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2025 District 16-6A Season Preview

Austin Roof Inspection


Bridgeland went back-to-back last year in the District 16-6A title race.

The real drama though is in the race for the final playoff spots. Cy Lakes is looking for its first-ever playoff berth, Waller is looking to snap an 11-year playoff drought, and Langham Creek hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018.

All three programs weren’t far off from the postseason last year.

Here’s what to watch for in District 16-6A.

Bridgeland Bears

Head Coach: Lonnie Madison (3rd season; 21-4 record)

Last Season: 12-2; 7-0 in district (Lost to Duncanville in regional final)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense; 3 on defense

Bridgeland Key Players and Storylines

Bridgeland had a tremendous 2024 season, advancing all the way to the regional final. The Bears have also won district titles in both years under Lonnie Madison.

Their backfield will be the strength of their offense. Tyler Begeal (986 passing yards and 13 TDs) started half of Bridgeland’s games last year at quarterback. He’s a three-year letterman, who is beginning to get looks from the Division I level.

Alongside him, the Bears have a two-headed monster at running back with junior Kash Schwab (1,668 rushing yards) and senior Alex Myers (800 rushing yards).

On the other side of the ball, opposing quarterbacks will have a tough time against this Bridgeland secondary. Nicholas Bright is a strong “cover corner and great tackler” while fellow cornerback Jordan Harris is “physical and fast.”

Safety Braiden Graves is exactly the type of player teams want on the back end. He’s a physical presence who was the district’s Newcomer of the Year in 2024.

With this being year three under Lonnie Madison, the players should be familiar with his systems. Their defense will need some new players to step into starting roles, but with the offense’s experience, the Bears will expect to be in the district title conversation again this year.

Cypress Lakes Spartans

Head Coach: Tyrone Carter (2nd season; 4-6 record)

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

Returning Lettermen: 22 (9 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)

Cypress Lakes Key Players and Storylines

Last fall, Cypress Lakes was within touching distance of its first-ever playoff berth in its 15-year history. The Spartans had two losses by seven points, the difference between a playoff berth and their fifth place finish they got instead.

However, there’s hope this can be the group that makes school history with 17 returning starters.

Cypress Lakes will have a strong senior class to lean on with standouts like receiver Courtney Lewis Jr., a good route runner, and quarterback Jimmy Alarcon (1,780 passing yards and 20 TDs), who has a high football IQ and great accuracy.

Center Quinn Dudley is a “hard worker and true leader.” He was a second team all-district honoree in 2024.

On the other side of the ball, linebacker De’Shaun Butler was all over the place last year with 136 total tackles. He plays “fast and physical.” Defensive lineman Corbin Phillips will be the Spartans’ enforcer in the trenches.

In the secondary, cornerback Amiri Barnes and safety Nate Davis (50 tackles) are quite the tandem with their high football IQ. Both were first team all-district picks last season.

The pieces are there for this to be a special season for Cypress Lakes. The question is can they put them together by finding a way to win close games. If they can do that, their first-ever playoff berth could be on the horizon this fall.

Cypress Park Tigers

Head Coach: Donald Lawrence (1st season)

Last Season: 0-10; 0-7 in district

Returning Lettermen: 17 (3 returning starters on offense; 3 on defense)

Cy Park Key Players and Storylines

The Tigers had their first coaching change ever this offseason. Donald Lawrence had been the head coach at Clear Lake the past two years. He replaces Greg Rogers, who departs after seven seasons.

Lawrence virtually has a clean slate to work with. Just three starters return on each side of the ball.

The offense has a good combination of size on the offensive line and hard runners behind them. Senior quarterback Nick Williams and running back Joel Garcia will run the backfield.

Guard Jonathan Roman is “strong and aggressive” and will lead that offensive line.

On the other side of the ball, the Tigers expect to be strong across the defensive line with Jaden Jones leading the way.

The secondary should be “solid” too with rangy defensive backs Forkum Chesami and Ta’Darion Mosley.

Cy Park still doesn’t have a ton of depth, and the Tigers are still settling in under Lawrence and his staff. However, he has confidence this group can snap a 31-game losing streak as they continue to get more familiar with their assignments throughout the season.

Cypress Ranch Mustangs

Head Coach: William Blaylock (2nd season; 8-4 record)

Last Season: 8-4; 5-2 in district (Lost to The Woodlands in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 34 (8 returning starters on offense; 3 on defense)

Cypress Ranch Key Players and Storylines

The Mustangs won their first playoff game in five years last season. Now, they’ll look to keep galloping along as they head into year two under head coach William Blaylock.

The offense returns the majority of its starters from last year. They’ve got a gunslinger leading the way in quarterback Braden Baker (897 passing yards and seven TDs). He’s got quite the target in William Blaylock II, a “long and athletic tight end.”

Running back Peyton Thomas (928 rushing yards and nine TDs) is back after pacing the Mustang backfield last season. Sophomore tackle R’Monie Edwards will pave the way for that backfield. “He’s a freakishly athletic offensive lineman who started ten games as a freshman.”

Defensively, the Mustangs are going to be a force in the front seven. Linebacker Calvin Thomas (69 tackles, 8.5 TFLs) has “game-changing talent,” while fellow linebacker Ayden Combs (68 tackles, 7.5 TFLs) is the “heartbeat of the defense” and is a three-year starter.

Amari Vickerson is a beast in the trenches. He can play multiple positions on the defensive line and has over 30 Division I offers.

Blaylock loves the work ethic he has seen from his team over the offseason. Combine that with their athletic ability, and the Mustangs should be able to make some noise in District 16-6A this year.

Cypress Springs Panthers

Head Coach: Oji Fagan (5th season; 22-20 record)

Last Season: 8-3; 5-2 in district (Lost to Tomball in bi-district)

Cypress Springs Key Players and Storylines

The Panthers have a chance to have a special season as they chase their first playoff win since 2003.

Senior athlete Paris Melvin Jr. (1,091 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns) is the player to know. He’s a Houston commit, who will lead the Panthers’ rushing attack and contribute as a receiver too.


It’s not a one man show though. Junior dual threat quarterback Jared Hagger (1,470 passing yards, 553 rushing yards, and 21 total touchdowns) is coming off a strong first year as a starter, and junior running back Yogi Martin (288 rushing yards and three touchdowns) can spell Melvin if needed.

Tackle Bryan Brooks brings some key experience on an offensive line that must replace three all-district players.

Defensively, the Panthers also return linebacker Jonathan Ijoma (100 tackles, 14.5 TFLs), their leading tackler from last season. He and senior Austen Mathews (45 tackles) will be a reliable duo in the middle of the field.

Junior cornerback Kameron Roberson is primed for a breakout junior year. He’s beginning to garner the attention of some Power Four programs.

The Panthers have made big strides under head coach Oji Fagan, snapping a 20-year playoff drought in 2023 before making the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time ever last season.

Next on their list is earning a playoff win, something that is certainly possible for this group with all its talent.

Note: Jarvis Spires is a standout defensive lineman for the Panthers. However, he suffered a heat stroke on July 5. The link to his GoFundMe is here

Cypress Woods Wildcats

Head Coach: Jeremy Hickman (1st season)

Last Season: 8-3; 5-2 in district (Lost to Klein Collins in bi-district)

Returning Lettermen: 27 (4 returning starers on offense; 4 on defense)

Cypress Woods Key Players and Storylines

The Jeremy Hickman era begins at Cypress Woods after Cody Simper left to take the head coaching job at Barbers Hill. Hickman had most recently been at Fort Stockton, where he led the Panthers to the playoffs all three seasons.

Cypress Woods only has eight starters back from last year’s team, but among those returners is quarterback Darien Rogers, the returning District 16-6A Offensive MVP.

He’ll have a security blanket in tight end Max Terral, who is a “physical blocker with good ball skills.” The Wildcats also have a plethora of options in their ground game with Rogers, powerful runner Frank Gomez (192 rushing yards and two TDs), and promising sophomore running back Cory McKenzie.

Linebacker/safety Keyan Pickett is Cypress Woods’ leading returning tackler. He’s got a “knack for creating turnovers” and will be a key leader along with linebacker/defensive end Tommy Strickland. With those two in the front seven, Hickman believes the Wildcats should be strong against the run this season.

When other teams turn to the air, cornerback David Brown III will be tasked with playing man on man against the best opposing receiver.

The Wildcats have to replace basically all their receivers from a year ago, so they will be young at this offensive skill positions. However, Hickman believes if his guys can get better week after week, they should be able to push towards their goal of making it back to the playoffs again this season.

Langham Creek Lobos

Head Coach: Todd Thompson (17th season; 94-76 record)

Last Season: 4-6; 1-6 in district play

Langham Creek Key Players and Storylines

A quick glimpse at Langham Creek’s 2024 record doesn’t tell the full story of its season. The Lobos weren’t far off from their first playoff berth since 2018. Four of their six district losses were by seven points or less.

The Lobos have to replace much of their offensive production, but they’ve got players waiting in the wings.

Junior running back Jordan King (305 rushing yards and three touchdowns) is a player that can make things happen. He’s ready to be the main man in the backfield after playing second fiddle a year ago. Senior quarterback Andre Salazar will get the keys to the offense this season. He transfers in from Aldine Davis after throwing for 1,200 yards for the Falcons a year ago.

On the other side of the ball, everyone needs to know about defensive end Ezekiel Ayangbile. He’s a major recruit, whose explosiveness is evident. He broke Langham Creek’s all-time squat record late in the offseason.

Junior linebacker Jhadyn Nelson was one of Langham Creek’s leading tacklers last season. Senior defensive back Cameron Wyatt will be a ballhawk for the Lobos on the back end.

Langham Creek has won exactly either four or five games in each of the past five seasons, so the Lobos have been knocking on the door of the playoffs. They’ll be hopeful this fall is finally the year they break that door down.

Waller Bulldogs

Head Coach: Marcus Mendoza (4th season; 6-24 record)

Last Season: 4-6; 2-5 in district

Returning Lettermen: 20 (11 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)

Waller Key Players and Storylines

Waller is ready to come out firing this season. The Bulldogs had their winningest year in three seasons last fall, and they return every starter from an offense that averaged 31 points per game.

Waller struck gold with quarterback TK Gaines. He had a phenomenal freshman year in 2024 and will be the leader of the Bulldog offense this year. He’ll have senior running back Robert Carter back alongside him with his mix of speed and strength.

Center Isaiah Taboada will keep the Bulldogs on the same page in the trenches. He may be Waller’s smallest offensive lineman, but “he plays like he is seven feet tall.”

Ty Tryon will be the leader of the defensive line. He’s a three-year starter who “can create havoc up front.” Junior linebacker Eric Geigley is another returning starter. Head coach Marcus Mendoza said he “is only getting better” and will make a “huge impact” on the Waller defense this year.

On the back end, cornerback David Brown III moved in from Cypress Woods after earning first team all-district honors. He’s “able to close off a side of the field” with his shutdown coverage ability.

Waller will be installing a new defense this year, so there may be some growing pains on that side of the ball. However, the Bulldog offense has the power to carry this team to success.

Mendoza believes with that talent, the Bulldogs can continue edging closer to their first playoff berth 11 years this fall.


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