Daniel Barry with a one-handed touchdown catch for Round Rock to open the scoring, defended by Carson Miller. Vista Ridge won a district football game at home over Round Rock 30-29 on Sept. 12, 2025 at Gupton Stadium.
Henry Huey/Special to American-Statesman
The Central Texas high school football season is entering its second half as the calendar heads toward mid-October. With all schools now in the heat of district play, the American-Statesman looks at 60 Austin-area players who are having breakout performances this fall.
(Players listed alphabetically. Stats as of Oct. 7. Note: Those who were first or second team all-district selections a year ago are not eligible as they don’t meet the definition of “breakout.”)
Article continues below this ad
Eric Abraham, Westlake: One of the members of a ball-hawking Chaps secondary, the junior safety has 29 tackles and an interception.
Wade Allen, Westwood: Currently the leading rusher in District 25-6A, the senior has 898 yards and nine touchdowns through six games.
Chase Ames, Dripping Springs: The junior quarterback has burst onto the scene with an eye-popping 1,591 yards and 23 touchdowns passing for the 6-0 Tigers.
Jordan Anderson, Weiss: Part of a Wolves offense that can seemingly score at will, the sophomore wideout has 31 catches for 558 yards and nine TDs.
Article continues below this ad
Sam Arnett, East View: The senior linebacker has 48 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Patriots, who at 4-1, are the surprise team in the Austin area.
Jackson Arnold, Leander: An exceptionally skilled player in the Lions secondary, the senior has 30 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown.
Daniel Barry, Round Rock: The dynamic senior wideout has hauled in 32 catches for 560 yards and four touchdowns for a Dragons squad that has reeled off three straight wins after an 0-3 start.
Preston Benefield, Liberty Hill: One of many talented Panthers running backs, the senior has tallied 425 yards and six touchdowns on just 51 carries.
Article continues below this ad
Case Benoit, Bastrop: The Bears defense is led by its defensive line, which includes the junior defensive end.
Michael Blaylark, Hutto: A lockdown corner, he rarely gets thrown at and has helped the Hippos to a 4-1 start.
Allen Blaylock, East View: With the Patriots being the area’s breakout team, the senior wideout has played a big part in that with 26 catches for 314 yards and four TDs.
Brayden Bratton, Georgetown: One of the few new faces on a loaded Eagles offense, the sophomore wideout has seven catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns.
Article continues below this ad
Chase Brodhead, Westlake: An exceptional blocking tight end, the sophomore also has eight catches for 121 yards and three TDs and 11 carries for 118 yards and a score.
Bryce Byrn, Liberty Hill: Just a sophomore, he’s rushed for 340 yards and two TDs as part of the Panthers’ perennially strong run game.
Khrisshawn Bryant, Eastside: A big reason the Panthers seem primed for the program’s first playoff berth since 1990, the junior has rushed for 773 yards and seven touchdowns.
Calvin Cervini, McNeil: The Mavs don’t beat Vandegrift without the senior quarterback throwing for 72 yards and a TD after coming on in the second half.
Article continues below this ad
Sean Crowe, McNeil: One of the key players in the Mavs secondary, he came up big in the team’s win over Vandegrift and has 36 tackles and three pass breakups.
Brayden Daniel, Hutto: Averaging more than 13 tackles per game, the senior linebacker is a major reason the Hippos are in the thick of the District 25-6A playoff race. He’s also returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
Aubyrn Davis, Rouse: Part of an explosive Rouse offense, the junior athlete has 36 catches for 482 yards and seven touchdowns and 75 yards and a TD on the ground.
Rahsaan Franklin, Connally: A critical piece of the Cougars passing attack, the sophomore wideout has 20 catches for 438 yards and seven touchdowns.
Article continues below this ad
Colton Fromberg, Westlake: The impressive defensive lineman has 11 tackles, with six of those being for a loss, and one sack for a Chaps team that has won four straight.
Jay Fullmer, Anderson: A great all-around athlete, the junior has 21 catches for 290 yards and four touchdowns and 107 yards and a TD rushing.
Griffin Gorrebeeck, Vandegrift: Solid in the defensive backfield, the junior has 34 tackles for a Vipers squad seeking an eighth straight district title.
Tylan Henderson, Weiss: The sophomore linebacker has 50 tackles, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and two defensive TDs for a talented Wolves defense.
Article continues below this ad
Cooper Hensley, McCallum: One of the Knights’ top players, the senior leads the defense in tackles and has 465 totals yards and four touchdowns on offense.
Breland Hill, Pflugerville: A burner on the outside, the junior wideout has 525 yards and eight TDs receiving for a Panthers squad poised to return to the playoffs.
Aiden Ilai, McCallum: In his first year behind center, the junior has 797 yards of total offense and has accounted for seven touchdowns.
Brayden Jahns, Cedar Park: It’s tough to get touches on a loaded Timberwolves offense, but the junior wideout has 21 catches for 315 yards and two TDs.
Article continues below this ad
Ethan Kahle, Austin High: The junior linebacker has been exceptional for a young Maroons team with 67 tackles, including six for loss, and two sacks.
Joe Logan, St. Michael’s: Starting in the trenches on both sides of the ball for the Warriors, the sophomore is the left tackle for an offense averaging 44 points per game and has three sacks, six tackles for loss and 21 stops on defense.
Ford Lucas, Round Rock: A player to watch the next two years, the sophomore defensive end has 24 tackles, four sacks, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Nico Lutz, Akins: The junior defensive back has 34 tackles, two pass breakups and two interceptions for the 4-2 Eagles.
Article continues below this ad
Eric Mathews, LBJ: Averaging five knockdowns a game, the senior offensive lineman has graded out at better than 85% every game he’s played in.
Luke McBride, Lake Travis: In his first year as a starter, the senior has thrown for 1,183 yards and 14 TDs as the Cavs are off to a 5-0 start.
Derek Mendez, LBJ: A force off the edge, the senior captain has 34 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and 10 tackles for loss in five games.
Max Middleton, Anderson: One of many reasons the Trojans are stout on defense, the senior has 31 tackles, including 10 for a loss, three sacks and two hurries.
Article continues below this ad
Pierce Miller, Anderson: Like his teammate above, the senior linebacker has keyed a 5-0 start for the Trojans with 43 stops, including six for a loss, and a defensive touchdown.
Isaiah Mills, Regents: A freshman who is getting playing time for the TAPPS powerhouse Knights, he’s rushed for 432 yards and nine touchdowns.
Liam Mongold, Rouse: The sophomore safety has 37 tackles, four pass breakups, one interception and a forced fumble for a Raiders squad with playoff aspirations.
James Montgomery, Dripping Springs: Arguably the area’s top slot receiver, the senior has 26 catches for 633 yards and nine TDs for the 6-0 Tigers.
Article continues below this ad
Rhys Moreno, Bowie: One of the better new running backs on the scene, the junior has rushed for 974 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 127 yards and a TD.
Brayden Mueller, Hendrickson: With 25 catches for 525 yards and three touchdowns, the junior wideout has been a headache for opposing secondaries.
Boaz Nkamba, Eastside: The 4-2 Panthers have made a big leap on defense this year, with the junior linebacker playing a big part in that with 33 tackles and three sacks.
Kieran Paegle, Vista Ridge: With the Rangers one of many teams vying for the District 25-6A title, the junior wideout has 15 catches for 228 yards and three TDs.
Article continues below this ad
Bennett Patton, Cedar Park: Playing for a Timberwolves team with District 8-5A Division I title aspirations, the senior linebacker has 45 tackles, three interceptions and a sack.
Gabriel Peach, Hays: The junior running back is a threat in multiple ways with 432 yards and six touchdowns rushing and 274 yards and three TDs receiving.
Wyatt Porowski, Vista Ridge: The senior linebacker has 42 tackles, including 10 for loss, a sack and an interception for a Rangers squad that seems poised to return to the playoffs.
Ian Quinn, St. Michael’s: Making an impact for the Warriors on both sides of the ball, the senior running back-linebacker has 437 total yards and three TDs on offense and 25 tackles and a sack on defense.
Article continues below this ad
Chase Ritchie, Vandegrift: Part of an always tough Vipers defense, the senior has made an immediate impact at corner with 19 tackles, four pass breakups and two tackles for loss.
Drew Shepherd, Regents: The sophomore corner has broken into the playing rotation on a loaded Knights defense and has three interceptions, returning one of them for a TD, 13 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Easton Smith, Georgetown: A key player on an underrated Eagles defense, the senior has 36 stops, three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Westin Smith, Lake Travis: One of many talented wideouts for the Cavs, he has 26 catches for 293 yards and four TDs.
Article continues below this ad
Khalil Stewart, Hendrickson: The talented senior defensive back has 59 tackles and an interception for the 3-3 Hawks.
Evan Stigall, Hays: Someone who plays both sides of the ball, the sophomore safety/running back has 31 tackles, four pass breakups and one fumble and has rushed for 325 yards and five TDs.
Dre Terry, Manor: In just two games as the feature back, the sophomore has 302 rushing yards on 34 carries and five catches for 100 yards.
Cameron Thornton, Pflugerville: A crucial piece for a Panthers defense that flies to the ball, the junior linebacker has 41 tackles.
Article continues below this ad
Jase Watkins, Connally: One of the better dual threats in Central Texas, the junior quarterback has thrown for 1,035 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 427 yards and four TDs for a Cougars team with playoff hopes.
Mason White, McCallum: A lockdown corner, the sophomore has three interceptions, two defensive touchdowns and has only allowed one catch.
Zac Wilkinson, Bastrop: The junior wideout has 16 catches for 146 yards and five TDs as part of a dynamic Bears passing attack that is averaging more than 300 yards a game.
Article continues below this ad