Austin-area TAPPS and SPC schools take the field Friday or Saturday for their first games after nearly a month of training camp. 

Perennial power Regents appears to have its usual loaded roster that should have it making a deep playoff run, but several other private schools in Central Texas should also have strong squads. The area also welcomes back St. Stephen’s to 11-man football after nearly a decade-long absence. 

(Schools listed in alphabetical order)

With seven returning starters back on both sides of the ball, the Bears are optimistic about a playoff berth out of the rugged District 2 Division II. Quarterback Brayden Jennings and wideout Zach Czerlinsky pace the offense, while Czerlinsky also marks one of the area’s top defensive backs. Linebacker Esteban Gutierrez, edge Luke Weed and defensive back Trey Campbell join Czerlinsky in leading an experienced defense. Freshman Chigozie Okorafor is a budding star at running back and linebacker.

The Austin area’s smallest TAPPS school looks to challenge for the District 3-DIII title with 15 returning starters. All-state wide receiver Ty Vacek will be the focus of the offense, with stellar athlete Jack Young switching from wideout to quarterback. Linemen Colton Minor and Luke Hoover and linebacker Hunter Hokr lead a defense that should be dramatically improved. 

Offense won’t be an issue for the Panthers, who have a new coach in Ross Roby. Houston Shaw is a jack of all trades who excels as a running back, wideout or returner. He tallied 31 catches for 673 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 653 yards and 13 TDs last fall. Crawford Moffitt is back for his second year behind center after throwing for 2,178 yards and 18 TDs in 2024, while tight end-edge Wyatt Smith and lineman Simon Johnson-Watson have the talent to play on Saturdays. If the Panthers stay healthy and come together on defense, they should be in line for another top-three finish in the tough District 2-DII. 

The traditional power of Austin-area private schools seems primed for another successful year in what will be the final season for coach Tim Phillips, who is retiring. Expect the offense to thrive with quarterback Jack Devine and wideouts Kade Millington and Blake Smith all back after strong seasons last fall. The defense could be dominant with key returners at all three levels, including defensive lineman Charlie Burton, defensive back Drew Novy and linebacker Braylon Compton. It would be somewhat of a surprise if the Knights don’t win at least nine games in the regular season, and they’re one of the favorites for the TAPPS Division II state title. 

A program that took some lumps during a 1-9 season a year ago hopes to take a step in its rebuilding process. Wideout-defensive back Patrick Engesser, running back-defensive back Dylan Raborn, wideout-defensive back Gus Brown, wideout Zachary Oppel and lineman Luke Reeb will pace the Eagles.

St. Andrew’s

Eight starters, including talented defensive backs Ethan Horvath and Jack Dial, return on defense for a unit that should be massively improved. Wideout Marcos Erlanson and offensive lineman Graves Wood pace an offense that will be directed by returning sophomore quarterback Charlie Greenberg. Kicker Will Riley gives the Highlanders’ special teams an extra edge. The area’s lone Southwest Preparatory Conference football school until St. Stephen’s joins next fall, the Highlanders could take a giant leap from last year’s 3-7 campaign.  

St. Michael’s

The Warriors will try and follow up an impressive 8-3 season a year ago in TAPPS’ largest classification. Quarterback Nico Anderson (2,317 yards, 20 TDs) can sling it with the best of them and he has wideouts Pierce Kovacs and Andres Patino back as his top targets. Linebacker Brady Morris and defensive backs Jake Garcia and Nash Flammang highlight a defense that will be led by a ball-hawking secondary. Danny Smith returns for the Warriors in the trenches on both sides of the ball. 

St. Stephen’s 

The Spartans make the move back to 11-man football from six-man as they prepare to join the Southwest Preparatory Conference in the sport next fall. Quarterback Basil Baldwin, wideout Luke Mabley and defensive back Sebastian Creixell lead St. Stephen’s, who will play an eight-game schedule that includes Hill Country Christian and LASA.