AUBREY CHAPARRALS
The Aubrey Chaparrals football team will kick off the 2026 season with a home matchup against the Prosper Richland Raiders on Friday.
After a deep playoff run in 2024, the Chaps struggled in 2025 while playing in one of the state’s toughest districts, but Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach, emphasized that last season’s lesson should pay dividends on the field this year.
“Last year was a tough season and really reminded me of the first year I was here in Aubrey because we had the exact same number of seniors, played a tough schedule, and it ended with the same outcome,” Ivy said. “… We worked extremely hard through the spring, the summer and in fall camp to make sure our guys understand that we have a standard here in our football program, with all the success we’ve had in the past years; not only do we expect to get in the playoffs, but we expect to get in and win games.”
Both teams enter the contest hoping to start their seasons with a win after both recorded threewin seasons in 2025, but Prosper Richland, led by utility player Donovan Ross and running back duo Nicoy Stewart and Julian Thomas, looks to start their first UIL season off strong.
The Chaps will look to lean on their defense led by linebacker Jaxon Doramus, who had 80 tackles, 4 TFLs and 1 sack, and defensive backs Braxton Osterman and Luke Hellman, who was also the team’s top receiver.
Ivy also highlighted the Chaps' offensive line as another point of strength for the team.
“We have a lot of those guys back, C.P. Mulkey, Stephan Coffman, and P.J. Van Rijn, led by Brayden Wood, who sets the tone as our center,” Ivy said. “… We have a really good nucleus with those guys, and you can tell just by watching them play together. I’ll put those five up against anybody, and we're going to go as far as they take us.'
Ivy also spoke highly of his team’s connection with each other, which could be crucial if the Chaps hope to compete in their new 8-team district.
“These guys fight for each other,” he said. “They push each other every day and hold each other accountable, and we missed a lot of that a year ago … but we feel really good about where we are right now going into the season, especially with a tough nondistrict and an even tougher district schedule.”
Ivy added that he and his staff have high expectations for their team.
“We know these first three nondistrict games are tune-up games for district, but our goal is to win them all, win the district championship, and get in Region 1 and see how far we can go,” he said. “We know that’s going to be a tall task with the people we’re playing, but these guys believe in each other, and they’re going to play hard.”
Aubrey and Prosper Richland are scheduled to get things underway at 7 p.m. Friday at Chaparral Memorial Stadium.
