Father-son duo leading Pflugerville High School football

BY Travis Recek Austin

See full story on Spectrum News 1

AUSTIN, Texas — When you’re a football coach, sometimes it’s very natural that your kids will love the game as well.

“As soon as he could do it he was one of our ball boys at McCallum running around on the field,” said Charles Taylor, the head football coach at Pflugerville High School. “He’s been coming to my games for years.”

Charles’ son Cole Taylor grew up around the game of football, and he fell in love with it pretty early on.

“Those early moments are so special to me,” Cole said. “Just seeing the work that goes in off the field that brings everyone together, when I saw that when I was younger, that really attached me to the game.”

Some of those early moments included a memorable playoff run for McCallum back in 2017. Dad was the head coach and Cole was his sidekick on the sideline as the Knights made it all the way to the state semifinals. 

“That run felt like it wasn’t that long ago, everything was just so special,” Cole said. “Especially when we got to those late rounds, it felt like we were playing the biggest football ever. Friday night lights was actually coming true.”

“That was a special run, and he got to see a bunch of kids that probably weren’t as talented as the teams we played but the heart they had and the way they played,” Charles said.

That little kid who grew up looking up to those players, is now grown up himself. Cole has been the starting quarterback at Pflugerville High School since he was a freshman, playing for his father.

“He’s football gym rat type kid,” Charles said. “We started watching him throw the football and were like, ‘Ok he’s a little different, he’s gonna be pretty good.’”

Good enough that Charles changed his offense from a run-based attack to a more wide open, pass heavy system. Last year, Pflugerville won eight games and a playoff game; Cole accounted for 50 touchdowns.

“People might say ‘He’s your kid, you’re going to say that,’ but I’ve been in this area a long time and there’s been a lot of great quarterbacks and I think he’s up there with some of them,” Charles said.

Cole is now in the middle of his senior season, looking to build on that success of last year. He’s also looking to enjoy this final year with his dad as his head coach.

“Not only do I get to play with him, I get to know what he’s thinking and create a bond,” Cole said. “Since football is our greatest loves, it’s just one of the best things ever to build a relationship with your father doing the thing you love most.”

“I spend so much time with other people’s kids and stuff, sometimes you don’t get to enjoy your own,” Charles said. “What I’ve told him is ‘I’m so proud of you, you’ve done everything we’ve asked you to do.’”

The father-son duo is hoping to make this last season go as long as possible and maybe make a run like they had back at McCallum eight years ago.

As for the future, Cole is deciding between playing football or baseball in college. He was an all-state first baseman last year and has options to do either sport.