You’re sitting in the metal bleachers at House Park. The sun is dipping behind the Austin skyline, and the smell of nearby taco stands is thick in the humid air. If you've ever spent a Thursday or Friday night here, you know it's not just about the scoreboard. McCallum High School football is a weird, beautiful, and gritty institution in Central Austin that defies the "football is everything" stereotype while simultaneously living for it.
It’s different here. At some Texas powerhouses, the football team is a corporate machine. At McCallum, it’s the heartbeat of a diverse arts-and-academics hub. But don't let the fine arts reputation fool you. These kids hit hard.
The Gritty Reality of House Park
Most teams have a shiny on-campus stadium with luxury boxes. McCallum? They share House Park—a historic, sunken concrete bowl right off Lamar Boulevard that’s been around since 1939. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of a JerryWorld clone. It has character. And floods. (Seriously, the 2015 Shoal Creek flood basically turned the end zone into a swimming pool).
There’s something about playing in the shadow of the downtown high-rises that makes McCallum football feel like a throwback. When the Knights take the field, it isn’t just about the 6-4 record they posted in the 2025 season. It’s about the community that packs the stands. You've got the Blue Brigade drill team, a band that’s consistently one of the best in the state, and a student section that actually shows up.
The 2025 Season: A Rollercoaster in 5A-2
Looking back at the most recent 2025 campaign, it was a year of "what ifs" and massive blowouts. The Knights finished 6-4 overall and 4-3 in District 11-5A Division II. Honestly, it was a tale of two seasons.
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- The Highs: Crushing Crockett 73-8 and Navarro 63-0.
- The Lows: Getting humbled by Liberty Hill in a 58-7 loss.
- The Drama: A nail-biting 36-34 win over Pflugerville Connally that kept the playoff hopes alive.
Aiden Ilai, a junior during the 2025 run, was the engine. He averaged nearly 90 rushing yards per game. Watching him find a gap behind a line anchored by guys like Wyatt Mayes and Ben Pitts was the highlight of many Friday nights. They didn't have the massive 80-man roster of a Westlake or Lake Travis, but they had enough heart to finish fourth in a brutal district.
The Taco Shack Bowl: More Than Just a Game
If you only attend one game, it has to be the Taco Shack Bowl.
Basically, it’s McCallum vs. Anderson High School. It’s the season opener. It’s the "Shoal Creek Showdown." But mostly, it’s about bragging rights over who gets to claim the legendary local taco spot as their own. In 2025, the Knights dropped a heartbreaker to Anderson 37-2, but the atmosphere was still electric.
This rivalry is peak Austin. You’ll see former players from the 70s sitting next to current theater students. It’s a collision of worlds. While Anderson has had the upper hand recently, the history of this game is deep, dating back to when both schools were the only ones in the area.
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Legends of the Shield: From 1966 to 2017
People forget that McCallum has a serious pedigree. We aren't just talking about local wins; we’re talking about national-level talent.
Take the 1966 team. Led by Coach Curtis Shiflet, they went 10-0 in the regular season. Bill Zapalac, the captain of that squad, eventually went to the University of Texas and then the New York Jets. His brother Jeff? Also a Longhorn. These were the guys who put McCallum on the map when Austin was still a "small town."
Then there was 2017.
Under Coach Charles Taylor, the Knights went on a historic 14-1 run, making it all the way to the state semifinals. It was the deepest playoff run in the school's history. They weren't supposed to be there. They weren't the biggest or the fastest, but they played a brand of "blue-collar" football that caught the whole state off guard.
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Notable Alumni You Should Know
It’s a short but prestigious list of guys who went from the MAC turf to the big stage:
- Bill Zapalac: LB/DE for the New York Jets (1971-1973).
- Rick Nabors: A legendary defensive back who played for the Texas Longhorns during their late-60s glory years.
- Andy Tewell: A defensive specialist who made the jump to Texas A&M.
Don't confuse the school with Napoleon McCallum (the Raiders RB)—common mistake, but no relation!
Why McCallum Football Still Matters
In a world where high school sports are becoming increasingly professionalized and "pay-to-play," McCallum remains a bastion of the neighborhood school spirit. It’s one of the few places left where the quarterback might also be the lead in the school musical or the star of the debate team.
The 2026 season is already looking like a rebuilding year with a heavy junior class from last year stepping into leadership roles. Expect Aiden Ilai and Hugo Smith to be the focal points of the offense. If they can tighten up the defense that struggled against Bastrop and Liberty Hill, they’ll be a factor in the playoffs.
Your Next Steps for Following the Knights
If you’re looking to get involved or just want to catch a game, here is how you do it without looking like a tourist:
- Check the Schedule: Use the official Austin ISD athletics portal or MaxPreps. Most home games are at House Park, but double-check because they occasionally play at the Toney Burger Center or Nelson Field.
- Buy Tickets Early: Taco Shack Bowl tickets sell out. Seriously. Don't show up at the gate expecting to walk in.
- Support the Shield: The McCallum Football Booster Club is always looking for help. Since they don't get the massive corporate sponsorships of suburban schools, local support is what keeps the equipment updated and the kids fed.
- Wear Royal Blue: Don't show up in burnt orange or navy. It’s Royal Blue and Silver.
Go out to House Park. Grab a burger from the concession stand. Listen to the "Mac Band" play the fight song. It’s the best way to spend a Friday night in Austin, regardless of what the scoreboard says at the end of the fourth quarter.