For the fourth straight year, the Dripping Springs Tigers football team is the district champion.
By virtue of a lopsided 42-8 win over the Austin Northeast Raiders Nov. 1, Dripping Springs (8-1, 6-0) secured the outright 12-5A, Division I title and the district’s top seed heading into Friday’s regular season finale.
Dripping Springs utilized an explosive offense to quickly take control of the contest over the Raiders. Leading the way was quarterback Preston Alford who went 4 of 5 for 128 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns, as well as 18 yards rushing on six carries and a score, all culled within the first frame. Both of Alford’s touchdowns were thrown to wide receiver Cameron O’Banan who finished with two catches for 78 yards.
Dripping Springs built a 21-0 lead after one quarter, which was then followed by 14 more unanswered points in the second frame.
O’Banan, who subbed in for Alford as quarterback, tossed a 16-yard pass to wide receiver Carter King, followed by a seven-yard touchdown pass from O’Banan to wide receiver Zach Tjelmeland.
Dripping Springs added a third quarter touchdown run from Ryan Kimball before the Raiders responded back with a score and a two-point conversion in the fourth frame.
While under center, O’Banan went 6 of 9 for 50 yards and two passing touchdowns, while running back Tyler Herron led the team with 55 rush yards on seven carries.
On the defensive side, Dripping Springs limited Northeast to 213 total yards on 46 plays. Dripping Springs out-gained Northeast 414-213 in total yards.
Dripping Springs will vie for an unblemished district crown Friday when it hosts Crockett for its senior night.
