Dripping Springs (TX) dominates Buda Johnson (TX) on both sides of ball in non-district action

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BUDA, Texas — Dripping Springs put on a clinic to close out non-district play.

The Tigers, the No. 23 team in The Sporting News Texas top 25 rankings, steamrolled Buda Johnson, 52-0, to improve to 4-0 on Thursday night at Shelton Stadium.

“I am excited for the kids,” Dripping Springs head coach Galen Zimmerman said. “That’s a big win. Johnson had been playing well, getting better every game.

“They had some long drives. We’d bend, but we didn’t break. We made some really big plays when we needed to. I’m happy for that.”

Dripping Springs scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions before settling for a field goal on its eighth, while the defense held up its end of the bargain by notching its second shutout in three games.

Tigers junior quarterback Chase Ames was unstoppable, throwing for five touchdowns to four different receivers and rushing for another one in his first season as QB1.

Cooper Reid caught the last two touchdowns, while James Montgomery, Merrik Bloomgren and Bobby Wilkinson caught the first three. Three of those strikes went for 25 or more yards, including a 63-yarder.

“I felt very comfortable,” Ames said. “We started fast — that’s one of our big goals. I feel confident. My O-line has been great. My receivers — they’re playmakers.”

Dripping Springs also got a 41-yard touchdown run from Jaceton Gotta for the first points of the game. Ames scored on a 2-yard run in the second half.

Zimmerman likes what he sees from his quarterback through the first four weeks of the season, which included an upset win over defending Class 6A Division II state champion Austin Vandergrift in the season opener.

“I see the confidence and him being comfortable,” Zimmerman said. “The more reps he gets, the more that’s going to come. He’s played football for a long time, but Friday nights are a little different. The more games we get into the season, the more comfortable he gets.”

The Jaguars dropped to 1-3 after winning their previous game against Austin High, 34-0. Last season, Dripping Springs held off Johnson, 49-34.

Both teams will open district play next week. Dripping Springs will take on Austin Akins at home in its 26-6A opener, while Johnson will play at San Marcos in 29-6A play. Both games are on Friday, Sept. 26.

“The extra day will be good for rest,” Ames said. “We need to recover after a long non-district with a tough schedule. That only made us better. Going into district, we are prepared and ready to go take it.”

The Tigers, who finished 8-4 (4-2) in 2024, are eager to keep their winning streak alive and contend for a district title.

“It’s all about getting ready for district,” Zimmerman said. “Then, district is all about getting ready for the playoffs. This was a good one for us to going into our district schedule. We got a lot of kids on the field tonight.”