EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Monday marked the official start of the 2024 Texas high school football season for some schools.
All 1A-4A schools, along with 5A and 6A schools without a spring season, and all incoming 9th graders were allowed by the UIL to begin its fall training camps on Monday, Aug. 5. It’s the first day of conditioning. No contact activities are permitted and no contact equipment except helmets may be worn. August 10th is the first day of full contact, per the UIL.
One of the 4A schools in El Paso that got its fall camp going on Monday was the Austin Panthers.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has the Austin Panthers heading into the 2024 season as the favorites to win District 1-4A Division I, a district that is loaded with nine teams now due to the 2024-2025 UIL alignments.
“Every school has great players so it’s a very, very good district and it’s going to be a challenge.” Austin High School football head coach Eric Pichardo said.
Being predicted as the school to win the district in 2024 is something the Panthers are well aware of and are ready to tackle the challenge.
“We’re coming for this district championship this year,” Austin High School senior quarterback Anakin Torres said. “I mean, I feel like it’s going to be a lot tougher now that we we’ve got to prepare for district a lot quicker than last year. It’s two non-district games and then its straight to district. So, I mean that pressure is definitely on, especially since they have us at the top.”
Austin will be led by head coach Eric Pichardo, who is entering his eighth season as the school’s head football coach.
The Panthers return 15 lettermen (eight on offense, seven on defense.)
Some key players for Austin will be senior quarterback Anakin Torres; sophomore running back Sal Duarte; junior linebacker/running back Jerimiah Parish; offense lineman/defense lineman Vaughnel Faleafaga; and running back Salvador Durat to name a few.
Austin is coming off a 5-6 season where it finished as the District 1-4A DI runner-ups. Riverside took the crown last year and in 2022.
Austin will begin its 2024 season with a rivalry game against El Paso High at R. R. Jones Stadium on August 30.
Read: Read More