{"id":404918,"date":"2026-08-12T22:22:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T22:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/404918\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T22:22:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T22:22:12","slug":"austin-high-maroons-2026-season-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/404918\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin High Maroons 2026 Season Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/content.riddell.com\/InSite\/?utm_source=txhsf&amp;utm_medium=digital&amp;utm_campaign=iaaxiom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-109503 size-medium\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"riddell helmet tech for texas helmets\" width=\"600\" height=\"360\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Riddell-1000x600_3003635942652486626-600x360.png\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-109503 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Riddell-1000x600_3003635942652486626-600x360.png\" alt=\"riddell helmet tech for texas helmets\" width=\"600\" height=\"360\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Head Coach: Jason Cecil (2nd season; 2-8 record)<\/p>\n<p>Last Season: 2-8; 2-4 in district<\/p>\n<p>Returning Lettermen: 23 (9 returning starters on offense; 2 on defense)<\/p>\n<p>Austin Key Players and Storylines<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-87932 alignright\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"151\" data-lazy- data-lazy- data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Austin-Maroons1-large-600x400.png\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-87932 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Austin-Maroons1-large-600x400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"151\"  \/>All signs point to an improvement for Austin High in year two under Jason Cecil. Not only have the Maroons had a full offseason under his leadership, but they also return nine starters on offense.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s vital for a unit that averaged just over 14 points per game a year ago. The Maroons know that has to improve, and it should. Alijah Jablon (360 passing yards, 370 rushing yards) will continue being a jack-of-all-trades for the Maroons, playing quarterback, running back, and receiver. When he\u2019s not playing quarterback, that task will likely fall to Whit Davenport (594 passing yards and five touchdowns), who also split time with Jablon last season.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Here are my Junior season varsity highlights! Super proud of these guys and excited to hit the offseason hard.<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CoachJonBrooks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">@CoachJonBrooks<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JasonKCecil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">@JasonKCecil<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AustinMaroonFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">@AustinMaroonFB<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bC92IlnFYv\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/bC92IlnFYv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alijah Jablon (@alijahjablon11) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/alijahjablon11\/status\/1989384177859678715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">November 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ll add physical, 6\u20190\u201d, 215-pound running back Niko Gabryluk-Melendez, a Westlake move-in, alongside them in the backfield, while 6\u20193\u201d receiver Brady Ford will continue to be a top target for the Maroon offense.<\/p>\n<p>Defensively, it\u2019s a different story with just two returning starters. Young players will have to step up and contribute right away. Among the leaders is instinctual linebacker Ethan Kahle (123 tackles and 11 TFLs), who was just about everywhere for the Maroons a year ago. He\u2019s joined by fellow linebacker Hyder Horton, who is strong in coverage, while junior defensive tackle Rashad Carrington is expected to be highly active in the trenches.<\/p>\n<p>With Westlake and Lake Travis sliding over to District 25-6A, there\u2019s now a vacuum at the top of 26-6A. Austin High hopes to take full advantage as the Maroons chase both a winning record and playoff appearance this fall.<\/p>\n<p>Austin High Maroons 2026 Football Schedule<\/p>\n<p>*Denotes District 26-6A contest<\/p>\n<p>August 28 @ San Antonio Wagner 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\nSeptember 3 vs. Round Rock Westwood 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\nSeptember 11 vs. Jarrell 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\nSeptember 18 vs. Georgetown East View 7:30 p.m<br \/>\n*September 25 vs. Austin Bowie 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\n*October 2 @ Buda Hays 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\n*October 8 vs. Dripping Springs 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\n*October 16 @ Del Valle 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\n*October 22 vs. Akins 7:30 p.m.<br \/>\n*October 29 @ Buda Johnson 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/texashsfootball.com\/category\/multimedia\/podcast\" title=\"Catch Up with Texas HS Football Podcast with Taylor Arenz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-92593 size-medium\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" alt=\"texas high school football podcast\" width=\"600\" height=\"360\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Texas-HS-Football-Podcast-Promo.png\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-92593 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Texas-HS-Football-Podcast-Promo.png\" alt=\"texas high school football podcast\" width=\"600\" height=\"360\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"245\" height=\"39\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=\" http:=\"\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/texas-hs-football.png\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"245\" height=\"39\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/texas-hs-football.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Head Coach: Jason Cecil (2nd season; 2-8 record) Last Season: 2-8; 2-4 in district Returning Lettermen: 23 (9&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":404919,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[132,134,133],"class_list":["post-404918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-austin","tag-austin","tag-austin-headlines","tag-austin-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=404918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404918\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/404919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=404918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=404918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=404918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}