense is led by Sr. RB-District MVP and IHSFAN Top 10 player Quinten Joyner who will be responsible for many hours of lost sleep for area defensive coordinators. Manor will have a very physical line to help open holes for Joyner; Some of the leaders up front are Sr. OL Devin Scura and Jr. OL J.T. Thomas.

The talented defense will be led by Sr. DL and co-defensive lineman of the year (and the best name in Texas HS football) Princewill Umanmielen, Sr. DL and defensive newcomer MVP Jayden Cofield, and Sr. LB 1st team AD Sam Shaw.

The experience and talent of this team will make them a district championship contender in their first year in their new 6A district.

STONY POINT

2022 will mark the 19th season that Coach Craig Chessher will lead the Tigers. Coach Chessher enters his 39th overall season of coaching and leading young men. The Tigers look to be much improved after coming off their 4-6 2021 campaign. Coach Chessher told IHSFAN, “We hope to be better if we can stay away from injuries.

The Tigers will return 6 offensive starters and 5 defensive starters. The offense will feature one of the best backfields in Texas as Sr. RB IHSFAN Top 10 team Cameron Cook and Sr. RB 1st Team AD Kory Thomas both return. Sr. QB Ivan Villegas will return as the signal caller. The defense will be led Sr. LB Jamal Baker, and a pair of Jr. defensive lineman in Chima Oneyjika and Iverson Collins.

**BREAKING NEWS: IHSFAN Top 10 player and star WR Braylon James told IHSFAN that his family moved from the Del Valle area and he will be playing for Stony Point this season. This news will certainly give the Tigers an additional amazing weapon as James is one of the best WR’s in Texas. Once again, Stony Point Tigers regular season games will be broadcast on the IHSFAN Webcast Network.

Coach Drew Sanders celebrates his 14th season as the head coach of the Vipers coming into the season for the 4th year in a row as defending district champs. In 2021 the Vipers finished an amazing year at 12-2 going 4 rounds into the playoffs and sharing the district 25-6A championship with Round Rock for the second straight year. Coach Sanders told IHSFAN, “The Expectations remain the same and we will need to replace a great senior class. We are excited to get back on the field to begin our journey to our 5th straight district championship.”

The Vipers will return 5 starters on offense and 4 starters on defense. The offense will be led by District MVP and IHSFAN Top 10 player Sr. QB Brayden Buchanan. The offensive line is secure in the hands of the districts OL MVP Sr. Ian Reed and the main receiving target should be Jr. WR Miles Coleman.

The defense will be led by co-defensive newcomer of the year Jr. DB Alex Foster, 2nd Team AD Sr. DL Oliver Yndo, and Sr. DB Andrew Scott. The future is bright for the Vipers as Both the JV and Freshman teams went undefeated last season.

VISTA RIDGE

Coach Chad Scott heads into his second season at the helm of Ranger Nation. Last year the Rangers finished 4-6 and missed the playoffs. Coach Scott told IHSFAN, “This year we will look to draw on a strong senior leadership group and a host of talented juniors to make an impact and statement in 25-6A. The Rangers will return 4 starters on offense and 6 starters on defense. The offense may boast one of the best receiving corps in the area and includes: Sr. Reece Heffelfinger, Jr. Tian Murray, Jr. Tanner Brosie, and Sr. Jake Pololak. Look for Sr. QB Jackson Harrell to compete for the starting quarterback job.

The defense will be led by 2nd Team AD Jr. LB Grant Anderson, Sr. DL Aiden Cruz, Sr. LB Josh Brewton, Sr. DB Syion Allen, and Jr. LB Karson Smith. Look for Jr. OL/DL Charlie Power to help sure up the big fellas up front.