HUTTO – The Hutto Hippos varsity football team continued to build momentum under firstyear head coach Casey Walraven this summer, capturing championships at both the Texas A&M and Southern Methodist University 7-on-7 showcases over the past two weeks.
Hutto put together an impressive run at both events, finishing undefeated at the Texas A&M showcase and battling through a talented field at the SMU showcase to bring home a second championship trophy.
Walraven said the success has helped reinforce the culture and expectations he is trying to establish during his first offseason leading the program.
“When you start doing things like that, the players start going, ‘Wait a minute, this could be different,’” Walraven said. “They can put their trust into it and buy into it, so you start gaining momentum from that. It was really eye-opening. They really got after it, they pushed themselves, and their talent took over.”
The championships come after Hutto completed spring practice and continue a strong offseason as the Hippos prepare for the 2026 season.
Texas A&M Showcase
The Hippos rolled through the competition at the Texas A&M showcase, winning six consecutive games on their way to the championship.
Hutto opened the event with a dominant 34-13 victory over East Bernard before posting back-to-back shutouts against Klein Oak and South Houston by identical 31-0 scores.
The Hippos continued their strong play in the elimination rounds, defeating Klein Oak 26-6 before earning a 27-14 victory over Crowley to advance to the championship game.
In the title contest, Hutto capped off its undefeated run with a convincing 31-13 victory over North Crowley to secure the tournament championship.
Throughout the event, the Hippos showcased a balanced passing attack and a defense that consistently forced stops, allowing just 46 total points across six games.
SMU Showcase
Hutto followed up its Texas A&M championship with another impressive performance at the SMU showcase.
The Hippos opened pool play with victories over Kaufman (2720), Arlington Bowie (20-12), Frisco Liberty (31-0) and Azle (34-0). Their only setback during pool play came in a 20-14 loss to Argyle Liberty Christian.
Despite the loss, Hutto advanced to the championship bracket and quickly regained its momentum.
The Hippos defeated Royse City 25-13 in the quarterfinals before edging Brock 21-20 in a tightly contested semifinal matchup.
The championship game provided an opportunity for redemption against Liberty Christian, and Hutto took advantage. The Hippos avenged their earlier defeat with an 18-7 victory to claim their second showcase title in as many weeks.
Above: The Hutto Hippos 7-on-7 team took home gold after winning the SMU showcase. Left: Hutto’s Jaiden Fields runs up the field in a 7-on-7 competition at the SMU Showcase. Photos courtesy of Hutto ISD
The successful summer circuit provided valuable repetitions for Hutto's skill position players and allowed the team to continue developing chemistry heading into preseason workouts.
The Hippos' run came to an end at the state qualifying tournament June 11, where they were eliminated by Keller Central.
Even so, Hutto enters the remainder of the offseason with considerable momentum after winning back-to-back showcase championships and continuing to embrace Walraven's system ahead of the regular season.
