Austin-area high school football Week 1 scores: Westlake opens with Texas vs Cali matchup

The Westlake Chaparrals take the field ahead of the annual Battle of the Lakes rivalry against the Lake Travis Cavaliers at Chaparral Stadium in West Lake Hills, Oct. 24, 2025. The Cavaliers won the game 31-10. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)

Who's got the best high school football in the country? Texas, Florida and California have each long laid stake to that claim, but it's rare that we see good teams from those states play each other. But that's what's happening at Chaparral Stadium in Friday's much anticipated 2026 season opener between the Westlake Chaparrals and the Inglewood (Calif.) Sentinels.

Westlake is one of Texas' top programs. Inglewood is packed with FBS talent, including two defensive linemen committed to Texas A&M and Oklahoma and a defensive back who'll play at Cal. And Chaps quarterback Patton Jones is making his first start against a defense that had seven sacks in Inglewood's season opener last week.

Anderson receiver Kyler Sharp (15) makes a catch over Johnson defensive back Zavier Antoine (31) during the game at Hays High School on Thursday, August. 27, 2026 in Kyle, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

But that's not the only big game of note tonight. While the big Lake Travis vs. Dripping Springs opener was canceled, there are still a couple of high-profile matchups that we're watching, including Weiss at Round Rock, a matchup of two of the American-Statesman's top 10 preseason power poll teams; Cedar Park and A&M Consolidated as the Timberwolves make their Class 6A debut; and Vandegrift at San Antonio Brennan, a matchup of two teams expected to win their Class 6A districts.

We're at three games tonight. Colby Gordon is covering the Weiss-Round Rock game at Dragon Stadium, Caleb Yum is at Westlake vs. Inglewood, watching all those college prospects at Chaparral Stadium, and Cory Mull is at Wrangler Stadium in Liberty Hill, where he's watching the Legacy Ranch Wranglers - Central Texas' newest high school - play their first varsity game ever at home against Manor New Tech.

Catch up on our 2026 season preview coverage, including breakdowns and team rankings from our Class 6A and Class 5A districts, our 15 top college prospects in Central Texas, our top season storyljnes and an area coaches survey where they answered knowing their responses wouldn't be identified. What did they really have to say?

Follow here for live updates throughout the night from those games and others around Central Texas: 

MORE:Our staff picks for Westlake vs Inglewood and other top Week 1 games 

MORE:Our annual list of the 100 Central Texas football players to watch this season

Anderson running back Kam'Ron Hornsby (4) runs the ball during the game against Johnson at Hays High School on Thursday, August. 27, 2026 in Kyle, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Central Texas football: Live updates from Week 1Weiss vs Round Rock is in a lightning delay

Colby Gordon has checked in from Dragon Stadium and reports that the Weiss vs. Round Rock game is in a lightning delay.

It will be a 7:30 p.m. start now - "at the earliest," Colby says.

The weather around Dragon, though, has been pretty calm. It's cloudy to the south and southeast and there's a slight breeze. The temperature is probably in the upper 80s, Colby guesses.

Around Central Texas, there's rain but only in pockets here and there.

Anderson looked impressive in first game

The Anderson Trojans are used to opening up the high school football season on Thursday night. Just not against the Johnson Jaguars. And certainly not at Bob Shelton Stadium. Yet, thanks to UIL realignment that booted the always-good Anderson-McCallum rivalry game from an opening-night clash at House Park into an October district meeting, there were the Trojans on Thursday, opening with Johnson, expected to challenge for a playoff spot this year in District 26-6A.

Anderson quarterback Cove Darbyshire (7) throws a pass during the game against Johnson at Hays High School on Thursday, August. 27, 2026 in Kyle, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

It was all Anderson. Covert Darbyshire threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores in the Trojans' 34-6 win last night. Darbyshire was sharp throughout (20 of 32 for 290 yards and four total TDs), scoring on 30- and 43-yard passes and a pair of 1-yard runs.

Here's Colby Gordon's story on how complete Anderson looked so early in the season.

Thursday night's scores

Anderson 34, Johnson 6

Glenn 14, Stony Point 3

Liberty Hill 34, Killeen 30

Waco Midway 19, Rouse 0

Lake Belton 58, Vista Ridge 27

Cedar Ridge 21, East View 6

Geronimo Navarro 27, McCallum 14

Blanco 60, Crockett 15

Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.

This article originally published at Austin-area high school football Week 1 scores: Westlake opens with Texas vs Cali matchup.