As the 2026 high school football season enters Week 9 in Central Texas and around the state, the American-Statesman’s seasonlong staff picks for the week’s 15 top Austin-area matchups feature high school reporters Colby Gordon and Shaun Chornobroff, high school correspondent Jay Plotkin and sports editor Richard Tijerina. Gordon is our defending champion.
This week’s slate is headlined by the Battle of the Lakes. But that is far from the only game this week with playoff implications.
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Here are some Austin-area matchups that have caught our eye this week.
RELATED: 3 statistics to know before Westlake and Lake Travis football game Friday
Anderson Trojans quarterback Cove Darbyshire (7) sends a pass to a teammate in the second quarter of the Shoal Creek Showdown rivalry game agains the McCallum Knights at House Park, Oct. 15, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Westlake at Lake Travis
Does Central Texas football get bigger than this? Westlake (6-1, 3-0) travels to Lake Travis’ (3-2-1, 2-0) newly renovated 11,000-person stadium for the Battle of the Lakes. Both teams had dominant district victories last week. And despite the records for each team looking different, each coach is expecting a competitive matchup. It should be a memorable clash.
Chornobroff:
Westlake 31, Lake Travis 27
Georgetown at A&M Consolidated
Georgetown (4-4, 3-3) is on the outside of qualifying for the playoffs in District 12-5A DI, but could get a significant boost if it takes down A&M Consolidated (5-2, 4-1). The Eagles will finish their regular-season slate Nov. 6 with Killeen, which currently holds the fourth spot in the district. Georgetown lost to Weiss 28-21 last week, and Weiss fell to Consol in a 49-47 thriller two weeks ago. It’s a tough matchup for Georgetown; Consol QB Holt Goodwin has thrown 21 touchdowns against two interceptions.
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Chornobroff: A&M Consolidated 34, Georgetown 27
Killeen at Weiss
Weiss (5-2, 4-1) aims to keep its district title hopes alive with a win against Killeen (4-3, 3-2). The Wolves are coming off their best defensive performance in more than a month against Georgetown and quarterback Jaxon Schad leads a stacked offense with 25 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Killeen has dropped games to Killeen Shoemaker and College Station over its last two contests.
Chornobroff: Weiss 35, Killeen 24
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Anderson at Manor
Two teams jockeying for playoff position in District 13-5A DI clash when Anderson (5-2, 3-2) takes on Manor (4-3, 3-2). Anderson’s lone losses are to Boerne Champion and reigning state champion Smithson Valley, the top two teams in their district. Manor has dropped district games to Smithson Valley and Lehman, a 3-5 team that’s 2-4 in district.
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Chornobroff:
Anderson 31, Manor 20
Wimberley at Lago Vista
Wimberley (6-0, 2-0) can remain one of Central Texas’ four remaining undefeated teams as well as notch a massive District 14-4A DII win against Lago Vista (6-1, 2-0) on the road. Texans quarterback Jackson Ketter has tossed 16 touchdowns against no interceptions and Wimberley has a trio of productive running backs. Lago Vista has rattled off six consecutive wins since falling to Lorena in the season opener.
Chornobroff: Wimberley 34, Lago Vista 31
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Stephenville at Jarrell
Jarrell (7-0, 2-0) has been one of Central Texas’ more unheralded stories this season. The Cougars, who were 9-3 last year, have averaged 42.6 points and have held opponents to 16 points per game en route to an undefeated season thus far. But they face their toughest foe of the season in reigning state champion Stephenville, a contest that will likely decide the District 12-4A DI champion. Stephenville has largely cruised to an undefeated record and began district play with convincing wins over Lampasas and China Springs.
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Chornobroff: Jarrell 28, Stephenville 27
Last week: Gordon 14-1, Plotkin 13-2, Tijerina 13-2, Chornobroff 12-3
Season standings:
Gordon 94-26, 2. Plotkin 91-29, 3. Chornobroff 88-32, 4. Tijerina 87-33
This Week’s Games
Westlake at Lake Travis: Westlake – Chornobroff, Plotkin and Tijerina; Lake Travis – Gordon
Hutto at Rouse: Hutto – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotin and Tijerina; Rouse – None
East View at Cedar Park: East View – None; Cedar Park – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Stony Point at Cedar Ridge: Stony Point – None; Cedar Ridge: Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Dripping Springs at Hays: Dripping Springs – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Hays – None
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Georgetown at A&M Consolidated: Georgetown – None; A&M Consolidated – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Connally – None; College Station – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Killeen at Weiss: Killeen – None; Weiss – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Anderson at Manor: Anderson – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Manor – None
Lockhart – None; McCallum – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina
Crockett – Plotkin; Elgin – Chornobroff, Gordon and Tijerina
Travis – Tijerina; LBJ – Chornobroff, Gordon and Plotkin
Wimberley at Lago Vista: Wimberley – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Lago Vista – None
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Stephenville – Gordon, Plotin and Tijerina; Jarrell – Chornobroff
Lampasas at Burnet: Lampasas – Chornobroff, Gordon, Plotkin and Tijerina; Burnet – None
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This article originally published at Who will win Friday Night Lights Week 9? Our prediction for crucial district contests.
