Round Rock has life after all; McNeil still has work to do to challenge the district powers. Those were the main takeaways after Round Rock cruised past McNeil 31-17 in an important District 25-6A matchup Friday night (9/19) in our VYPE Austin Central Texas Game of the Week.
The Dragons jumped on top early and never looked back. Senior quarterback Jack Appl found senior wide receiver Daniel Barry behind the Mavericks defense for a 48-yard strike to open the scoring midway through the first quarter. The Dragons were on the move again before McNeil’s sophomore defensive back Kaden Kerney wrestled the ball away from a Round Rock receiver for an interception in Mavs territory.
A 30-yard Jadon Sultz to Zach Christie pass followed by a 40-yard run by Jarell Gary set up McNeil at the Dragon 5-yard line. However, the drive stalled after a personal foul penalty and the Mavs settled for a Bryce Wilson 37-yard field goal to make the score 7-3.
Round Rock responded with a nice mix of Appl passes and runs by Ryan Sirwaitis, Brady Cochran and Appl. Sirwaitis punched it in from 5-yards out and Cade Zamora tacked on the PAT to nudge the Dragons lead to 14-3.
Coach Cody Moore rolled the dice, and his Dragons fell on the ensuing onside kick ricochet at midfield. Round Rock quickly moved the ball deep into the red zone before McNeil’s defense stiffened. Zamora knocked a 22-yarder through the uprights to increase Round Rock’s lead to 17-3.
McNeil recovered the next onside kick attempt, but the Dragon defense recorded a couple of sacks to force a punt and prevent the Mavs from capitalizing. With Appl spreading the ball around to a variety of receivers, Sirwaitis capped off a 78-yard drive with an 8-yard run around the left side to send the Dragons into the locker room with a 24-3 lead.
After the teams traded possessions, Alexander Cochran’s short run put the game away for Round Rock late in the third quarter.
A Sultz quarterback keeper and Sultze-to-Christie touchdown pass made the final score more respectable.
Round Rock (1-1, 1-3) squares off against Cedar Ridge Friday (9/26) from the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex; McNeil (1-1, 2-2) faces Stony Point Friday from Dragon Stadium. VYPE will broadcast both games.
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COACHES CORNER: It's St. Thomas Week for the Panthers; Coach Shaun Stephens talks keys to game
23 Sep, 2025
It's St. Thomas week for St. Pius X, and the stakes are high.
After coming off another win over KIPP-Sunnyside, the Panthers are 3-1 going into this week's game against their biggest rivals.
VYPE's Matt Malatesta talked with coach Shaun Stephens about the upcoming matchup along with LB Marcos Solais, OLs Landon Martinez and Jacob Gray. It's pure gold.
Listen in.
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Manvel's Emerson Chang
Doug Brown (VYPE)
The South Houston area is loaded with talented athletes who give it there all in their respective fields of play.
Welcome to the VYPE Playmakers powered by UTMB Health, where we’re highlighting five standouts from this past week who stole the headlines.
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, who have put up some major stat-lines through district play!
...
Mady Powell -- Clear Springs Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
As Clear Springs climbs to No. 7 in Houston’s citywide rankings with a 25-8 record, much of the spotlight has shone on standout hitters like Caylee Young and veteran defensive specialist Lianna Kearns. But behind the Chargers’ recent surge is the steady, unflashy brilliance of junior setter Mady Powell.
Following a narrow five-set loss to Fulshear in early September, Clear Springs has bounced back with wins in six of its last seven matches — including a commanding 4-0 start to their 24-6A schedule. Powell has been central to that resurgence, orchestrating the Chargers' offense with a team-high 523 assists while also anchoring the back row with 258 digs.
Her consistency and court vision have become a cornerstone for head coach Shannon McClellen’s squad, which is aiming for its fourth consecutive district title. With Powell quietly powering the engine, Clear Springs appears poised to make a deeper playoff push than last year’s Area Round finish.
Aaron Tenner -- Iowa Colony Football
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The Pioneers have stormed to a 4-0 start this fall, most recently dismantling Baytown Lee in a dominant 57-0 showing.
Under head coach Ray Garza, Iowa Colony has leaned on a balanced offensive attack. Quarterback Carson White and Houston-commit Jayden Warren have kept secondaries honest, opening the door for senior tailback Aaron Tenner to thrive on the ground.
Tenner has made the most of his opportunities. So far, he’s piled up over 400 yards of offense and tallied eight total touchdowns—tied with Warren for the team lead. His physical, downhill running style has added a punishing edge to an already versatile offense.
Now, the spotlight shifts to Thursday night’s high-stakes showdown against district rival and reigning 5A-DII State Champion Randle—a rematch of last year’s Region III Final.
With momentum on their side and playmakers across the board, the Pioneers look poised for a statement win. And if recent performances are any indication, expect Tenner to remain a driving force in Iowa Colony’s impending championship push.
Emerson Chang -- Manvel Volleyball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
In a district that’s currently headlined by top-ranked Dawson, Manvel has quietly built a strong case as a serious contender. Now 22-8 overall and unbeaten (7-0) in 22-6A, the Mavericks are riding momentum into Tuesday’s highly anticipated matchup on the Eagles’ home court.
Amidst the offensive prowess of Jasmyn Walker (Sr. MB) and Nevaeh English (Sr. OH), fellow senior Emerson Chang has delivered on the defensive side time and time again. A relentless presence in the back row, Chang recently surpassed 1,000 career digs and has already collected over 400 this season alone.
Given those numbers, last year’s second-team, all-district nod seems modest in hindsight. With her consistency, leadership, and elite instincts, Chang’s performance this fall has also reaffirmed her next step: a collegiate career at St. Mary’s University.
As the district race tightens, Chang’s role only becomes more critical — and she continues to rise to the moment.
Luke Brown -- Dawson Football
Doug Brown (VYPE)
Led by head coach Mike Allison, Dawson has opened 2025 with a 3-1 mark, highlighted by back-to-back district shutouts over Dobie (26-0) and Pasadena Memorial (55-0).
While much of the plaudits should be extended to the defense and the schemes that allow the unit to flourish, there’s something to be said of the poise displayed by senior signal-caller Luke Brown.
Through four weeks, Brown’s stat line is the picture of efficiency—averaging just under 150 passing yards per game with five touchdowns and no interceptions. On the ground, he’s added 215 rushing yards and two more scores, further underscoring his dual-threat reliability.
It’s that level-headed playmaking that will be crucial as Dawson faces its toughest test yet: a Friday night clash at Alvin ISD’s Freedom Field against reigning District 22-6A champion Shadow Creek.
Mia Eason -- Clear Creek Volleyball
Clear Creek’s 16-15 record may not leap off the page, but the Wildcats’ strength of schedule tells a different story. With early-season battles against powerhouses like Tompkins, Cy Ranch, Dripping Springs, and Tomball, Coach Scott Simonds’ squad has been tested—and sharpened—by elite competition.
Now, as the stakes rise, Clear Creek is finding its rhythm. A 3-1 start in 24-6A has them firmly in the playoff mix, and leading the charge is senior outside hitter Mia Eason. Eason has emerged as Coach Scott Simonds’ go-to weapon, racking up a team-best 285 kills through the heart of the season.
She’s not alone—freshman Lily Sanchez has added an impressive 215 kills—but Eason’s leadership and firepower remain central to the Wildcats’ postseason hopes.
While Clear Springs holds the early edge after a 3-1 win in their first meeting, don’t count Clear Creek out. Historically strong down the stretch, the Wildcats have the tools—and talent—to make another playoff run.
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aaron tennerclear creek volleyballclear springs volleyballdawson footballemerson changhouston high school footballhouston high school sportshouston high school volleyballiowa colony footballluke brownmady powellmanvel volleyballmia easontexas high school footballtexas high school volleyballutmbutmb healthutmb playmakersvype houston high school sports
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