Westlake vs Inglewood prediction, and 14 other picks for Austin-area Week 1 football games
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As the 2026 high school football season opens in Central Texas and around the state, the American-Statesman's seasonlong staff picks for the week's 15 top Austin-area matchups will feature high school reporter Colby Gordon, high school correspondent Jay Plotkin and sports editor Richard Tijerina. Gordon is our defending champion.
There are seven Central Texas games being played Thursday, highlighted by Anderson at Johnson, followed by a full slate Friday. Here are some first-week matchups, including Austin-area teams that we're really interested in this week.
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Anderson at Johnson
Anderson vs. Johnson may not have the same Central Texas matchup appeal as Anderson vs. McCallum to open the season, but these were both playoff teams last year and both expect to be playoff teams this year too. Slight edge Thursday night to the Trojans, even on the road.
Colby Gordon's pick:Anderson, 28-24.
Inglewood (Calif.) at Westlake
Inglewood, which had seven sacks in its season-opening win, won't have Oklahoma-bound DT Elija Harmon (knee) but still have Texas A&M-bound defensive tackle Myels Smith and Cal-bound DB Duvay Williams. This is a tough matchup for Chaps quarterback Patton Jones' first start.
Gordon's pick:Inglewood 27-24.
Weiss Wolves wide receiver Dallas Schad (11) carries the ball into the end zone to score as he goes down under a tackle from Anderson Trojans linebacker Pierce Miller (33) during the first half of the game between the Wolves and the Trojans at the Pfield in Pflugerville, Nov. 6, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)Weiss at Round Rock
After the canceled Lake Travis-Dripping Springs game, this is now Central Texas' most intriguing Week 1 matchup. Both the Wolves and Dragons made our area preseason power poll.
Gordon's pick: Weiss 42-30.
Vandegrift at San Antonio Brennan
A good opening test for Vandegrift: the Bears went 10-2 last year and are the favorites to win District 29-6A. And the Vipers are breaking in a new quarterback in place of the graduated Miles Teodecki.
Gordon's pick: Vandegrift 31-21.
McNeil at Bowie
How big of a night will Bowie running back Rhys Moreno have? Or will the rebuilding Mavericks focus their energy on stopping one of Central Texas' top players. leaving some opportunities for Bowie's new quarterback?
Gordon's pick: Bowie 20-14.
Glenn at Stony Point
The Craig Chessher era is over at Stony Point after 23 years with a new coach. Glenn would love to start fresh after winning just one game last season.
Gordon's pick: Stony Point 23-10.
Geronimo Navarro at McCallum
Like Thursday's Anderson vs. Johnson matchup, it just feels weird for McCallum not to be playing Anderson this week. But we can wait till October. The Class 4A-DII Panthers were 3-7 last year.
Gordon's pick: McCallum 27-17.
Blanco at Crockett
Kent Walker, who went 45-13 as Liberty Hill's head coach before leaving after the 2024 season, returns to the Austin area as Blanco's head coach, where the Class 3A-DII school went 10-3 and was a regional semifinalist in his first year. The Class 5A-DII Cougars went 1-9.
Gordon's pick: Blanco 28-19.
Hays at San Marcos
Nearby rivals are separated by just 18 miles, but haven't played each other since 2021. That was a 62-49 Rattlers win.
Gordon's pick:San Marcos.
A&M Consolidated at Cedar Park
These two respected programs haven't played each other since 2023 when they were in the same district. Consol is a Class 5A-DI school that went 9-3 last year; Cedar Park was 8-4 in 5A-DI, but is making its Class 6A debut.
Gordon's pick:Cedar Park 37-35.
Bastrop at Montgomery Lake Creek
The final act of Weston Nielsen's high school career before he heads off to Arizona State begins with Lake Creek, which made the playoffs last year but with a 5-5 record before losing in bi-district.
Gordon's pick:Bastrop 28-17.
Leander at Pflugerville
Leander's making the move up to Class 6A while Pflugerville is coming off a 7-5 season in 5A-DII. The Panthers look stronger to start the season as Leander is led by a new coach.
Gordon's pick:Pflugerville 34-28.
Killeen at Liberty Hill
This feels as safe a pick as safe can be. Killeen went 1-9 last season, has a new head coach and is picked to finish last in District 12-5A DI.
Gordon's pick:Liberty Hill 41-21.
Manor New Tech at Legacy Ranch
The Legacy Ranch Wranglers are Central Texas' newest school, making their varsity debut as the second high school in the Liberty Hill ISD. Will they also draw upon some of that Liberty Hill Panthers talent and mojo?
Gordon's pick: Legacy Ranch 24-13.
Lockhart at Marble Falls
It's been a minute since the Lions and Mustangs have played each other. As in nine years. Neither made the playoffs last year and aren't expected to contend for the playoffs this year. A good Week 1 tossup pairing.
Gordon's pick:Lockhart 24-17.
Our picks for Austin-area high school football Week 1 games
Anderson at Johnson:Anderson - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Johnson - None
Inglewood (Calif.) at Westlake: Inglewood - Tijerina; Westlake - Gordon and Plotkin
Weiss at Round Rock: Weiss - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Round Rock - None
Vandegrift at S.A. Brennan: Vandegrift - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; S.A. Brennan - None
McNeil at Bowie: McNeil - None; Bowie - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Glenn at Stony Point: Glenn - None; Stony Point - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Geronimo Navarro at McCallum: Navarro - None; McCallum - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Blanco at Crockett: Blanco - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Crockett - None
Hays at San Marcos: Hays - Gordon and Plotkin; San Marcos - Tijerina
A&M Consolidated at Cedar Park: A&M Consol. - Gordon and Plotkin; Cedar Park - Tijerina
Bastrop at Montgomery Lake Creek: Bastrop - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Lake Creek - None
Leander at Pflugerville: Leander - None; Pflugerville - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Killeen at Liberty Hill: Killeen - None; Liberty Hill - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Manor New Tech at Legacy Ranch: New Tech - None; Legacy Ranch - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Lockhart at Marble Falls: Lockhart - Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Marble Falls - None
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