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2025 District 7-6A Season Preview

Austin Roof Inspection


The Irving and Richardson schools will do battle along with Dallas Jesuit in District 7-6A.

Last year, three of this district’s four playoff teams made it into the area round.

Now, the three Irving schools each only won one district game last year, so they’ll be looking to close the gap on the top five this season.

Here’s what to watch for in District 7-6A season.

Dallas Jesuit Rangers

Head Coach: Brandon Hickman (15th season; 110-56 record)

Last Season: 6-5; 5-2 in district (Lost to Arlington Bowie in bi-district round)

Dallas Jesuit Key Players and Storylines

The Rangers have now made the playoffs for six-straight seasons, although last year was their first time losing in the bi-district round since 2020.

Dual threat star quarterback Charlie Peters has graduated, so the Rangers have a void in the backfield to fill. They’ll have to lean on Shane Parker to provide a spark. He can do a little bit of everything for the Rangers (207 rushing yards and 209 receiving yards). Harlan Beucler is another electric athlete out at receiver. He finished fourth in the 200 meters at the 6A track meet in May.

Gabriel James (96 tackles) will be the Rangers’ rock at linebacker. He was a first team all-district selection last year. Expect nose guard Parker Sherman (61 tackles) to be disruptive up front.

Jesuit graduated a lot from three all-district offensive linemen to another eight players defensively who earned an all-district honorable mention or better. However, the Rangers have been as consistent as they come over the years under Hickman, so don’t expect much of a drop off on the field this fall.

Irving Tigers

Head Coach: Brent Nickerson (3rd season; 1-19 record)

Last Season: 1-9; 1-6 in district

Returning Lettermen: 20 (4 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)

Irving Key Players and Storylines

Last year was full of growing pains for Irving as it played a number of young players. Now, Brent Nickerson believes that experience will give them some “confidence and hunger” heading into 2025.

Chief among those young players are junior receiver/running back Napoleon Proctor, who is a consistent big play threat with his speed, and sophomore running back Jayson Evans. Evans already has a year of starting experience under his belt and brings great vision to the backfield.

Expect senior offensive lineman Alexander Robles and junior defensive tackle Jacob Henderson to be the leaders in the trenches on either side of the ball.

The Irving defense does return seven starters and appears to be strongest at linebacker with the tandem of Kaetun James and “field general” Taiden Jones.

Nickerson said this year’s group is already better than the Tigers were a year ago. Now, in his eyes, the next step will be changing the culture from “expecting to lose to believing we can win when adversity happens.”

Irving MacArthur Cardinals

Head Coach: Beck Nitcholas (5th season; 13-27 record)

Last Season: 3-7; 1-6 in district

Returning Lettermen: 20 (7 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

MacArthur Key Players and Storylines

The Cardinals are ready to fly through the air offensively this year, and they showed that by qualifying for the state 7-on-7 tournament for the first time in 23 years,

Wide receiver Banner Nitcholas (771 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) is MacArthur’s do-it-all guy. He’ll be the Cardinals “number one offensive threat” and can play some wildcat quarterback as well. Quarterback Brock Casas-Willis (1,305 passing yards and 15 touchdowns) will be looking to improve on a strong sophomore season.

It won’t be a one dimensional attack either. Running back Wyatt Davis (220 rushing yards and four touchdowns) is a bulldozer with the ball in his hands. He’s a two-time all-state wrestler as well.

Offensive lineman Andrew Silvan is a two-year starter and the most experienced player the Cardinals have in the trenches.

On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Archie Mitchell is “very hard to block.” Davis will play some linebacker as well.

The secondary though is the Cardinals’ strength. Safety Jayden Ngetich is “one of MacArthur’s best cover guys, and he’ll have two playmakers alongside him at strong safety with Jordan Seaworth and Nitcholas, who will go both ways.

Cornerback Rolando King has great instincts on the ball, and led MacArthur in interceptions last year.

That defense will be key as they look to get the potentially explosive MacArthur offense the ball as much as possible.

It has now been ten years since the Cardinals last tasted the playoffs. However, head coach Beck Nitcholas expects this group to be in contention this season with the talent they have on both sides of the ball.

Irving Nimitz Vikings

Head Coach: Mark Small (4th season; 3-27 record)

Last Season: 1-9; 1-6 in district

Returning Lettermen: 7 (2 returning starters on offense; 3 on defense)

Nimitz Key Players and Storylines

Big changes are in store for the Vikings in 2025. Head coach Mark Small has confirmed that Nimitz will begin running the slot-T offense this fall, a change he says the program is fully brought into.

Not only is Nimitz learning a whole new system, they’ve got almost an entirely new roster too with just seven lettermen back from last year.

With the ground game emphasis of the slot-T, Nimitz will lean on running back Jevon Woolfolk a lot this year. He brings “speed, experience, and leadership” to the Viking backfield.

On the other side of the ball, sophomore defensive tackle Ke’Sean Price looks to be a bonafide star. He has great size at 6’1″ and 301 pounds and already has offers from UTEP and Texas State.

Despite his team’s inexperience, Small likes the physical toughness and strength they’ve shown in the offseason so far. With a new era of Nimitz football set to begin this fall, he wants to see his program win the city of Irving and “close the gap on the score board in a way that people outside of our locker room may next expect.”

Richardson Eagles

Head Coach: Kendrick Holloway (3rd season; 11-11 record)

Last Season: 7-5; 4-3 in district (Lost to Allen in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 23 (6 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)

Richardson Key Players and Storylines

2024 was a huge year for the Eagles. Not only did they make it back to the playoffs for the first time in four years but they also scored their first playoff win since 1992.

The Eagles did graduate 38 players from that barrier-breaking team, but they still do return half of their starters from a year ago.

Opposing defenses will have to plan for senior receiver Dameon Crowe (1,228 receiving yards and 14 TDs), a Texas State commit. He’s got explosive speed with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and great hands. His quarterback Lucas Sawyer is back as well. Head coach Kendrick Holloway believes he’s poised to take another step forward this fall.

Up front, junior Jasper Ngokwere “will anchor the offensive line.” He’s another budding star with over 15 Division I offers.

The Eagles are just as strong in the trenches defensively too. Defensive tackle Jai’meon Winfield (22.5 TFLs, eight sacks) is another high profile Division I recruit. He’s “explosive off the ball” and led the Eagles in both sacks and tackles for loss in 2024.

Behind him, linebacker Michael Swanks is a great defender against both the run and pass, while cornerback Lovie Berry will be tasked with going against other teams’ top receivers. He’s a “long, rangy corner” with “great ball skills.”

Holloway is high on his team’s potential this year again. He believes that last year’s experience will be key as the Eagles look to build upon their breakthrough campaign.

Richardson Berkner Rams

Head Coach: Trey Bryant (5th season; 20-23 record)

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

Returning Lettermen: 15 (5 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

Berkner Key Players and Storylines

Berkner will learn whether raw talent can overcome a lack of experience this fall. The Rams have just 15 returning lettermen from last year’s team, but they’ve got a number of promising underclassmen ready to make an impact.

That starts out at receiver with junior Kamarri Davis, who can rack up yards after the catch in a hurry, and fellow junior Korde Foreman, Berkner’s big play threat. Both are getting Division I looks. Sophomores Brayden Spinks and Elijah Childress are ready to contribute as well.

Up front, center Jayin Talib has good size at 6’2″ and 255 pounds. He’ll go both ways for the Rams.

On the other side of the ball, Arizona State commit cornerback Daquwan Dunn is a do-it-all playmaker. He’ll line up alongside defensive back Mehki Jessie, another Ram who is catching the attention of programs at the next level.

In the front seven, Ricky McBride is Berkner’s most versatile player. He can play all over the defensive line and at linebacker too.

This year’s Berkner squad may be young, but head coach Trey Bryant believes it’ll be his best team yet during his time at Berkner. There may be some growing pains early on, but this group is set on getting back to the postseason after missing out a year ago.

Richardson Lake Highlands Wildcats

Head Coach: Cory Campbell (3rd season; 18-6 record)

Last Season: 9-3; 7-0 in district (Lost to Coppell in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 31 (3 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)

Lake Highlands Key Players and Storylines

Lake Highlands will be searching for at least a share of the district title for the third-straight year this fall, but the Wildcats will have to do it with almost an entirely new offense.

Just three starters return on that side of the ball. SMU commit Christian Rhodes (1,271 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns) will have to be a workhorse. He averaged over eight yards per carry in 2024.

Up front, Lake Highlands graduated three first team all-district offensive linemen from last year’s team. Junior tackle Mason Busch will be tasked with leading that unit this season.

On the other side of the ball, safety Lloyd Wyatt and linebacker Aaden Little are both three-year starters for the Wildcats. Both were first team all-district selections last year as were linebacker Jeremiah Jones and defensive lineman Peyton Nicholson.

Defensive lineman Jordan Kondoba, a second team all-district selection last year, should also make an impact in the trenches while safety Holden Layne should continue to improve after a promising sophomore campaign.

The Wildcat defense led the way a year ago, holding opponents to just 18 points per game. With its offensive roster turnover, Lake Highlands will need that unit to be just as strong this season as the Wildcats look to compete for another district title.

Richardson Pearce Mustangs

Head Coach: Jarrett Lambert (4th season; 19-13 record)

Last Season: 9-3; 6-1 in district (Lost to Arlington in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 37; (4 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)

Pearce Key Players and Storylines

The Mustangs broke through with their first playoff appearance in four years and first playoff win in six years last season.

Now, they’ve got their work cut out for them offensively after graduating their starting quarterback, running back, and top four receivers.

Offensive linemen Aaron Martinez (6’3″ and 245 pounds) and Brady Servin (6’6″ and 245 pounds) and tight end Austin Griggs will help form a foundation up front. All three bring experience as seniors and returning lettermen.

The defense is a different story with a solid core returning, especially in the secondary. Jeremiah Lyons is the playmaker to watch on the entire Mustang squad. He’s a tackling machine (111 tackles and 3 INTs), and also a major threat on special teams (two kickoff return touchdowns).

Fellow safety Josh Devadoss (28 tackles and two INTs) and cornerback Nate Kinder (62 tackles and four INTs) are two more ballhawks opposing quarterbacks will have to be weary of.

In the front seven, linebacker/defensive end Will Miltenberger can get after opposing backfields (48 tackles, seven sacks).

Pearce has plenty of momentum coming into 2025 after last year’s success. Head coach Jarrett Lambert expects his group to be competitive again this fall in district play as they aim for another playoff berth.


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