COUPLAND — The Coupland Cowboys have released their 2026 sixman football schedule as the district prepares for its first season of high school football in eight decades.
The season marks a historic milestone for Coupland Independent School District, which will open its new junior high and high school campus this fall. For the first time in 80 years, Coupland students will have the opportunity to compete in high school athletics while representing their hometown school.
“Coupland athletics is excited to be looking forward to our first (University Interscholastic League) varsity level cross country season, the introduction of six-man tackle football at the junior and high school level, and another competitive volleyball season,” Athletic Director Jared Knapek said.
Programs are already underway to prepare incoming seventh through ninth grade student-athletes for competition, according to head football coach Kyle Rinderknecht.
“This summer, our new campus will be opening a weight room that is clean, current and filled with state-ofthe- art equipment that will be used to develop our student athletes for decades to come,” Rinderknecht said.
On the field, the Cowboys will open their inaugural season Aug.
27 against Round Rock Christian Academy before facing St. Mary’s on Sept. 4 and New Braunfels Thunder on Sept. 10. Although several contests are designated as road games, all games will be played at Memorial Field in Taylor during the program’s inaugural season.
Coupland will also celebrate Homecoming on Sept. 17 against RRCA. The remainder of the schedule includes road contests against McDade Sept. 25, Pawnee Oct. 2, Oglesby Oct. 8, Buckholts Oct.
16, Austin Classical Academy Oct. 23, and Rocksprings Oct. 31.
The Cowboys will play four “home” games and six road contests during their first season of six-man football.
