2022 Austin-area high school football preview: Class 6A districts

Can Westlake win an unprecedented fourth straight Class 6A title despite the graduation of Cade Klubnik and the retirement of Todd Dodge?  Which new Class 6A teams have the best chances to reach the postseason? And just who is the best high school quarterback in the Austin area?

The American-Statesman continues its 2022 high school football season previews by looking at the Austin area's largest programs in its district-by-district breakdown for Class 6A.

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District 12-6A

Players to watch

LB Brody Bujnoch, Hutto: The ultraproductive 6-foot-4, 230-pound middle linebacker has played almost everywhere on the defensive front in his first three varsity seasons while racking up more than 200 career tackles, including 125 stops, 12½ tackles, three sacks and 17 quarterback pressures last season.

QB Will Hammond, Hutto: After winning the job as a sophomore with his accuracy and smarts in 2021, the 6-2, 190-pounder threw for 1,704 yards and 17 TDs and added 419 yards and eight TDs rushing.

DB Peyton Morgan, Weiss: FBS offers keep pouring in for the rangy 6-1, 170-pound junior, who earned first-team all-district honors with 68 tackles and five interceptions as a sophomore.

DL Chad Otutu, Weiss: The 6-2, 280-pound end with a nonstop motor excels against both the run and the pass and earned his district’s lineman of the year honor as a sophomore after registering 53 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and three sacks.

RB Re’Shaun Sanford, Harker Heights: One of the most dynamic running backs in the state, the 5-9, 167-pound speedster averaged 236 yards from scrimmage per game in 2021 with 31 total TDs.

More:Our Top 20 for 2022: The Statesman's complete rundown on the best Austin-area football players

Predicted order of finish (with 2021 record)

1. Temple (9-3, area finalist)

2. Weiss (10-2, 5A DI area finalist)

3. Harker Heights (9-2, bi-district finalist)

4. Hutto (5-6 bi-district finalist)

5. Bryan (7-4 bi-district finalist)

6. Waco Midway (1-9)

7. Copperas Cove (1-9)

District outlook 

Baylor pledge Taurean York of Temple emerged as one of the most active LBs in the state with 141 tackles a year ago, and the defending district champs also boast a veteran at QB in Reese Rumfield. ... After winning a district title in Class 5A Division I last season, Weiss moves up a class with a loaded roster that includes defensive stalwarts Morgan and Otutu as well as offensive stars such as RB Daelen Alexander and WR Micah Gifford. … QB Dylan Plake is one of eight returning starters for Harker Heights, and quality DB Deaubry Hood leads a defense with seven starters back. … Participation numbers keep growing as Hutto enters its third year in 6A, and new coach Will Compton will lean on an experienced offense led by Hammond, RB Jalon Banks and WR Gary Choice Jr. … Bryan will rely on versatile athletes Malcolm Gooden and Tyson Turner offensively, especially while a young defense melds in multiple new starters. … A rebuilding Midway program included eight sophomore starters in 2021, but coaches think the returning combination of RB Dom Hill and QB Reid Tedford can spur a darkhorse playoff push. …  The once-proud Copperas Cove program hasn’t won a playoff game since 2011, and Tony Johnson became the fourth head coach in the past five years in the offseason.

District 25-6A

Players to watch

QB Brayden Buchanan, Vandegrift: A senior, the returning district MVP passed for 3,017 yards and 42 TDs last year.

WR Grant Jaeger, Westwood: Coach Anthony Wood returns six offensive starters, none more explosive than Jaeger (76 catches, 605 yards in 2021).

RB Quinten Joyner, Manor: One of the state's most explosive players, he rushed for 2,437 yards and 33 touchdowns last season.

DL Ansel Nedore, Round Rock: The defensive line is a Dragon strength, and Nedore (57 tackles in 2021) is the leader of the pack.

LB Jason Taylor, Cedar Ridge: Defense will be the key for the Raiders, and Taylor (74 tackles last year) will monitor the middle.

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Predicted order of finish (with 2021 record)

1. Vandegrift (12-2, 6A DII regional finalist)

2. Manor (9-3, 5A DI area finalist)

3. Round Rock (9-2, 6A DI bi-district finalist)

4. Cedar Ridge (7-4, 6A DI bi-district finalist)

5. Vista Ridge (4-6)

6. Westwood (1-9)

7. McNeil (3-7)

8. Stony Point (4-6)

District outlook

Perennial power Vandegrift will continue to be a force, and Buchanan has already established himself as one of the top QBs in Central Texas. ... With that said, look for Manor and Round Rock to reach the playoffs again. Manor has 18 returning starters (nine on offense, nine on defense), while Round Rock relies on dual-threat quarterback Mason Cochran (832 yards passing, 961 yards rushing in 2021). ... Cedar Ridge and Vista Ridge will meet in the first week of district play Sept. 16, and the winner will have the inside track to the No. 4 slot in the playoffs. Cedar Ridge relies on a strong defensive front led by linemen Iyolowa Adekoya and Malik Cousin. Vista Ridge will have experience with 13 returning starters, including Josh Brewton (68 tackles). ... Westwood might be the most improved team in the district and will bank on RBs Ananias Vance and Demani Stewart. ... McNeil's hopes will ride with new QB Brad Whittenburg, who rushed for 406 yards last year as a running back. ... Stony Point coach Craig Chessher will have to form a new defense with no returning starters. The offense might shine, though, behind RBs Cam Cook and Kory Thomas.

District 26-6A

Players to watch

QB Bo Edmundson, Lake Travis: The future Michigan State Spartan holds the keys to another deep run in the playoffs. After throwing 40 touchdown passes last year, he'll need to find a few go-to receivers to have that kind of individual success again.

DL Aaron Gall, Bowie: The heart of the defense, the Bulldog senior earned all-state second-team status as an edge rusher. He contributed 60 tackles and 10½ sacks for a team that went to the third round of the playoffs.

WR Jaden Greathouse, Westlake: The MVP of the Class 6A DII state championship game has some unfinished business before he heads to Notre Dame next year. Topping last year's personal numbers (1,274 yards, 20 TDs) is possible if the Chaparrals make another deep playoff run.

QB Jesse Medina, Johnson: The motor of the Jaguar offense showed versatility last fall by passing for 2,544 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushing for 660 yards and 11 more scores.

QB Austin Novosad, Dripping Springs: A Baylor pledge, Novosad is among the best passers in the state. He helped the Tigers reach the playoffs by passing for 3,399 yards and 40 touchdowns in a stellar junior season.

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Predicted order of finish (with 2021 record)

1. Westlake (16-0, Class 6A DII state champion)

2. Lake Travis (12-3, state semifinalist)

3. Dripping Springs (10-1, bi-district finalist)

4. Johnson (9-2, 5A bi-district finalist)

5. Bowie (10-3, regional semifinalist)

6. Anderson (3-7)

7. Del Valle (2-8)

8. Akins (4-6)

9. Austin High (3-7)

District outlook

A new era opens at Westlake as longtime defensive coordinator Tony Salazar replaces Todd Dodge as head coach. Defense will be the team's strength as the Chaps return seven starters from a unit that allowed only seven points a game. Look for the defense to take command while the offense searches for a starting quarterback to replace Cade Klubnik. ... Lake Travis also has seven players returning on defense. LB Tavin Lewis (127 tackles last fall) and DL Griffen Willis (81 tackles, 10½ sacks) are the building blocks. ... After scoring 52 points per game last season, Dripping Springs could be a state contender with Novosad calling signals. The Tigers know they have to stiffen a defense that gave up an average of 26 points. ... At Johnson, Medina will run the offense for the fourth straight year. Look for him to throw to big-time wideout Ethan McAlister (736 yards, eight TDs). ... Bowie came on strong last year behind QB Connor Kenyon, who threw 20 touchdown passes to lead an offense that scored 33 points per game. Bowie must regroup with only four returning starters. ... Anderson is fortunate to return QB Fred Dale, who led a run-based offense in 2021. Look for him to pass more this year after tossing 17 TDs last season. ... Coach Bobby Acosta enters his second season at Del Valle without much veteran depth but some star power, especially on defense with DB Lawrence Falke (93 tackles, 4 INTs). ... Akins returns five starters on defense, none better than LB Micah Thomas, who earned all-district honors last fall. ... Austin High will regroup with 12 returning starters, including stout linebackers Angel Nunez and Gage Nobles.

District 27-6A

Players to watch

WR Lance Beeghley, New Braunfels: The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder emerged as one of the best red-zone targets in the region with 701 yards and 14 TDs on just 36 catches last season.

RB Jaiyden Brown, San Marcos: A relentless rusher with home run speed, the 5-10, 185-pound senior topped 1,400 yards on the ground with 17 TDs in 2021, and he ran for more than 400 yards in a win over rival Hays.

WR Anthony Evans, Converse Judson: An Oklahoma pledge, the 6-1, 170-pounder with 4.4 speed provides the jet fuel for the Rockets.

LB Makai Williams, Cibolo Steele: The 6-foot, 215-pound Tulane pledge showed his sideline-to-sideline range with 148 tackles and seven stops for a loss a year ago.

OL Ory Williams, San Marcos: The massive young talent at 6-8, 305 pounds has drawn lots of attention from college scouts. He will make his Class 6A debut as a junior; he sat out last season after a transfer from Class 4A El Campo.

Predicted order of finish (with 2021 record)

1. Cibolo Steele (11-1, area finalist)

2. Converse Judson (4-6)

3. New Braunfels (6-6, area finalist)

4. San Marcos (5-6 bi-district finalist)

5. Schertz Clemens (2-8)

6. East Central (7-5, area finalist)

District outlook 

Four-year DL starter Dante Payton joins Williams in an impressive defensive front seven for Steele, but an offense with eight returning starters might be the strength of the squad. ... After suffering its first losing season since 1976, the proud Judson program hired alumnus and former San Marcos head coach Mark Soto, who will try to meld a contender from blue-chip prospects such as Evans and DL Johnny Bowens. … New Braunfels lost some key pieces from last year’s squad but welcomes back six starters on each side of the ball, including a formidable pair of receivers in Beeghley and 6-4 Landon Marsh. … Now in his third season in Central Texas after winning multiple titles at Denton Guyer, San Marcos coach John Walsh has an impressive core of players, including veteran dual-threat QB Isaiah DeLeon. … Schertz Clemens hopes a veteran defense led by LB Evan Tapp helps it bounce back from the program’s worst season since 2012. … Graduation decimated East Central, but DL Michael Pinones returns as part of a small but talented core of players seeking a return trip to the postseason.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin area Class 6A high school football preview for 2022