The Vandegrift Vipers celebrate their 16-14 over the Westlake Chaparrals in a Class 6A Division II bi-district round playoff game at Monroe Stadium, Nov. 14, 2025.

The Vandegrift Vipers celebrate their 16-14 over the Westlake Chaparrals in a Class 6A Division II bi-district round playoff game at Monroe Stadium, Nov. 14, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

The Lake Travis Cavaliers and Vandegrift Vipers, who made runs to Class 6A state semifinals in their respective divisions, headline the American-Statesman’s 2025 All-Central Texas Football Team. The Cavs and Vipers each played nine players on the team, which also features Weiss quarterback Jaxon Schad, who led the Austin area in touchdown passes, and Cedar Park running back Trae Hill, who led the area in rushing.

Also on the team are three players who have signed to play for Texas: Anderson defensive back Yaheim Riley, Georgetown running back Jett Walker and Georgetown offensive lineman Kaden Scherer. Lake Travis, meanwhile, has a total of six defensive players among the three honor teams.

Article continues below this ad

In all, the 2025 All-Central Texas team honors 76 players from 23 different schools. The team was chosen by Statesman sports writers Rick Cantu and Colby Gordon after consulation with head football coaches throughout the Austin area.

Weiss Wolves quarterback Jaxon Schad (15) carries the ball during the first half of the game between the Wolves and the Anderson Trojans at the Pfield in Pflugerville, Nov. 6, 2025.

Weiss Wolves quarterback Jaxon Schad (15) carries the ball during the first half of the game between the Wolves and the Anderson Trojans at the Pfield in Pflugerville, Nov. 6, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

2025 All-Central Texas Football Team

Lake Travis Cavaliers wide receiver Lark Sidle (3) warms up ahead of the Cavs’ Class 6A Division I second-round playoff game against the Brennan Bears at Matador Stadium in Seguin, Nov. 21, 2025.

Lake Travis Cavaliers wide receiver Lark Sidle (3) warms up ahead of the Cavs’ Class 6A Division I second-round playoff game against the Brennan Bears at Matador Stadium in Seguin, Nov. 21, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-StatesmanDripping Springs’ Cooper Reid catches a batted ball during the second quarter of the Class 6A Division II playoff game against Harlan on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.

Dripping Springs’ Cooper Reid catches a batted ball during the second quarter of the Class 6A Division II playoff game against Harlan on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio.

Charlie Blalock/Special to American-StatesmanAnderson Trojans running back Caleb Crenshaw (1) carries the ball in the first quarter as the Trojans take on the Friendswood Mustangs in a Class 5A Division I Bi-District Round playoff game at House Park, Nov. 15, 2025. Anderson won the game 35-34.

Anderson Trojans running back Caleb Crenshaw (1) carries the ball in the first quarter as the Trojans take on the Friendswood Mustangs in a Class 5A Division I Bi-District Round playoff game at House Park, Nov. 15, 2025. Anderson won the game 35-34.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Offensive player of the year: Cedar Park RB Trae Hill

Article continues below this ad

Defensive player of the year: Lake Travis DE Carter Buck

Newcomer of the year: Dripping Springs QB Chase Ames

Coach of the year:Vandegrift’s Drew Sanders

Article continues below this ad

First-team offense

QB:Jaxon Schad, soph., Weiss: Averaged 279 passing yards while throwing 51 TDs and running for 10 more.

RB:Caleb Crenshaw, sr., Anderson: Became AISD’s career rushing leader after running for 2,207 yards.

RB: Trae Hill, sr., Cedar Park: Our offensive player of the year averaged 192 rushing yards a game.

Article continues below this ad

WR: Brock Chilton, sr., Vandegrift: Air Force-bound Viper led the area with 114 catches, 14 TDs.

WR: Jaiden Fields, jr., Hutto: Big-play threat caught 18 TDs, averaged 112 yards a game.

WR: Tre Moore, jr., Weiss: Caught 85 passes for 1,443 yards, 19 TDs for 10-3 team.

OL: Josh Ault, sr., Dripping Springs: Allowed 0 sacks in 14 games, graded out at 90%.

Article continues below this ad

OL:Will Hesse, sr., Westlake: Top blocker for team that averaged 379 total yards per game.

OL:Carter Mannon, sr., Vandegrift: Anchor of Vipers line allowed no sacks, graded out at 94%.

OL:Jerald Mays, sr., Weiss: Texas Tech signee was 12-5A DI’s lineman of the year.

OL: Kaden Scherer, sr., Georgetown: Texas signee anchored offense that averaged 421 yards.

Article continues below this ad

K: Wylie Olson, sr., Vandegrift: Finished with with 15 FGs, five of them in the playoffs.

UT: Antione Baker, sr., LBJ: Vanderbilt signee had 81 tackles, 10 TFL and scored 9 TDs.

MORE:All-Central Texas football team for private schools

Lake Travis defensive lineman Carter Buck pressures North Shore quarterback Kaleb Maryland during the second half of a Class 6A Division I state semifinal high school football playoff game in Houston, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

Lake Travis defensive lineman Carter Buck pressures North Shore quarterback Kaleb Maryland during the second half of a Class 6A Division I state semifinal high school football playoff game in Houston, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle

First-team defense

DL: Carter Buck, Lake Travis sr.: Our defensive player of the year had 36 TFL and signed with TCU.

Article continues below this ad

DL: Hugo De la Vara Vazquez, sr., Vandegrift: Contributed 75 tackles, 19 sacks for the 12-3 Vipers.

DL: Max Middleton, sr., Anderson: Led the Trojans with 100 tackles and 15 sacks.

DL:Alister Vallejo, sr., Liberty Hill: Michigan signee finished with 71 tackles and 7 sacks.

LB: Darius Davis, sr., San Marcos: Texas State signee had 129 tackles, 22 for losses.

Article continues below this ad

LB: Noah McPeak, jr., Weiss: Contributed 148 tackles, 26 behind the line.

LB: Jahiem Porter, sr., Cedar Park: Led the Timberwolves with 153 tackles, 15 behind the line.

DB: Jorian Guinn, sr., Weiss sr.: Helped Wolves with 126 tackles, 4 INTs, 3 blocked punts.

DB:Yaheim Riley, sr., Anderson: Texas-bound Trojan led team to first playoff win in 15 years.

Article continues below this ad

DB: Kai Triche, sr., Hays: All-District 12-5A DI pick had 131 tackles, 67 solo stops.

DB:Colten Tripp, sr., Dripping Springs: Contributed 93 tackles, 6 INTs and 2 defensive TDs.

P:Cooper Tougas, sr., Cedar Ridge: Led Central Texas with an average of 48 yards a punt.

MORE: Central Texas soccer teams to watch in 2026

Article continues below this ad

Bastrop quarterback Weston Nielsen (13) advances the ball as Liberty Hill and Bastrop face off in the District 11-5A Division 2 championship in Liberty Hill, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Liberty Hill won 48-14.

Bastrop quarterback Weston Nielsen (13) advances the ball as Liberty Hill and Bastrop face off in the District 11-5A Division 2 championship in Liberty Hill, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Liberty Hill won 48-14.

Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

Second-team offense

QB:Weston Nielsen, jr., Bastrop: Arizona State-bound Bear passed for 3,118 yards, 45 TDs.

RB:Gary Jefferson Jr., sr., Bastrop: District 11-5A DII’s offensive MVP had 39 total TDs.

Article continues below this ad

RB: Jett Walker, sr., Georgetown: Future Longhorn had nine 100-yard games and 24 TDs.

WR: Cash Lynch, jr., Llano: Finished with 71 catches for 1,266 yards and 13 TDs.

WR: James Montgomery, sr., Dripping Springs: Big-play Tiger averaged 20.9 yards a catch.

WR: Cooper Reid, sr., Dripping Springs: Bound for Arizona State, he had 17 TDs in 11 games.

Article continues below this ad

OL: Parker Cecil, sr., Vandegrift: Finished with 12 pancake blocks and graded out at 92%.

OL:Jett Harrison, sr., Liberty Hill: A two-time District 11-5A DII lineman of the year.

OL: Jackson Koeppel, jr., Lake Travis: Contributed 42 knockdown blocks, allowed no sacks.

OL: Jayden Mack, jr., Hutto: Key blocker for a team that averaged 407 yards a game.

Article continues below this ad

OL: Jacob Slaughter, sr., Cedar Park: Graded out at 98%, allowed only 1 sack this season.

K:Cooper Tougas, sr., Cedar Ridge: Was 10-for-11 on FGs, 44-for-44 on PATs.

UT: Louis Hickman Jr., sr., LBJ: Averaged 26.3 yards a catch and scored 4 special teams TDs.

Bastrop lineman Tiki Hola (55) gestures for a call In the first half of the game between the McCallum Knights and Bastrop Bears at House Park in Austin, Sept. 25, 2025.

Bastrop lineman Tiki Hola (55) gestures for a call In the first half of the game between the McCallum Knights and Bastrop Bears at House Park in Austin, Sept. 25, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Second-team defense

DL: Tennison Dean, sr., Georgetown: Contributed 77 tackles, 11.5 sacks this season.

Article continues below this ad

DL: Tieson Ejiawoko, sr., East View: District 8-5A DI’s defensive MVP had 81 tackles.

DL: Tiki Hola, sr., Bastrop: Notre Dame-bound DT had 86 tackles, 11 behind the line.

DL: I’Zayah Young, sr., San Marcos: SMU signee had 76 tackles and 12 sacks.

LB: Braeden Lott, sr., Lake Travis: Key Cavs defender had 117 tackles, 16 TFL.

Article continues below this ad

LB: Liam McMillan, sr., Anderson: District 12-5A DI’s defensive MVP had 101 tackles.

LB: Kale Meadors, jr., Thorndale: Finished with 166 tackles (88 solos) for 8-4 team.

DB: Michael Griffin, sr., Lake Travis: Cavs’ ball hawk had 52 tackles (24 solos), 4 INTs.

DB: Kaiden Haynes Collins, sr., Weiss: Finished with 87 tackles, 2 defensive TDs.

Article continues below this ad

DB: Caden Spivey, soph., Blanco: Led the Panthers with 110 tackles, 5 INTs.

DB:Colt Stevens, soph., Vandegrift: Had 74 tackles, 5 INTs for state semifinalists.

P: Nolan Bartley, sr., Westlake: Averaged 41.2 yards a punt.

Vandegrift quarterback Miles Teodecki (12) takes a tackle from Vista Ridge linebacker CJ Milligan (42) in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.

Vandegrift quarterback Miles Teodecki (12) takes a tackle from Vista Ridge linebacker CJ Milligan (42) in the third quarter of the game between the Vandegrift Vipers and the Vista Ridge Rangers at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, Sept. 26, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Third-team offense

QB: Miles Teodecki, sr., Vandegrift: Led the Vipers to a 27-4 record in two years as starter.

Article continues below this ad

RB: Colten Kuebel, sr., Blanco: Led the Panthers with 1,693 rush yards, 23 TDs.

RB:Marcus Murry II, jr., LBJ: 3-year starter finished with 1,607 yards, 22 TDs.

WR: Lark Sidle, sr., Lake Travis: Big-play Cavs target averaged 20.6 yards a catch.

WR: Westin Smith, jr., Lake Travis: Had 74 catches, 816 yards, 8 TDs for Cavs.

Article continues below this ad

WR: Xavier Warren, sr., Georgetown: Texas State signee had 72 catches, 670 yards, 9 TDs.

OL: Wyatt Betak, jr., Thorndale: Graded 93.5% for team that averaged 187 yards rushing.

OL:  Da’Trell Brock, sr., Connally: Left tackle had 36 pancakes, 76 cutback blocks.

OL: Dylan Fissel, sr., McCallum: Didn’t allow a sack while grading out at 85%.

Article continues below this ad

OL: Sam Lopez, sr., Georgetown: Graded out at 95%, had 62 pancake blocks.

OL: Isaiah Perry, sr., McNeil: Graded out at 95% for team that averaged 440 yards.

K: Ian French, sr., Dripping Springs: Was 9-for-12 on FGs, 74-for-76 on PATs.

UT: Jack Pitchford, sr., Liberty Hill: Averaged 13.0 yards a carry, finished with 42 tackles on defense.

Article continues below this ad

Vandegrift Vipers defensive back Brady Srncik (4) reaches for the intercept attempt against Dripping Springs Tigers wide receiver James Montgomery (3) during the third quarterat the UIL Class 6AD2 semifinal football playoff on Saturday, Dec 6, 2025, at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.

Vandegrift Vipers defensive back Brady Srncik (4) reaches for the intercept attempt against Dripping Springs Tigers wide receiver James Montgomery (3) during the third quarterat the UIL Class 6AD2 semifinal football playoff on Saturday, Dec 6, 2025, at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.

John Gutierrez Photo

Third-team defense

DL: Olujimi Aluko, jr., Cedar Park: Earned 43 tackles, 18 TFL for Timberwolves.

DL: Pierce Atkins, sr., Lake Travis: Finished with 76 tackles, 11 solos for Cavs.

Article continues below this ad

DL: Trevin Candeh, sr., LBJ: Stood out with 72 tackles, 20 behind the line.

DL:Ben Duncum, sr., Lake Travis: Bound for Kentucky, he had 56 tackles, blocked 3 kicks.

LB:Dylan Brasher, sr., Dripping Springs: Had 113 tackles, broke up 4 passes for the Tigers.

LB: Parker Davis, sr., Vandegrift: Had 105 tackles, 3 sacks for state semifinalists.

Article continues below this ad

LB:Cameron Thornton, jr., Pflugerville: Led Panthers with 98 tackles, 17 TFL.

DB: Reagan Bollinger, jr., Georgetown: All-District pick in 8-5A DI had 111 tackles.

DB:Josiah Covington, jr., LBJ: Contributed 68 tackles, 4 INTs for Jags.

DB:Benjamin Soules, sr., Lake Travis: Finished with 71 tackles, 4 INTs for Cavs.

Article continues below this ad

DB: Brady Srncik, sr., Vandegrift: Contributed 66 tackles, blocked 3 FG attempts.

P: Braylon Westfall, jr., Georgetown: Averaged 41 yards a punt.