Pieper High School football team ranked No. 9 in Express-News preseason countdown

Pieper High School has secured the ninth position in the San Antonio Express-News preseason top 20 high school football countdown. The Warriors, who opened their football program in 2021, are entering a new competitive era as they transition from Class 5A to Class 6A. This ranking comes as the school appoints Eddie Salas as its new head coach, replacing Nick Rogers, who stepped down following the 2025 season.

Salas brings extensive experience to the role, having accumulated 75 wins and eight years of playoff appearances during his tenure at Harlan. He succeeds Rogers, who led the Warriors from the school’s inception in the fall of 2021 through the conclusion of the 2025 campaign. The leadership change coincides with a structural shift in the team’s competitive landscape, moving from District 13-5A-I to District 27-6A.

The Warriors return seven starters from their previous squad, including key contributors such as quarterback Chase Lyons, wide receiver Carson Lacombe, and offensive lineman Laiton Springer. Lyons threw for 1,787 yards and 15 touchdowns in the previous season, while Lacombe, a four-star recruit, holds offers from major programs including Oklahoma and Ohio State. Springer, previously named district defensive MVP, recorded 129 tackles last year.

Pieper’s move to Class 6A places them in a more rigorous district that includes powerhouse Steele, as well as Clemens, Judson, East Central, New Braunfels Canyon, San Marcos, and Wagner. This marks a departure from their former district, which featured Smithson Valley, Boerne Champion, and New Braunfels. The transition involves significant roster turnover, yet the return of core talent positions the team to remain competitive in the higher classification.

The team faces an immediate test in their second district game of the 6A era against Steele on September 25. This matchup between two San Antonio area heavyweights is expected to have significant implications for the District 27-6A title race. The Express-News is publishing a daily countdown to its number one preseason team, which will be revealed on August 23.