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2025 District 22-6A Season Preview

22-6A football team previews

Austin Roof Inspection


District 22-6A was so competitive in 2024, the final two playoff spots had to be decided by a three-way tiebreaker.

Three teams will also have new head coaches this year, so there’s plenty of storylines in this nine team district.

Here’s the players and storylines to watch for every squad.

Alvin Yellowjackets

Head Coach: Matthew Bass (1st season)

Last Season: 3-7; 2-6 in district

Returning Lettermen: 20 (5 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

Alvin Key Players and Storylines

Alvin grad Matthew Bass takes over the Yellowjacket program in 2025. He had most recently been the defensive coordinator at Shadow Creek.

The Yellowjackets also will have a new signal-caller this year with quarterback Anthony DeSanto. He started ten games last year as a sophomore for Mansfield Timberview, leading them to the playoffs.

Expect junior JJ Raasch to become one of his favorite targets as Alvin shifts away from a run-heavy offense. He’s a “shifty receiver with good ball skills.”

Up front, junior Jacobi Small will need to anchor an inexperienced offensive line.

Jacob Baez will bring explosiveness to the defensive line, where he can either play on the edge or in the interior. Linebacker Trace Martinez will be Alvin’s quarterback on defense with his vocal leadership.

Safety Kash Powledge will keep things locked down on the back end with his experience.

Bass didn’t start at Alvin until late April, so the Yellowjackets haven’t had a ton of time to get his schemes implemented, but the buy-in from players has been strong. That gives Bass confidence his Yellowjackets can be competitive on the field this fall.

Alvin Shadow Creek Sharks

Head Coach: Tyrone Green (2nd season; 9-2 record)

Last Season: 9-2; 8-0 in district (Lost to Elkins in bi-district)

Returning Lettermen: 31 (6 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

Shadow Creek Key Players and Storylines

Shadow Creek brought home the district title a year ago, but the Sharks fell in the first round of the playoffs to Elkins. That will serve as plenty of motivation for Shadow Creek this season.

The Sharks will have a new quarterback this year, but that new field general won’t lack for skill talent this fall. Texas commit receiver Chris Stewart (922 receiving yards and 15 TDs) is Shadow Creek’s go-to playmaker. Head coach Tyrone Green said he’s “the best wide receiver in the state.” Stewart and fellow receiver Houston commit Aden Starling, an Iowa Colony transfer, will be quite the one-two punch.

Running back Tristan Willis (766 rushing yards and 13 TDs) has great vision and “top end speed.” He paced the Shark backfield as a sophomore last year.

Offensive lineman Caleb Buford is a “really good leader” for the Sharks in the trenches.

Shadow Creek will be stout at linebacker this year with “run stopper” Gio Baker (68 tackles, 11 TFLs), last year’s leading tackler, and “hybrid player” Jarone Bell.

Chris Stewart’s twin brother Carter Stewart will anchor the secondary at safety. He’s both a ball hawk and a great tackler. Cornerback Brandon Sherrard is also attracting Division I interest.

The Sharks will be fast and furious this fall. Green is excited about the team speed they have throughout their roster. He wants his guys to focus on getting better each week as they look to peak at the right time.

Manvel Mavericks

Head Coach: Kirk Martin (13th season (two stints); 119-36 record)

Last Season: 6-6; 5-3 in district (Lost to Summer Creek in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 30 (4 returning starters on offense; 3 on defense)

Manvel Key Players and Storylines

Manvel is still recovering from Iowa Colony opening a few years back. And despite playing with closer to 5A numbers due to that split, that didn’t slow down the Mavericks as they returned to the playoffs and won a playoff game a year ago.

The Mavericks have only seven total starters back this year, but that doesn’t mean that there’s a lack of talent on this roster.

Talking talent, there’s a ton of it in the Manvel running back room. Eric Mosley (575 rushing yards and five TDs) transfers in from Iowa Colony. He’ll join Xaiden Brown (538 rushing yards and seven TDs) and Kenneth Malone-Hayes (400 rushing yards and five TDs), who led the Manvel backfield a year ago.

The passing game will have some pop too. Quarterback Cam Renfro accounted for 30 touchdowns last year, and receiver Antoine Wilder (465 receiving yards and four TDs) can burn defensive backs with his top end speed. Tight end Will Terry is committed to TCU as a long snapper and will be a big-profile target at 6’5″

Up front, Paulo Camacho is exactly the type of tackle you want at 6’5″, while Noah Cantu is an “athletic, strong center.”

On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Nicholas Kemp (25 tackles, six TFLs) and fellow defensive linemen Mason Lantz and Jacob Jakes bring plenty of athleticism to the trenches.

Safety Karnell “Greedy” James (31 tackles, one INT) is a “long, fast, athletic ball hawk,” who has the attention of plenty of Division I programs. He’s also Manvel’s leading returning tackler after the top seven players in that category from last year all graduated.

There is some inexperience scattered across this roster, but there’s also raw athleticism across the board. At Manvel under Kirk Martin, expectations are always high and that’ll be no different in 2025.

Pasadena Dobie Longhorns

Head Coach: Daniel Fitzmorris (2nd season; 6-5 record)

Last Season: 6-5; 5-3 in district (Lost to Ridge Point in bi-district)

Returning Lettermen: 26; (5 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

Dobie Key Players and Storylines

Daniel Fitzmorris continued the recent success of Dobie in his first season in charge, leading the Longhorns to the playoffs for the seventh-straight year.

They don’t have a single player on their roster that completed a pass last year at the varsity level. Senior quarterback Titus Randle “has very high upside” and is set to step into the starting role.

Alongside him, senior running back DaMarcus Hodges (555 rushing yards and 11 TDs) could be set to boom. He was the district’s 2023 Newcomer of the Year before being limited by injury last fall.

Senior receiver Marcus Jones will bring the lightning to this Longhorn offense. He has “elite speed” and is also a threat as a return man on special teams.

The strength of this Dobie offense though is found in the trenches. Five players on the offensive line have varsity experience including seniors Cameron Robertson and center Alonzo Chapman as well as junior Achilles Rostro.

Defensively, Dobie graduated a lot of its secondary from last season. Senior Rashaud Howard (48 tackles and two INTs) should help lead that unit from his safety position.

They do also have some good returners at linebacker with team captain Desmond Talib (64 tackles, three sacks) and fellow senior Julius Sanchez (27 tackles).

Dobie will benefit after having a full offseason under Fitzmorris and his staff. With half of its starters back from last year too, the Longhorns will expect to be in the playoff mix again this season.

Pasadena Memorial Mavericks

Head Coach: Open

Last Season: 3-7; 1-7 in district

Returning Lettermen: 25; (4 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)

Pasadena Memorial Key Players and Storylines

The Mavericks will have a new head coach for the first time in seven years after James Crocker stepped down this summer.

This year’s team will put an emphasis on running the football. Six-foot-three, 315-pound left tackle Devan Robison, a three-star prospect, will anchor the offensive line. Running back Arturo Aguilera will be following that offensive line’s lead. He’s got a good mix of speed, strength, and size at six-foot-one and 205 pounds.

Quarterback Logan Johnson can put on a show for this Maverick offense. He had over 2,500 all-purpose yards in 2024.

The front seven defensively has some guys that can pack a punch. Defensive tackle Cameron Newell is “nasty inside” while middle linebacker Roy Powell has great instincts and is a “hard hitter.”

Cornerback Kevin Toussaint will be going against some of the top receivers in the district with his “speed and excellent ball skills.”

After finishing just 1-7 in district action last year, Memorial comes into 2025 hungry. The Mavericks want to “compete every snap” this fall and improve on last season’s record.

Pasadena Sam Rayburn Texans

Head Coach: Sergio Gonzalez (4th season; 7-23 record)

Last Season: 2-8; 0-8 in district

Returning Lettermen: 30 (6 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

Sam Rayburn Key Players and Storylines

The Texans are looking for their first district win in three years this fall.

They’re hopeful they can move the ball through the air this season with quarterback Malachi Rivas behind center. He’s got a “strong arm” and can move in the pocket as well.

He’s got a good mix of receivers with the speed of H’Rei Jones and the size of Jermaine Youngblood, who has plenty of range at six-foot-three.”

On the other side of the ball, defensive end Juelz Byrd-Acuna is a “natural run stopper.” Junior defensive tackle Julian Montelongo was an all-district honorable mention last season.

Sophomore Ray Sabala may be young, but he’s a “physically gifted linebacker.” Safety Josiah Vela has great football IQ and the athleticism you want on the back end of a defense.

Head coach Sergio Gonzalez and his Texans have a simple goal heading into 2025. They “plan to upset people” in District 22-6A.

Pasadena South Houston Trojans

Head Coach: Lamont Mayberry (1st season)

Last Season: 3-7; 3-5 in district

Returning Lettermen: 16 (5 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

South Houston Key Players and Storylines

After Patrick Longstreet was promoted to Pasadena ISD athletic director, the Trojans named Lamont Mayberry as their new head football coach. Mayberry had already been on staff as the Trojans’ defensive coordinator.

They’ll have a strong foundation on the offensive line with a couple of returning starters including tackle Alan Bello, who is a “dominant run blocker.”

Quarterback La’Kee Baker is a “dynamic playmaker” with his dual threat ability. Defenses will have to keep tabs on receiver Tyren Brewster. He has the ability to “take any reception the distance.”

Xavier Muhammad just shifted to defensive end last year. With a year of experience now under his belt, “he’s expected to be dominant in 2025.” Colleges agree. He’s currently a four-star prospect.

Linebacker Jose Godoy has a knack for “always making the right play.” Brewster will make just as big of an impact defensively too. He led the team in tackles last year from his defensive back position.

The Trojans have a number of players who don’t have varsity experience. However, with the ability to lean on the experience they have in the trenches on both sides of the ball, Mayberry is hopeful his team can compete for a playoff spot this year.

Pearland Oilers

Head Coach: B.J. Gotte (4th season; 24-11 record)

Last Season: 9-3; 7-1 in district (Lost to AtascocTita in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 21 (5 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)

Pearland Key Players and Storylines

The Oilers have now won playoff games in back-to-back years.

Their offense averaged 40.5 points per game last fall, and it has some firepower again this year. Quarterback Jake Westmoreland is the unquestioned leader of the offense (1,661 passing yards and 21 touchdowns). There’s no question who his number one target is either. Explosive receiver Jordan Hernandez (1,094 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns) can put on a show on Friday nights.

Junior guard Colby Rao will bring experience and physicality to the interior of that offensive line. He’ll pair well with Pittsburgh commit tackle Nicholas Howard.

The front seven defensively will be the strength of this Oiler team. Oklahoma State commit defensive end Jaylen Stewart leads the way. He was a frequent visitor to opponent’s backfields last season (57 tackles, 13 TFLs). Fellow defensive lineman DeMarco Jenkins was the district’s co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year last season.

Not much will get by the linebacking duo of Joseph Credit (77 tackles, nine TFLs) and Anthony DeLeon (92 tackles).

And if anything does slip by, safety Ezekiel Alkire (80 tackles, eight TFLs) has proven himself to be a reliable tackler as well. Alkire’s experience will be crucial with a couple of new starters stepping up on the back end.

Pearland has come close but has yet to win an outright district title under B.J. Gotte. That’s the goal for 2025 as the Oilers look to continue make some noise in the playoffs.

Pearland Dawson Eagles

Head Coach: Mike Allison (8th season; 52-26 record)

Last Season: 6-4; 5-3 in district

Returning Lettermen: 15 (4 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)

Dawson Key Players and Storylines

Dawson came out on the wrong end of a three-way tiebreaker last year, missing the playoffs for just the second time in its 17-year varsity football history.

This year’s group has been leaning on Proverbs 27:17, which states “iron sharpens iron.” That hard work and unity is going to be big after the Eagles lost some key players to graduation.

Both junior Corey Brown (761 receiving yards and four TDs) and senior Josiah McFarland (123 receiving yards and two TDs) are going to see a lot of snaps this year. Brown will play receiver, where he led the Eagles last season, and at corner, while McFarland can line up both at receiver and safety.

Junior offensive lineman Carter Ceasar started all ten games last year. Head coach Mike Allison said his work ethic will make him a “leader in the program.”

There’s even more versatility on defense. Bryson Flynn (21 tackles) has played both outside linebacker and safety at Dawson. He’s blazing quick, running the 100 meter dash in 10.6 seconds. Cornerback Dylan Wilturner (34 tackles and one INT) brings physicality to the secondary. He won’t back down from going up against other teams’ top receivers.

Linebacker James Higgins (45 tackles, five TFLs) is Dawson’s leading returning tackler. He consistently makes his presence felt on inside runs.

Allison said this year “will bring some challenges in a tough district.” But with the way he has seen his team become family this year, he’s confident they can push back up the standings and compete for a district title this fall.


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