District 14-6A continues to run through Spring Westfield. The Mustangs earned their fourth-straight district title a year ago.
However, there was one big switch up as Aldine Davis broke through for its first playoff appearance since 2018. Could there be more excitement to come this fall?
Here’s what to watch for in District 14-6A.
Aldine Mustangs
Head Coach: Cirilo Ojeda (4th season; 4-26 record)
Last Season: 2-8; 0-7 in district play
Aldine Key Players and Storylines
Aldine has now won a pair of games the past two seasons. It’s the first time they’ve won multiple games in back to back seasons since 2014 and 2015. Progress is being made but the Mustangs still have some work to do in order to compete with their District 14-6A bunkmates. They scored just 14 points in their seven district games last year.
It will take a new group to get the train back going in the right direction this season. The Mustangs graduated their quarterback and three leading receivers. Senior receiver Oscar Perla (40 receiving yards) is the leading returner when it comes to production from a year ago.
Christian Howard, Christian Medina, and Francisco Calidonio all are returning lettermen on the offensive line.
Safety Damarion Parish is the star of the roster. He was a first team all-district pick as just a sophomore.
Head coach Cirilo Ojeda and his staff will have been working these past couple months to replace the senior leaders they lost from last season. They’ll look to compete for all 48 minutes each week as they search for their first district win in ten seasons.
Aldine Davis Falcons
Head Coach: Kelvin Chatham (3rd season; 11-10 record)
Last Season: 6-5; 5-2 in district (Lost to Conroe in bi-district)
Aldine Davis Key Players and Storylines
The Falcons soared back into the playoffs for the first time since 2018 a year ago.
Birds do like to fly, but it’s Davis’ ground game that will be its specialty again this year with Prairie View A&M commit Nicholas Tramble. Dual threat junior quarterback Darrell Haynes Jr. (286 passing yards and five touchdowns) saw some time under center last year, but he’s set to be the main man this year.
In front of that dynamic backfield, the offensive line does have three all-district starters to replace, but junior Deleon Carmouche was a second team all-district selection last season.
Defensively, senior defensive end Caedyn Daughtry (36 tackles, 16 TFLs) is a huge pass rushing threat, while McKinley Blackshire (24 tackles) is Davis’ anchor at nose guard.
Safety Kayden Gilbert (49 tackles, three TFLs) is their leading returning tackler. He was a first team all-district pick last season.
As Davis heads into year three under Kelvin Chatham, familiarity with his schemes only continues to grow. That bodes well for the Falcons as they chase their second-straight playoff berth this fall.
Aldine Eisenhower Eagles
Head Coach: Padriac McGinnis (1st season)
Last Season: 5-5; 2-5 in district
Returning Lettermen: 19; (3 returning starters on offense; 4 on defense)
Eisenhower Key Players and Storylines
Houston Heights offensive line coach Padriac McGinnis takes over the Eisenhower program in 2025. He has previous head coaching experience having led Fort Bend Hightower for seven years.
Just seven starters return from last year’s team. Junior running back Elijah Dixon will lead the charge after earning second team all-district honors in 2024. Senior Jason Washington will be a playmaker to watch at receiver with his route running ability.
Junior Lamarion Harris will spearhead the offensive line.
Defensively, the Eagles can lean on senior duo Braylon Alvis and Marcus Potts at linebacker. Defensive tackle Isaiah Jackson will help cause problems in the interior with his “violent hands”, while senior Braylon South will lead the secondary after being an all-district player in 2024.
It has been three years since Eisenhower last made the playoffs. McGinnis will look to get this program working back towards that goal in his first year in charge.
Aldine MacArthur Generals
Head Coach: Blake Ware (2nd season; 2-8 record)
Last Season: 2-8; 1-6 in district
MacArthur Key Players and Storylines
MacArthur has now had a full offseason under Blake Ware. He hopes that will pay off in year two as he looks to turn things around at his alma mater. The Generals will be searching for their first playoff playoff berth since 2019.
Their offense should keep defenses on its toes thanks to quarterback Lance Nero. He’s a dynamic quarterback who had a breakout sophomore season in 2024 (1,029 passing yards, 533 rushing yards, and 15 total touchdowns).
Receiver Julian Ponce (398 receiving yards and two touchdowns) will be the player to watch at the skill positions.
Defensively, the Generals lost both their all-district players from a year ago. However, they do have safety Treavon Allen to bring some senior leadership on the back end.
A year ago, MacArthur scored its most points in a single season since 2019. Ware will hope to keep seeing those gains on the field this fall in his second year at the helm.
Aldine Nimitz Cougars
Head Coach: Cornelius Harmon (4th season; 21-12 record)
Last Season: 7-4; 4-3 in district (Lost to The Woodlands in bi-district)
Nimitz Key Players and Storylines
The Cougars made some school history a year ago. They’ve now made the playoffs for four-straight years for the first time ever.
There should be no drop off this season with last year’s District MVP Albert Brown (2,283 passing yards and 26 touchdowns) back at quarterback. He’s got a pair of all-district receivers helping him out as well with seniors Malachi Augustus (716 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns) and Kaden Phillips (505 receiving yards and six touchdowns).
Senior offensive lineman Sincere Williams is also back after earning second team all-district honors in 2024.
Defensively, cornerback Emmitt Hines is comfortable on an island with his one-on-one coverage ability. Nickel Jaylen Jackson and fellow cornerback Jevohn Hicks bring plenty of experience after strong 2024 campaigns.
This year, Nimitz is going to lean on the pass offensively and stop the pass defensively. They have the talent to do both very well as they aim for that fifth-straight playoff berth.
Spring Lions
Head Coach: Freddie Strange (1st season)
Last Season: 5-6; 5-2 in district (Lost to Willis in bi-district)
Returning Lettermen: 13 (4 returning starters on offense; 3 on defense)
Spring Key Players and Storylines
Freddie Strange Jr. takes over at Spring on an interim basis for 2025. Strange had most recently been serving as Spring’s defensive coordinator.
He’s excited to see what the defense will look like this season. Despite just three returning starters, Strange likes the group of sophomores and juniors Spring has moving up from junior varsity. Senior defensive lineman Jonah Espinosa will be tasked with leading this group of young guns. He was a first team all-district pick last year.
In the secondary, look for the Lions to lean on junior Jante Daniel (45 tackles). He’s Spring’s returning leading tackler.
Offensively, Strange believes junior quarterback Jadarius Amos is poised for a breakout season as he takes over the Lion offense. He’s a “natural leader” with a “strong arm.” He’ll have some experience alongside him in senior running back Emanuel Bowen (388 rushing yards and three touchdowns).
Up front, the experience will come from senior Jacob Davis, who is another returning starter.
The Lions have made the postseason each of the past two years. Strange expects them to use that momentum to their advantage in 2025 as they compete for another top four spot.
Spring Dekaney Wildcats
Head Coach: Anthony Williams (13th season; 66-61 record)
Last Season: 4-6; 4-3 in district
Dekaney Key Players and Storylines
A seven-point loss to Nimitz in the season finale last fallmeant Dekaney missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They’ll expect to return to their standard of playing into November this year.
They will lean on a backfield that has both highly touted sophomore running back CJ Chizer (310 rushing yards and five touchdowns) and rising senior running back Samaritan Cunningham. Both are Division I prospects. Fellow senior David Edmondson (1,105 passing yards, 503 rushing yards, and 15 total touchdowns) was a dual threat at quarterback last year, and he can also play receiver for the Wildcats if need be.
Defensively, safety Cordey Sherman, last year’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 14-6A, is another sophomore getting national attention. Keep an eye on defensive end Javien Bedford as well. He also saw plenty of playing time as a freshman in 2024.
One concern for Dekaney will be in the trenches where the Wildcats graduated four all-district offensive linemen. If they can build a foundation up front, there will be young talent to take advantage of it all over the roster.
Spring Westfield Mustangs
Head Coach: Dez Black (2nd season; 8-3 record)
Last Season: 8-3; 7-0 in district (Lost to College Park in bi-district)
Returning Lettermen: 24; (3 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
Westfield Key Players and Storylines
Dez Black had his interim tag removed this offseason after leading the Mustangs to a district title a year ago.
However, this group was left with a pit in their stomach this offseason after losing to College Park 16-13 in the bi-district round.
They’ll be young this year with just eight returning starters, but they will be hungry. It’ll start with a defense that held opponents to just 17 points per game last year.
Linebacker Davon Smith will be that unit’s anchor. He is a sure tackler and has a “commanding presence” despite being just a junior.
Up front, the Mustangs have a stable full of talented defensive linemen. DeMarcus Marks (27 tackles, eight TFLs) is set for a “breakout senior year” at defensive end while Jordin Jones (36 tackles, six TFLs) is another “elite pass rusher” off the edge. Antonio Underwood (25 tackles, five TFLs) can play any position on the defensive line.
Kaden Jacobs will be Westfield’s last line of defense at safety. He’s both good in coverage and a reliable tackler.
Offensively, “explosive runner” Demonte Ford (855 rushing yards and five TDs) is ready to take on the number one running back role this year after splitting time last year. Emmanuel Yancy (574 receiving yards and five TDs) brings some shiftiness to the Mustang receiving corps. He is a three-year lettermen, and led Westfield in receiving yards last fall.
Up front, Sebastian Dawkins will be the “leader and anchor of the offensive line.”
Westfield has earned at least a share of the district title in 12 of the past 13 seasons. The Mustangs are determined to maintain that standard under this new staff and young group of players as they aim to build off of last year’s regular seasons success.