A closer look at the Vandegrift Vipers, the No. 5 team in our Central Texas preseason countdown:

No. 5 Vandegrift

2023: Vandegrift went 10-1, 7-0 in District 25-6A (1st). After an unbeaten regular season, the Vipers were stunned by Lake Travis 13-10 in the bi-district round of the playoffs, their earliest postseason exit since 2018.

2024: The first goal is to win District 25-6A for the third straight year. While Round Rock and upstart McNeil could present a challenge, it's hard to bet against the Vipers. At Vandegrift, making a bid for the school's first state title remains the top goal. The defense, which was one of Class 6A's best, should be solid again behind all-district linemen Daeshon Morgan and Ian Witt. RB Brendan Fournier is critical to the offense; he rushed for 665 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.

MORE: No. 5 Vandegrift will rely on defense while revamped offense makes its mark this fall

RELATED: Central Texas high school football countdown: Why Vandegrift checks in at No. 5

Notable losses: Two-time All-Central Texas WR Miles Coleman, QB Deuce Adams, LT Blake Frazier, S Alex Foster and LB Diego de la Vara Vazquez

About the Vipers: The keys to the offense have been handed to incoming junior QB Miles Teodecki, who led the JV team to an unbeaten record last fall. Among the playmakers who head coach Drew Sanders said will make a difference are WRs Brock Chilton and Gavin Koester. The defense should be stellar again. Two players expected to have breakout years are defensive backs Aidan Jones and Hollister Stephens, who played well when Foster was injured early last season.

Betcha didn't know: Sanders is known as an excellent football coach, but before that he was a defensive end at Hardin-Simmons from 1993-97 under Jimmie Keeling, the school's all-time winningest coach. Sanders was named to the conference all-academic team three times. He began his coaching career at Mexia Junior High in 1998. That wasn't a surprise, given that he graduated from Mexia High School.

Key game: Vandegrift vs. Round Rock, Nov. 10 — A possible district championship and playoff seeding might be on the line when the Vipers and Dragons meet in the final game of the regular season.

— Rick Cantu

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Central Texas' top 2024 preseason teams: No. 5 Vandegrift