With the summer winding down, that means we're gearing up for the 2019-20 academic year. With the calendar focus shifting means the start of the volleyball season.
Following our look at the private school sleepers, we take a look at the potential dark horses for the Southwest Preparatory Conference and TAPPS.
SPC
Fort Worth Trinity Valley: Trinity Valley finished last year with a 12-15 record - good for fifth in the North division - and were eliminated in the SPC consolation semifinals last year. The Trojans lose only four players from last year's team and welcome back five seniors, including SPC All-Conference libero Yassmine Bazir.
TAPPS
6A
Fort Worth Nolan Catholic: Last year ended with a 17-22-4 record and missing out on the playoffs. Head coach Kameshia Melton returns seven to this year's squad, including five seniors looking to make the playoffs.
5A
Frisco Legacy Christian: A 15-14-2 record wasn't enough to make the playoffs, but the Legacy Christian team has six players returning, including senior setter Chloe Furtaw, outside hitter Aunie Slyman and defensive specialist Autum Merkow.
4A
Trinity Christian-Willow Park: The Eagles finished the year 19-13-2, second in district and were Area Finalists. The arrow is definitely pointed up for TCA-Willow park and could make a lot of noise in the playoffs this year. TCA-Willow Park graduated four from last year's team, but has four seniors ready to fill the void in 2019.
There are plenty of marquee football matchups this week in the Austin area. Plenty of folks will be curious to see how Cedar Ridge holds up against Lake Travis or just exactly how many points Cedar Park and Hutto are going to score between them in their battle for 24-6A lead.
But the vast majority of games each week slip under the radar, largely unnoticed by anyone except the teams themselves and their fans. That doesn’t make those games any less important. And this week’s VYPE Central Texas Game of the Week between McNeil and Stony Point at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex is a perfect example.
There are similarities between these two longtime Round Rock ISD rivals. Both are operating under new head coaches. And both are trying to build new cultures around those coaches and return to playoff form.
McNeil’s journey has been the most harrowing of the two. The Mavericks (0-2, 0-6) returned to the playoffs in 2024 and were one freakish play away from repeating that accomplishment last season under former head coach Scott Hermes. The program then went through the process of replacing Hermes twice, ultimately landing Jerry Gardner from Wylie East late in the summer.
Between the late change and seriously rebuilding after losing a ton of talent to graduation, the Mavericks have gotten off to a slow start. Senior quarterback Orion Covault has worked through the air (52-100, 646 Yds., 5 TD, 3 INT – stats through 5 games) while tacking on 261 rushing yards with a touchdown. Senior Zylen Hall (48-255, 9.5 YPC, 4 TD) has provided a spark on the ground with young receivers Quincy Sampson (13-194, 14.9 YPC, 2 TD) and sophomore Jeremy Powell (12-143, 11.9 YPC, TD) emerging as his favorite targets.
It’s a similar, if more conventional story at Stony Point (1-1, 2-4). Former Hutto offensive coordinator Dustin Pleasant travelled west along Hwy. 79 to land in Tigerland, taking over from legendary head coach Craig Cheshire. Unlike McNeil’s recent playoff appearance, the Tigers haven’t been to the postseason in a minute or two. And while the path to postseason is difficult in a district with Lake Travis, Westlake, and Round Rock, the path potentially exists with a win over Cedar Ridge (or a huge upset of either “Lake” team.)
Senior quarterbacks Brady Davis (49-89, 670 yds., 5 TD, 2 INT) and sophomore Kadin Smith (29-55, 324, 2 TD, INT) have both seen time behind center while junior Aiden Lloyd (98-475, 4.8 YPC, 8 TDs) anchors the running attack. Senior Olamide Aroworade (28-456, 16.3 YPC, 3 TD) has been the Tigers’ leading receiver.
It’s easy to hype the drama between two powerhouse teams. These two – McNeil and Stony Point – each have their own goals and agendas. At the most basic level, McNeil is simply looking for their first win of the season and of the Coach Gardner era; a chance to reap the rewards after months of hard work.
The Tigers’ slender playoff path relies on winning all their game against the rest of the district while punching one of the favorites in the nose down the road.
But mostly, it’s just one of the 10 nights these kids get to experience the thrill and joy of playing Texas High School Football. The fact that it’s our VYPE Austin CenTex Game of the Week is just icing on the cake.
