By Bradley Collier
VYPE Media headed to San Antonio to Northside Stevens High School over the summer for their 2023 Media Day.
Here is access behind the scenes of that fun-filled day.
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VYPE Media headed to San Antonio to Northside Stevens High School over the summer for their 2023 Media Day.
Here is access behind the scenes of that fun-filled day.
...
Saturday, August 30 – 7:00 PM / Dub Farris Stadium, San Antonio
The start of a new season often brings a mix of anticipation and potential — clean slates, a different combination of lineups, and early tests that hint at what’s to come. But when Harlan and East Central meet Saturday night under the lights at Dub Farris Stadium, there’s a deeper current running beneath the surface.
For Harlan, the game marks more than just the beginning of another campaign.
It also marks the emotional return of head coach Eddie Salas, who will be back on the sidelines after a months-long battle with Stage 4 Large B cell lymphoma. Declared cancer-free in July, Salas’s comeback is already a galvanizing force for a Hawks team still riding momentum from a landmark 2024 season.
East Central arrives with its own sense of unfinished business. After a strong showing last year and a deep playoff run, the Hornets return a battle-tested core — especially on the perimeter — and are looking to prove they can reload despite key departures.
The season opener sets up a compelling clash between two San Antonio-area contenders who not only share postseason aspirations, but also a reputation for resilience and grit.
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Harlan finished last season 12–2, securing second place in District 28-6A before advancing four rounds deep into the playoffs.
Their run ultimately ended in the 6A Division II Region IV Final against eventual state champion Vandegrift, but the Hawks return enough firepower to suggest another deep run isn’t out of reach.
Senior QB Aldric Trotter remains the focal point of the offense. A unanimous first-team, all-district selection in 2024, Trotter threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 22 touchdowns, while adding 935 rushing yards and 14 more scores on the ground.
With top wideout Payton Matthews now at Rice, fellow senior Jordan Grady — a second-team, all-district honoree — steps into a leading role in the passing game. Senior running back G’Ivori Graham, a three-star TCU commit, is also expected to take on a larger share of the offensive load.
Defensively, the Hawks return several core contributors, including first-team, all-district defensive back Taveion Ford, senior linebacker Robert Gonzales III, and junior DB Addon Palmer. Maddox Berantuo adds another experienced presence to a linebacker unit that will be key against East Central’s playmakers.
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For the Hornets, replacing 29-6A Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Mackey at quarterback is no small task — but head coach Joe Hubbard has consistently found ways to maximize his talent. Last season, East Central went 9–4 and reached the 6A Division I Regional Semifinals before falling to Lake Travis.
The offense will lean heavily on its senior wide receiver duo: Joseph Kelley and Deirionn Smith-Cline. Both earned first-team, all-district honors and combined for over 1,500 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. Their speed and chemistry should make them a constant threat regardless of who’s under center.
On defense, senior linebacker Braylon Blair (first-team) anchors the front seven after posting 87 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and three sacks in 2024. Junior Gabriel Chavarria, who added 50 tackles and 11 TFLs, gives East Central another disruptive force in the middle of the field.
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With talent spread across both rosters — and the added emotional weight of Salas’s return — Saturday night’s game promises more than just an early measuring stick. It’s a matchup with meaning, and one that could set the tone for two teams aiming to make noise in 2025.
There is so much fun to be had at a VYPE Media Days!
From team and individual pictures, social media shout-outs and video interviews, it is all there for the student-athletes to feel like a superstar.
Our team traveled to Sotomayor HS for their 2025 Volleyball Media Day recently. Check out the behind-the-scenes hype video below!
The 2024 UIL 5A-D1 State Champions -- Smithson Valley Rangers
As summer fades and anticipation builds across the city, the San Antonio high school football scene is once again shaping up to be one of the most competitive in Texas. With a blend of established contenders and fast-rising challengers, the region enters the 2025 season with several teams eyeing not just deep playoff runs—but championship gold.
According to the latest San Antonio preseason outlook, Cibolo Steele leads the charge. The Knights are coming off an impressive 11-2 finish and a trip to the 6A Division II Regional Semifinals. With their signature physicality and returning experience, Steele appears primed to take another step forward this fall.
In Class 5A, defending state champion Smithson Valley holds a firm grip on expectations after closing out a dominant 14-2 campaign in 2024. The Rangers’ well-rounded roster and exemplary postseason delivery make them the benchmark for the rest of the region’s 5A programs.
Depth in Class 6A continues to be a strong-suit of the area. Brennan and Johnson both finished with 10-win seasons and advanced to the area round, while Harlan emerged as a serious threat with a 12-2 run to the 6A-D2 Region IV Final. East Central, fresh off a regional semifinal appearance, adds even more intrigue to a crowded top tier.
Meanwhile, the 5A landscape remains loaded. Pieper and Alamo Heights each notched 12- and 11-win seasons, respectively, and are expected to reload rather than rebuild. Boerne made a notable State Semis appearance in 5A-D2, and New Braunfels reached the regional round in Division I—both programs with the talent and coaching to disrupt the pecking order once again.
With seasoned programs returning hungry and younger squads closing the gap, San Antonio’s path to State contention is wide open—and all signs point to another fall filled with Friday night fireworks.
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VYPE San Antonio Combined (6A-4A) Top-10 Football Rankings -- 2025 PRESEASON
***Second section denotes 2024 result
1. Cibolo Steele Knights (6A) -- 11-2 // 6A-D2 Regional Semifinalists
2. Smithson Valley Rangers (5A) -- 14-2 // UIL 5A-D1 State Champions*
3. Brennan Bears (6A) -- 10-2 // 6A-D1 Area Finalists
4. Harlan Hawks (6A) -- 12-2 // 6A-D2 Region 4 Finalists
5. Pieper Warriors (5A) -- 11-1 // 5A-D1 Area Finalists
6. Alamo Heights Mules (5A) -- 12-1 // 5A-D2 Regional Semifinalists
7. SA Johnson Jaguars (6A) -- 10-2 // 6A-D1 Area Finalists
8. East Central Hornets (6A) -- 9-4 // 6A-D1 Regional Semifinalists
9. New Braunfels Unicorns (5A) -- 9-4 // 5A-D1 Regional Semifinalists
10. Boerne Greyhounds (5A) -- 11-4 // UIL 5A-D2 State Semifinalists*
Others to Watch: Comal Canyon Cougars (6A), Sotomayor Wildcats (6A), Churchill Chargers (6A), Clark Cougars (6A), Taft Raiders (6A), Seguin Matadors (5A), Jay Mustangs (5A), Davenport Wolves (4A)
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