AUSTIN (KXAN) — Despite the success Dripping Springs has had since moving up to Class 6A two seasons ago, people continue to doubt them for some reason. That’s OK with the players, though. They prefer it that way.
Off another trip to the Region IV championship game in 6A-Division II last season, the Tigers have made a seamless transition into one of 6A’s most competitive districts with back-to-back postseason runs. Senior cornerback Jackson Mills said now the class he’s part of gets a chance to do the same thing, and hopefully, take it a couple of steps further.
“The class above us was stacked, so every one of us was on the sideline hungry last year,” he said. “We’re ready to get our shot this year and show what we’ve got.”
Reloading to make another run at a state championship is a little easier with a returning quarterback and running back, and the Tigers have two of the best in the area. Senior Maddox Maher threw for 1,713 yards and 22 touchdowns last season and senior tailback Jack Tyndall ran for 1,644 yards with 19 touchdowns and was last year’s district MVP.
Head coach Galen Zimmerman said integrating the new players with the returners is what training camp is all about.
“Every year is fun to try to fit the pieces,” he said. “It’s exciting because there’s opportunity and the guys can sense that in practice. Ultimately, it’s going to be the guys to go make plays, but at the same time, we’ve got some hope and we’re pushing each other in practice.”
Zimmerman said the team’s chemistry is rooted in positivity and the players “do a good job at building each other up.”
For the third year in a row, the Tigers will meet Vandegrift in the season-opening game. It has been one of the best Week 1 games in all of Texas high school football the past two seasons and there’s no reason why it can’t be again. Dripping Springs beat the Vipers in 2022 on a last-second field goal 23-20 (only to lose to them in the regional final later that season), and the Vipers took last year’s opener 27-7.
Zimmerman said it’s always a good thing to get a look at the team against tough competition early in the year.
“We need to be tested going into our district and we need to see a high-quality opponent early,” Zimmerman said. “It’s a fun environment and Week 1 doesn’t make or break you whether you win or lose. You find out where you stand and where your deficiencies are.”
Following Week 1 against the Vipers, the Tigers play San Antonio Wagner, Harker Heights and Buda Johnson before getting into District 26-6A play.