No. 8 Dripping Springs football enters 2024 season as one of Central Texas' top teams
No. 8 Dripping Springs
2023: 11-3, 7-1 in District 26-6A (2nd). The Tigers fell to Cibolo Steele 28-21 in the fourth round of the playoffs
2024: In a district dominated by Westlake and Lake Travis for more than two decades, the Tigers are trying to establish themselves as legitimate contenders. It won't be easy this year because the Tigers are regrouping with a brand-new offensive line and 10 new starters on defense. Dripping Springs head coach Galen Zimmerman is banking on some returning skill-position players to reach the state playoffs for the ninth straight year.
Notable losses: QB Jack Williams, WR Kyle Koch (15 TDs), All-Central Texas LB Luca Picucci
About the Tigers: They'll learn a lot about themselves when they open the season at Vandegrift. Dripping Springs has enough good pieces on offense to light up the scoreboard, led by QB Maddox Maher, RB Jack Tyndall and WR Cooper Reid. But the jury's still out on the defense because the only returning starter is lineman Clive Wahl. Zimmerman believes DT Major Bettridge will develop into a blue-chipper after showing promise as a freshman. Returning starters — 5 offense, 1 defense
THE NO. 9 TEAM: Cedar Park's talented RB — and hungry O-line — confident despite new QB
THE NO. 10 TEAM: Georgetown is known for high-flying offenses. But its defense may be key in 2024
Betcha didn't know: Zimmerman, who's entering his 10th season, has never had a losing season while in charge. He was the offensive coordinator for one year before being named Dripping Springs' head coach in 2016.
Key game: Westlake, Nov. 8 — The Chaparrals figure to have another great team after going 73-3 over the last five years. Given this is the last game of the regular season, playoff seeding likely will be on the line for both teams.
Central Texas top 10 countdown
No. 10 Georgetown Eagles
3 players that could define Georgetown's season
No. 9 Cedar Park Timberwolves
3 players that could define Cedar Park's season
No. 8 Dripping Springs Tigers
— Rick Cantu
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Central Texas' top 2024 preseason teams: No. 8 Dripping Springs
