Johnson High School’s football team will host LEE on Thursday night in a key District 28-6A matchup, kicking off league play with both teams undefeated. The No. 1 ranked Johnson Jaguars hold a 2-0 record and enter the contest riding a dominant start, having outscored Austin Vandegrift and Odessa by a combined 75-7. Their impressive run has earned them the No. 5 spot in the Class 6A state rankings.
LEE Volunteers, ranked No. 18, are 3-0 on the season and have shown marked improvement under first-year coach Eddie Veyran. After struggling through a 3-27 record over the past three seasons, the Volunteers are off to their best start since 2015. Despite that progress, they face a tough test against Johnson, who lead their all-time series against LEE 17-1.
The game starts at 7 p.m. Thursday at Comalander Stadium and will draw attention for its contrast of momentum and history. Johnson’s roster features a wealth of playmakers, including wide receiver Braelyn Allen, who made headlines with a 99-yard touchdown during a playoff game at UFCU Stadium last December. LEE’s resurgence under Veyran suggests the Volunteers will push hard to build on their early-season success.
Elsewhere in the area, several other high-profile games will open district play. At Heroes Stadium, Clark and Churchill meet in the 45th edition of the Gucci Bowl. Both teams are seeking their first wins after rough starts to the season. Clark has lost three straight, including a narrow 20-14 defeat to East Central, while Churchill has also gone 0-3, most recently falling 77-41 to Kerrville Tivy.
Smithson Valley will host Cedar Creek Thursday at 7 p.m., with coach Larry Hill aiming for career win No. 344, which would move him past Jim Streety atop the Greater San Antonio all-time wins list. The No. 2 ranked Rangers have outscored opponents 189-35, including a 79-14 victory over Manor last week. Cedar Creek enters at 2-2 and 0-2 in District 13-5A-I, having lost their last two games by large margins.
Friday night features No. 12 Pieper hosting No. 3 Steele in a Class 6A matchup. Steele opened district play with a 52-0 win over San Marcos, powered by quarterback Chase Lyons’ 366 passing yards and four touchdowns, alongside receiver Carson LaCombe’s 154 yards and two touchdowns. Pieper counters with senior defensive back Eli Johnson, an Ohio State pledge who made an impact last week with two forced fumbles and eight tackles in a 56-19 win against Wagner.
At the same time, No. 15 East Central and No. 19 Clemens will face off. East Central, 3-1, has been strong since an opening loss to Harlan, including a 42-0 shutout of New Braunfels Canyon in district play. Defensive end Ty Ellison led that effort with two sacks and multiple forced turnovers. Clemens, also 3-1, looks to bounce back after a 51-41 loss to Judson, where quarterback Carter Mencke threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns.
The Johnson-LEE matchup will be one of the most-watched games of the week, reflecting shifts in local high school football power and the start of a competitive district season. The Volunteers’ revival under coach Veyran adds intrigue against a Johnson team aiming to maintain its dominant position.
According to Yahoo Sports.