Week 1 high school football preview: Ricker brothers face off at Alamo Stadium

High school football season opens in earnest this week with a pair of notable Express-News Top 20 matchups and the annual renewal of hostilities between neighboring rivals on the Northwest side. In addition to the Express-News Game of the Week – Austin Vandegrift and Brennan – here are some other key games.

7 p.m. Thursday, Comalander Stadium

This top 10 matchup is a terrific way to kickoff the high school football season in San Antonio. The No. 3 Knights (11-2) are never short on talent, and this season is no exception. Senior defensive back Eli Johnson is committed to Ohio State. Jayden Ghee, also a senior member of the secondary, has 12 offers. Senior quarterback DJ Green passed for 2,000 yards and 39 TDs.

Seventh-ranked Reagan (6-5) returns a strong defense led by two-way player Ayden Fernandez, a senior who is a linebacker and running back. Defensive back Ricky Armstong and Jayden Bullock are playmakers in the secondary.

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Reagan offensive lineman Ayden Fernandez carries the ball at Heroes Stadium on Nov. 14, 2025. (Blaine Young/Blaine Young for the San Antonio)

This highly anticipated matchup in the Ricker households will be on display on San Antonio’s biggest high school football stage. The teams are coached by a pair twin brothers – Jordon Ricker (MacArthur) and Mitchell Ricker (Burbank) – who are in their second season on the jobs.

This is also the schools’ first ever meeting.

MacArthur is still looking for its first win under Jordon after going 0-10 in 2025. It wasn’t an easy first-year test considering the Brahmas competed in the same district as two-time reigning state champion Smithson Valley. A new alignment into District 14-5A-I with Jay, Medina Valley, Southside, Laredo Nixon, South San, Eagle Pass Winn and Laredo Martin should help their fortunes. Thursday’s game will give the Brahmas their first look at filling in some key positions at quarterback, running back and receiver.

Burbank (4-6 in 2025) returns seven offensive starters, including district MVP Edward Rodriguez, who rushed for 1,318 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

This is an intriguing matchup of high profile coaching debuts between Rudy Nerio of No. 12 Alamo Heights and Eddie Salas of No. 9 Pieper. Nerio replaces Ron Rittimann, who announced his retirement following six seasons with Alamo Heights. Nerio is no stranger to the Mules, having served as an assistant there since 2021. Salas succeeds Nick Rogers, who stepped down after 2025 after he served as coach in the program’s first five years.

Judson is a difficult team to figure out before each season. Long the gold standard of San Antonio high school football, the Rockets have struggled in recent seasons with a five-year losing season streak, tied for the longest in program history. Oddly enough, the Rockets have made second round playoff runs twice in the last five years. So, the talent base is there.

The Rockets (4-7) can make a big splash in Vernon Hughes’ coaching debut against Johnson (13-1), the Express-News No. 1 team that’s loaded with the type of talent that filled Judson’s rosters of yesteryear. The Rockets are no slouches. Junior receiver Jay’Maree Bowens (6-4, 210) holds more than 10 offers, including Texas, SMU and Texas A&M. He’s also getting college looks for basketball.

Johnson sports the area’s top core of talent in quarterback Elvis Estrada (3,130 yards, 39 TDs passing), receivers Bryson Thompson (Iowa State) and Braelyn Allen and defensive back Mikhail McCreary (Oklahoma). The Jaguars should be extra motivated after suffering a tough 27-19 loss to Lake Travis in the state quarterfinals after holding a 13-0 lead.

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Brandeis Broncos Layne Watkins rambles for yardage in the second half. Brandeis Broncos defeated O’Connor 42-38 on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 at Farris Stadium. (Ron Cortes)

A rivalry so intense, it once sparked a food fight at Whataburger between students from each school following their game in 2013. There should be a full house at Farris on Saturday.

The game marks the Brandeis debut of senior Hakim Frampton, a Texas A&M pledge who played for Arkansas state champion Robinson of Little Rock in 2025. Frampton made his San Antonio debut at the Navy All-American Bowl in the Alamodome in January playing receiver. Based on social media posts, he could also play on the defensive side in the secondary. If that’s not enough, quarterback Wynter Smith returns after passing for 1,253 yards, rushing for 1,454 yards and combining for 30 touchdowns for the Broncos (8-4).

O’Connor is rebuilding after going 4-7 and snapping a six-year playoff drought.

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Steele Quarterback DJ Green runs the ball in the first half against Clemens at Lehnhoff Stadium Friday night. The Knights bested the Buffaloes 48-20 (Ethan Rocke/Ethan E. Rocke/Contributor)