2026 Week 8: McCallum vs Anderson preview

We are about two months into the high school football season. District title races and battles for playoff spots just starting to heat up. Fox 7 Austin sports anchor Cliff Thornton's got a preview. Week eight of the high school football season gets started tonight with a handful of Thursday games across the area, including one that we're used to seeing kick off the regular season. McCallum and Anderson went from being the Taco Shack Bowl to the Shoal Creek Showdown last season. Now bigger changes to the rivalry for the first time in decades. The Knights and Trojans are no longer the traditional seasonal opener. That's because, for the first time in a long time, they're now district opponents. For years, Anderson was a 6A school. McCallum was in 5A. Now the Trojans have dropped down to Class 5A, so the two are competing in District 13 5A Division I. Tonight's rivalry renewal is a big one. Both are 2-2 in district play. The loser has a tough road to make the playoffs. The Taco Shack Bowl-turned-Shoal Creek Showdown has been owned by Anderson as of late. Trojans have won the last four by an average of right around 30 points per game. Other matchups tonight include Austin High at Del Valle. Connelly hosts Glenn. Winner there picks up their first district win. That's also the case with the winner of Vista Ridge and Eastview. Join John Hyde tonight for highlights and scores. And be sure to join us for Friday's action as well on tomorrow night's edition of Fox 7 Friday Football at 9:45.