Photo by Bradley Collier
The VYPE Media team traveled out to San Antonio Christian School to capture the stars of the Spring Inside the Den of the Lions' Baseball, Softball, Golf, Tennis and Track and Field!
This Week 4 matchup serves as a final tune-up before district play begins — and may very well feel like a playoff preview.
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CIBOLO STEELE
Out of San Antonio, the Knights enter the contest undefeated at 3-0, fresh off a convincing 42-22 win over Brandeis.
Under ninth-year head coach David Saenz — who was recently selected as an assistant coach for the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl — Steele continues to build on last season’s 11-2 campaign, which ended in the third round against eventual 6A-Division II Champion Vandegrift.
Leading the way offensively is senior tailback Jonathan Hatton Jr., a four-star Texas A&M-commit who has already racked up over 400 rushing yards and seven touchdowns through three games.
After earning a first-team, all-district selection in 2024, he’s certainly making a strong case for District 29-6A Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Junior quarterback DJ Green has been a steady hand for Steele, managing the game efficiently behind an experienced offensive line anchored by UTEP-bound senior Pryce McClanahan. Out wide, the Knights have two reliable targets in senior Micah Sheeler and junior Jamin Harvell, both capable of stretching the field.
Defensively, Steele boasts a formidable front seven, spearheaded by Arizona State-commit Julian Hugo.
The senior edge rusher headlines a group that includes veteran middle linebacker Jared Ibarra and rising sophomore Pike Kempe.
The secondary is just as dangerous, featuring junior safety Eli Johnson — a four-star prospect with offers from Texas, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, and Texas A&M, among others. Opposing quarterbacks have learned quickly to think twice before challenging his side of the field.
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Maddox Flynt & Thompson Bennett (Westlake v. Atascocita -- 9/12/25)
Photo By: Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
WESTLAKE
On the other sideline, Westlake (2-1) is coming off a gritty 35-28 road win over Atascocita, following a 66-0 blowout of San Benito in Week 2. The Chaps dropped a narrow opener to Prosper but have looked sharper each week since.
Head coach Tony Salazar has once again built a team capable of contending, following last year’s run to the 6A-D1 State Championship.
Senior QB Rees Wise, an Ole Miss-commit, headlines the offense with a balanced attack, using both his arm and legs to keep defenses on edge.
Sophomore standout Jarren “The Jet” Lopez and senior Sebastian Henault share the backfield duties, forming a dynamic one-two punch.
Wise’s receiving corps is deep and talented, featuring senior Jack Newhouse, junior Rhett Jenkins, and sophomore Chase Brodhead.
Meanwhile, Westlake’s defense remains a calling card.
TCU-bound senior Maddox Flynt, the reigning District 26-6A Defensive MVP, sets the tone up front, while senior safety Thompson Bennett continues to shine as a physical, versatile presence in the back end.
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With stars on both sides of the ball and coaching staffs that know how to win in November, Friday’s showdown could be a tone-setter for the rest of the season — and possibly a glimpse at a future playoff rematch.
Right behind them, Brennan picked up one of the most notable wins of the week, outlasting the 2024 UIL 5A-D1 State Champions, Smithson Valley, in last Thursday’s contest.
This should provide the Bears plenty of confidence as they hit the road for a matchup with Sotomayor, while the Rangers expect to bounce back against Madison.
Harlan remains unbeaten after edging out Madison and heads into a bye week with plenty to build on. Johnson, meanwhile, is 2-0 after a composed win over Pieper and will host McAllen Memorial in a non-district test.
New Braunfels and Alamo Heights have both opened with comfortable wins, with the Mules putting up 54 points last week ahead of their clash with Comal Canyon.
Pieper and Boerne have both shown early promise, while Davenport — the lone 4A representative in the Top 10 — has overwhelmed its first two opponents, racking up 66 points in last week’s rout of Tivy. However, the Wolves face a tougher challenge this Friday in a road game against Pieper.
With Week 3 on deck, matchups across classifications could start to reveal which teams are equipped to carry early success into the heart of the season.
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***Last section denotes most recent game result (acquired from MaxPreps as of 9/7/2025)
VYPE San Antonio Combined (6A-4A) Top-10 Football Rankings -- WEEK 3 (9/8 - 9/14)
1. Cibolo Steele Knights (6A) -- 2-0 // 28-13 W v. SA Reagan // Next Matchup: VS. Brandeis -- Friday 9/12
2. Brennan Bears (6A) -- 2-0 // 30-21 W v. Smithson Valley // Next Matchup: @ Sotomayor -- Saturday 9/13
3. Smithson Valley Rangers (5A) -- 1-1 // 21-30 L v. Brennan // Next Matchup: VS. SA Madison -- Friday 9/12
4. Harlan Hawks (6A) -- 2-0 // 28-24 W v. SA Madison // Next Matchup: Bye Week
5. SA Johnson Jaguars (6A) -- 2-0 // 31-22 W v. Pieper // Next Matchup: VS. McAllen Memorial -- Friday 9/12
6. New Braunfels Unicorns (5A) -- 2-0 // 41-15 W v. Comal Canyon // Next Matchup: @ Del Rio -- Friday 9/12
7. Alamo Heights Mules (5A) -- 2-0 // 54-24 W v. SA Churchill // Next Matchup: VS. Comal Canyon -- Friday 9/12
8. Pieper Warriors (5A) -- 1-1 // 22-31 L v. SA Johnson // Next Matchup: VS. Davenport -- Friday 9/12
9. Boerne Greyhounds (5A) -- 1-1 // 35-31 W v. Laredo United // Next Matchup: VS. Medina Valley -- Friday 9/12
10. Davenport Wolves (4A) -- 2-0 // 66-13 W v. Tivy // Next Matchup:@ Pieper -- Friday 9/12
Others to Watch: SA Reagan Rattlers (6A), East Central Hornets (6A), Comal Canyon Cougars (6A), Clark Cougars (6A), Boerne-Champion Chargers (5A)
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