COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

The Wimberley looks to continue their dominance of 4A Division II, returning five offensive starters and four defensive starters from last year’s 14-1 team.
Photo submiteed by Julie Albini

Previewing the Hays County football teams

The Countdown to Kickoff series takes a look at the upcoming football season for the San Marcos Rattlers.

With the Rattlers bye week scheduled for Week 10, this week will take a look at the upcoming football seasons for all the Hays County Schools.

BUDA JOHNSON JAGUARS

The Jaguars are coming off a 5-5 season and missed the playoffs following a loss to Austin Bowie in district play.

This year’s UIL Realignment moved Johnson from the Austin oriented District 26 into District 29 with Cibolo Steele, Converse Judson, New Braunfels Canyon, San Antonio East Central, San Marcos and Schertz Clemens.

The Jaguars will also be under a new head coach for the first time in program history as Stephen Hoffman stepped down after four seasons.

Offensive coordinator Sam Carlin will take over the football program as interim head coach.

The Jaguars return eight offensive starters and six defensive starters from last year’s team.

Leading the offense is running back Kael Hatnot who ran for 1,040 yards on 145 carries and ten touchdown passes.

Johnson opens the season on the road against Round Rock Cedar Ridge before the home opener against Round Rock Stony Point. The Jaguars take Austin High in a Week Three showdown before their annual rivalry game against Dripping Springs known as the Battle of Onion Creek.

The Jaguars start district play at home against San Marcos in the first ever meeting between the Hays County Schools followed by a road game against New Braunfels Canyon. Johnson will be back home against Clemens before another road game against East Central.

Johnson closes out the season at home against Judson before their final regular season game on the road against Steele.

DRIPPING SPRINGS TIGERS The Tigers are coming off a 11-3 season where Dripping Springs finished second in the district play behind Austin Westlake.

Dripping Springs advanced to the 6A D2 Region IV Final before falling to Cibolo Steele.

The Tigers remained put in District 26 along with Austin High, Austin Akins, Austin Bowie, Austin Del Valle, Austin Westlake and Lake Travis.

The Tigers return just five offensive starters and one defensive starter from last year’s team.

Dripping Springs will look to lean on their offense in the early goings of the season with running back Jack Tyndall leading the charge. Tyndall ran for 1,644 yards on 247 carries and scored 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Maddox Maher also returns, passing for 1,713 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Dripping Springs opens the season on the road against Austin Vandergrift before their home opener against San Antonio Wagner. The Tigers will make another road trip to Pflugerville Weiss before hosting rival Buda Johnson.

The Tigers start district play on the road against Austin Akins before a home game against Austin High. Dripping Springs goes back on the road in a critical game against Austin Bowie before hosting archrival Lake Travis, the Tigers most played opponent.

The Tigers close out the season on the road against Austin Del Valle before wrapping up their regular season back at home against Austin Westlake.

BUDA HAYS HAWKS The Hawks finished the season with a 4-6 record and placed sixth in the district standings.

Hays remains in the same district in 5A D1 District 12 along with Kyle Lehman but the membership has changed significantly with the additions of A&M Consolidated, Austin Anderson, Bastrop Cedar Creek, College Station, Pflugerville Hendrickson, Pflugerville Weiss and Lockhart.

The Hawks will also be under a new head coach following the retirement of Les Goad. Former El Paso Pebble Hills Head Coach Mark Torres will lead the program after coaching the Spartans for the past seven seasons.

Hays returns nine offensive starters and six defensive starters from last year’s team.

Lynford Noriega will look to lead the offense after rushing for 348 yards and three touchdowns.

Hays opens the season against Elgin on the road before the home opener against Pflugerville in the only non-district games of the season.

The Hawks start district play against Henderickson before a road showdown with Cedar Creek. Hays returns home against Lockhart before going back on the road against Weiss. A home game with College Station awaits the Hawks along with another road game against Anderson.

Hays closes out the two final games of the season at home against A&M Consolidated before battling Lehman in the season finale.

KYLE LEHMAN LOBOS

The Lobos finished their 2023 campaign with a 2-8 record with wins over Lockhart and San Antonio MacArthur. Lehman remains in 5A D1 District 12 along with Hays with the district adding A&M Consolidated, Austin Anderson, Bastrop Cedar Creek, College Station, Pflugerville Hendrickson, Pflugerville Weiss and Lockhart.

Lehman returns six offensive starters and five defensive starters from last year’s team.

The trio of quarterback Gunner Winiecki, running back Mo Bayo and wide receiver Amir Washington look to lead the Lehman offense.

The Lobos open the season at home against Killeen Chaparral before a road contest against San Antonio Jay.

Lehman continues their road trip against Lockhart before returning home to play Weiss. The Lobos go back on the road against College Station then return home against Austin Anderson. Lehman makes to return trip to College Station to play Consolidated before a home game against Hendrickson.

The Lobos close out the regular season on the road against Cedar Creek before hosting Hays in the season finale.

WIMBERLEY TEXANS

The Texans are coming off a 14-1 season where the team won their third straight district championship.

Wimberley advanced to the State Semifinals where the Texans fell to the Belville Brahmas 35-33.

The Texans remain put in District 13 along with Lago Vista, Navarro and Jarrell while gaining new district members in Gonzales, Salado and Smithville.

Wimberley returns five offensive starters and four defensive starters from last year’s team including quarterback Cody Stoever who was named Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s 4A Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Stoever passed for 2,992 yards and 41 touchdowns while running for 1,585 yards and 32 touchdowns.

The Texans start the season at home against Canyon Lake in the Battle of the Backbone before another home contest against Fredericksburg. Wimberley goes on the road in the major showdown with the Austin LBJ Jaguars along with another road contest with Lampasas to end non-district play.

Wimberley battles archrival Navarro on road to start district play before returning home against Salado. The Texans go back on the road against Jarrell then return home against Gonzales.

Wimberley closes out the season against Smithville on the road before a home against Lago Vista in the regular season finale.

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc