Stepp's 6A Region IV Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

Defending state champion Vandegrift has dominated 25-6A over the past few seasons, but the real intrigue is really about who will get those last three playoff spots as year in and year out this district has tremendous balance and parity. Hutto is the surprise pick for the second spot over perennial power Round Rock who was hit hard by graduation losing 56 seniors. McNeil has turned things around in a major way the past three seasons and that momentum should continue as the Mavericks bring fifteen returning starters. Vista Ridge has been a contender for the post-season and the Rangers expect to be in the mix, while Cedar Ridge and Westwood are going through coaching transitions in 2025.

It's a two-horse race at the top in 26-6A where traditional powers Lake Travis and Austin Westlake are expected to again battle for the district title, Westlake took both meetings in 2024 including the regional final in 6A-Divison I Region IV. Dripping Springs expects to be contend with the top two teams with 42 lettermen returning, but the real battle is going to be for the final playoff spot with Austin Bowie and Austin High. This will have major implications in the Region IV race, if Austin High advances to the playoffs it pushes Westlake into Division I, but if Bowie gets into the playoffs that pushes Westlake into the Division II bracket.

San Antonio Johnson looks to be a big favorite in 27-6A as the Jaguars after rolling to an unbeaten record in district play a year ago return fifteen starters and they have added reinforcements from an unbeaten JV team, they are a possible regional contender if things break right. Things get real intriguing after that with five potential playoff contenders in the mix for three spots. Clark with eight back on both sides of the ball could be primed for a big leap, while Brandeis hopes to jump back in the playoff mix after going 6-4 a year ago. Reagan has a new coach in 2025 and could be in a bit of transition, while Churchill and Roosevelt expect to also be in contention.

28-6A will be a battle for the district title with Brennan and Harlan looking clear of the rest of the field. Brennan is locked into the Division I bracket, while Harlan is locked into Division II, but district bragging rights will be on the line when they tangle. Sotomayor broke through with their first playoff appearance a year ago and a playoff win, they should take home the three seed, while Taft led by seven returning on offense gets the edge over O’Connor, Marshall and Warren.

Steele goes into 2025 with a lot of questions after their third-round exit from the playoffs a year ago, this Knights bunch is going to lean heavily on the defense and running game after slinging it all over the yard a year ago. San Marcos hasn’t won a game since 2022, but the Rattlers will add nine big-time players to the mix from a loaded sub-varsity squad. They are among the most fascinating teams to watch in 2025. Canyon and Buda Johnson were both regional semi-finalists a year ago and should be able to snag playoff spots, while East Central may take a step back after heavy graduation losses.

Laredo United returns one of the most experienced teams in all of South Texas and the Longhorns are looking to get out of the first-round with their fourteen returning starters. Alexander was the only team in 30-6A to beat United a year ago and the Bulldogs earn the selection for the two seed just ahead of Medina Valley and Eagle Pass. United South, who slipped into the playoffs a year ago could be in for a rebuild after suffering heavy graduation losses.

31-6A looks to be a two-team race at the top with legacy programs in the Valley, Weslaco and PSJA at the top of the mix. PSJA won the district a year ago ago, but Weslaco on the strength of forty returning lettermen gets the nod over a young PSJA squad. Another legacy program, Edinburg enters with plenty of optimism as the Bobcats have a new coach and return nine starters on both sides of the ball. A young, but rapidly improving Economedes squad is the pick for fourth as they look to get into the playoffs for the second straight year.

32-6A is the state’s lone five-team district in Class 6A and once again Los Fresnos with four-year starter Robert Pineda at QB is the pick to run the table. Brownsville Vets, who nearly knocked off New Braunfels Canyon in the area playoffs and a young, but talented Harlingen squad will be in a fight for the two seed and the top D2 seed. San Benito struggled a year ago, improvement is expected, but the Greyhounds look to still be relegated to the four seed.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

• Division I Teams In BOLD
• District enrollment rank in parenthesis

District 25-6A

1. Austin Vandegrift (9)
2. Hutto (2)
3. Round Rock (1)
4. Round Rock McNeil (7)
5. Cedar Park Vista Ridge (6)
6. Round Rock Cedar Ridge (3)
7. Round Rock Westwood (4)
8. Manor (8)
9. Round Rock Stony Point (5)

District 26-6A

1. Lake Travis (2)
2. Austin Westlake (4)
3. Dripping Springs (6)
4. Austin Bowie (3)
5. Austin High (7)
6. Del Valle (1)
7. Austin Akins (5)

District 27-6A

1. San Antonio Johnson (2)
2. San Antonio Clark (4)
3. San Antonio Brandeis (5)
4. San Antonio Reagan (1)
5. San Antonio Churchill (8)
6. San Antonio Roosevelt (7)
7. San Antonio Madison (6)
8. San Antonio Lee (3)

District 28-6A

1. San Antonio Brennan (1)
2. San Antonio Harlan (8)
3. San Antonio Sotomayor (9)
4. San Antono Taft (3)
5. San Antonio O’Connor (7)
6. San Antonio Marshall (6)
7. San Antonio Warren (4)
8. San Antonio Stevens (2)
9. San Antonio Holmes (5)

District 29-6A

1. Cibolo Steele (3)
2. San Marcos (6)
3. New Braunfels Canyon (7)
4. Buda Johnson (2)
5. Converse Judson (5)
6. San Antonio East Central (1)
7. Schertz Clemens (4)

District 30-6A

1. Laredo United (1)
2. Laredo Alexander (4)
3. Medina Valley (6)
4. Eagle Pass (7)
5. Laredo United South (3)
6. Del Rio (5)
7. Laredo LBJ (2)

District 31-6A

1. Weslaco (2)
2. PSJA (6)
3. Edinburg (5)
4. Edinburg Economedes (1)
5. Edinburg North (3)
6. La Joya (4)

District 32-6A

1. Los Fresnos (1)
2. Harlingen (3)
3. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (5)
4. San Benito (2)
5. Brownsville Hanna (4)

PROJECTED DIVISION I BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W25 Hutto vs R26 Austin Bowie

W27 San Antonio Johnson vs R28 San Antonio Taft

W29 Cibolo Steele vs R30 Laredo Alexander

W31 Weslaco vs R32 San Benito

W26 Lake Travis vs R25 Round Rock

W28 San Antonio Brennan vs R27 San Antonio Reagan

W30 Laredo United vs R29 Buda Johnson

W32 Los Fresnos vs R31 Edinburg Economedes

DIVISION I REGIONAL CHAMPION

Lake Travis over San Antonio Johnson

PROJECTED DIVISION II BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W25 Austin Vandegrift vs R26 Dripping Springs

W27 San Antonio Clark vs R28 San Antonio Sotomayor

W29 San Marcos vs R30 Eagle Pass

W31 PSJA vs R32 Brownsville Veterans Memorial

W26 Austin Westlake vs R25 Round Rock McNeil

W28 San Antonio Harlan vs R27 San Antonio Brandeis

W30 Medina Valley vs R29 New Braunfels Canyon

W32 Harlingen vs R31 Edinburg

DIVISION II REGIONAL CHAMPION

Austin Vandegrift over Austin Westlake