IN EVERY STAGE OF HER PLAYING CAREER, JESSICA KVAM HAS LEARNED SOMETHING.
Whether that was playing in high school, at the University of Virginia, or in the USA Women's Soccer National Team program, Kvam took away some new wealth of knowledge.
"Whether that was overcoming injury, how to do that mentally and physically and still being a part of that team and influence that team," she said. "Also, having different roles depending on what stage of my career I was in. Whether it was being team captain, learning to be a leader and bringing everyone together, or trying to be a leader, if I'm not given that title."
Those life lessons that her own soccer career instilled in her, Kvam is now passing on to her players as the head coach at King's Ridge.
Kvam has been roaming the sideline for the Tigers for seven seasons and has built her program on unity.
"My motto is if we're connected off the field that will mirror on the field," she said.
The team this year has been led by junior goalkeeper Kate Ares, senior forward Sophia Gallo, and freshman Annika Smith.
"[Ares] is an awesome goalie for us and keeps us in games," Kvam said. "[Gallo] has always been a solid player for us and is kind of the glue to our team this year. [Smith] has brought so much energy, tenacity, and grit to our team. I'm excited to see that development over the next four years."
Outside of team unity and winning games, of course, Kvam – who learned plenty of life lessons in her playing career – is trying to pass those same ones on to her girls now.
"With team sports, like soccer, what you learn being on a team and not in an individual sport is how to work together and overcoming obstacles," she said. "That translates over to life."
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.
