District 23-6A was arguably the best district in the state last season. All four of its playoff teams made it to the regional finals last season, where they faced off against each other.
There’s a very real chance a state champion comes out of this district this season.
Here’s what to watch for in District 23-6A.
Baytown Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
Head Coach: Jay’Mond Cleveland (1st season)
Last Season: 0-10; 0-7 in district
Returning Lettermen: 20 (6 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
Goose Creek Memorial Key Players and Storylines
Jay’Mond Cleveland takes over at Goose Creek Memorial. He was most recently an assistant at Aldine Nimitz, but he has Baytown roots, having graduated from Lee High School.
He’s got some playmakers to work with offensively. Joshua Babin (426 receiving yards and two touchdowns) is a firework waiting to explode, so expect him to get as many touches as possible. Junior quarterback Ricco Richards Jr. (1,246 passing yards and nine touchdowns) is a dual threat, who has great football IQ. He’s back for his second year behind center.
Closer angle of my touchdown @GcmPatriot @GCMFBRecruiting @CoachJP3 @JordanDavisUNT @TrustMyEyesO @Thamannjr @iCoachNash pic.twitter.com/uNbDS6ygLn
— Joshua Babin (@JoshuaBabin26) October 8, 2024
He’ll have a good foundation to lean on up front with senior offensive tackle Luis Amaya and guard Alonzo Martinez. Martinez is especially impactful in opening holes for the Patriot rushing attack.
Defensive back Jorie Mitchell will be the leader of the secondary with the way he reads the game.
In the front seven, linebacker Mario Jackson is the team’s leading returning tackler, while defensive Robert Rollins can “put pressure on any offense.”
Cleveland and his staff have loved the work ethic they’ve seen from their players since they took over. They have seen their guys compete “in every area of their program.” Now, they want that to carry over to the fall as they look to battle for all 48 minutes week in and week out.
Channelview Falcons
Head Coach: Averion Hurts (20th season; 73-119 record)
Last Season: 1-9; 1-6 in district
Returning Lettermen: 17 (7 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)
Channelview Key Players and Storylines
The Falcons had their streak of four-straight playoff berths snapped last year as they crashed back down to Earth with a 1-9 campaign.
If they’re to soar this season, it will start in the trenches with an experienced offensive line. Jimmy Garner is a three-year starter and will be relied upon to lead that unit.
Junior quarterback Roderick Buckler is a “really smart player.” Expect him to turn the way of junior receiver Davion Vanderbilt a lot. With Vanderbilt’s “size, speed, and hands,” head coach Averion Hurts believes he’s due for a big year.
Week 1: New beginnings, same drive. pic.twitter.com/7kYYpgpIwh
— Davion Vanderbilt (@Vanderbilt12_D) September 2, 2024
Another player Hurts is high on is strong safety Dale Taylor. He “is physical in the run game” and has great size at 6’1″ and 205 pounds. In the front seven, linebacker Jon Wiley is a “smart, athletic player,” while defensive end Le Deric Keller can get after it and is a “really physical player.”
With only 17 returning lettermen, the Falcons need to develop some depth heading into the season. But after finishing with just that one win last year, this group will have plenty of motivation as they look to improve in 2025.
Galena Park North Shore Mustangs
Head Coach: Willie Gaston (3rd season; 29-2 record)
Last Season: 14-1; 7-0 in district (Lost to Westlake in state semifinals)
North Shore Key Players and Storylines
Willie Gaston has taken North Shore to the state championship and state semifinals in his two seasons leading the Mustangs. Not bad, but at North Shore the goal every year is a state championship.
Do-it-all quarterback Kaleb Bailey has graduated, but senior Utah State commit Kaleb Maryland (688 passing yards and five touchdowns) is more than ready to take over as signal-caller. He’s also a dual threat.
Most of North Shore’s skill production graduated, including four of its top five receivers. Senior Dorian Barnes (370 receiving yards and two touchdowns) is poised for a breakthrough year as the leading returner in that receivers room.
Defensively, the Mustangs are going to be hard to handle in the trenches with Louisiana Tech commit defensive tackle Zaqwaun Nunn, a Clear Springs transfer, defensive end Xavier Waters, and promising sophomore defensive tackle Jayden Johnson, who can also play offensive tackle.
Za’Qwaun Nunn Nose tackle
99# Junior Season highlightsDefensive district MVP
90 tackles
23tfls
8sacks@RecruitEastside @coachgcross https://t.co/1Nu7vPOCaa— Zaqwaun Nunn (@ZaqwaunNunn) March 26, 2025
Behind them, linebacker Dezmon Christian is a returning first team all-district selection.
The Mustangs have a lot of production to replace from a year ago, but this is a program that just reloads year after year. 2025 should be no different.
Humble Wildcats
Head Coach: Robert Murphy (3rd season; 9-11 record)
Last Season: 5-5; 2-5 in district
Returning Lettermen: 25 (5 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
Humble Key Players and Storylines
Robert Murphy is excited about “the young energetic group” he has this year who “do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
Just under half their starters are back from last year’s 5-5 campaign.
Junior Vincent Joseph will be the new starter at quarterback, but Murphy has great confidence in his arm talent. Among his weapons will be junior receiver Jayden Heaton, who should make a jump this season.
Murphy believes the trenches will be a strength on both sides of the ball. Senior Kemarion McGee will anchor the offensive line from his guard position while defensive end Dallen Grant (25 tackles, six TFLs) will lead the defense up front with his pass rushing ability.
Linebacker Kyran Wahsington is another junior who will play a big role this year. On the back end, Sam Houston State commit Marcus Bourda Jr. (40 tackles, two INTs) is a playmaker with “great ball skills.” He played some receiver last year too.
HUMBLE in victory, gracious in defeat💜#ProtectTheH pic.twitter.com/zCWgBfo9KN
— Marcus Bourda Jr (@MarcusBourdajr2) September 9, 2024
It has now been six years since Humble last made the playoffs. Murphy has been emphasizing to his guys the importance of “controlling what they can control” as they look to get back to the dance this fall.
Humble Atascocita Eagles
Head Coach: Craig Stump (14th season; 133-33 record)
Last Season: 12-2; 6-1 in district (Lost to North Shore in regional final)
Returning Lettermen: 20 (3 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)
Atascocita Key Players and Storylines
Atascocita continues to churn out regional final appearances. The Eagles have now made it to the fourth round of playoffs seven times in the last nine years.
If they’re to do that again this year, it’s going to take some young players stepping up. Only eight starters return from last season’s team.
Offensively, the Eagles are going to want to ground and pound teams into oblivion. Arizona State commit Cardae Mack (1,864 passing yards, 1,918 rushing yards and 40 total touchdowns) played quarterback last year and will lead the backfield while CJ Toney will serve as a hybrid option as both a rusher and receiver (532 receiving yards, 126 rushing yards).
Cardae “Mack Attack” (@cardaemack33) keeps it, scores, and gives #16 Atascocita the lead again over #8 North Shore. (TX)💪 @AHSEagleFB @uiltexas pic.twitter.com/t0kjOTq3tj
— NFHS Network (@NFHSNetwork) October 26, 2024
Defensively, the Eagles have quite the duo in their secondary with highly touted junior cornerback Trenton Blaylock and playmaking safety Tavon Bolden.
Linebacker Rayvon Sauls was a second team all-district selection a year ago.
Despite the roster turnover, head coach Craig Stump is confident in the tradition that has been established in Atascocita. He believes with the athleticism and toughness his players have, they can push for a district title and a deep playoff run again this fall.
Humble Summer Creek Bulldogs
Head Coach: Kenny Harrison (8th season; 60-30 record)
Last Season: 12-3; 5-2 in district (Lost to Vandegrift in state semifinals)
Summer Creek Key Players and Storylines
Want a testament to how tough District 23-6A is? Summer Creek finished third last season and then promptly went on a run all the way to the state semifinals.
The Bulldogs’ star quarterback Blake Thomas graduated, but junior Noah Spinks is ready to fill that void after transferring in from Flower Mound. The depth he has to work with in the receivers room is off the charts. Juniors Benny Easter Jr. (987 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns) and Tre Brown (527 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) and seniors Holden Miller (740 receiving yards and ten touchdowns) and Jamicah Jones (662 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) all return.
There’s also a potential two-headed monster in the backfield with juniors Keshawn Jackson (548 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) and Braylin Causey (476 rushing yards and nine touchdowns).
On the other side of the ball, defensive end Amontre Harris (52 tackles, 18 TFLs) and linebacker Joseph Carroll (69 tackles, 10 TFLs) are two playmakers off the edge. Fellow linebacker Tyson Joiner (98 tackles) is Mr. Reliable in the middle of the field.
Mid-Season ,run it up click link for full tape https://t.co/BYMFnD9Bdl pic.twitter.com/r8DAkRazVj
— Amontre Harris (@AmontreHarris) October 10, 2024
Summer Creek also has a pair of ballhawks at cornerback in Texas State commit Marrel Davis (37 tackles) and standout junior Caleb White (11 tackles, four INTs).
A quarterback is just about all Summer Creek needed and Spinks moving in could be the final piece to their puzzle. The Bulldogs should be a threat to make another deep playoff run again this fall.
Kingwood Mustangs
Head Coach: Cale Melton (6th season; 20-34 record)
Last Season: 9-5; 4-3 in district (Lost to Summer Creek in regional final)
Returning Lettermen: 21 (5 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)
Kingwood Key Players and Storylines
Kingwood is back. After a five year playoff drought, Kingwood didn’t just make the postseason last year. The Mustangs went all the way to regional final, their furthest run since 1990.
This year’s group will rely heavily on their junior class, which will be looking to build off the foundation laid by the Class of 2025.
On the offensive line, it’s one Division I prospect in for another. After Hayden Wright graduated and headed to Northwestern, junior offensive tackle Kennedy Brown is ready to lead in the trenches. At 6’5″ and 290 pounds, “he plays a physical and nasty brand of football.”
2027 Kingwood OL Kennedy Brown @Kennedybrown75 | @TA_Recruiting pic.twitter.com/2Z9EIMzjkB
— Cade Draughon (@Cade_Draughon) April 13, 2025
Quarterback Landon Hinson (935 passing yards and 14 touchdowns) was the district’s Newcomer of the Year last season. However, he missed the playoffs due to injury, so the Mustangs are thrilled to have him back healthy for 2025. Trysten Laughlin will be sliding to tight end from quarterback. He’s a “highly athletic player at 6’5″ and 220 pounds.” The Mustang coaching staff believes he could be in for a big year.
Defensively, the Mustangs will be strongest in the secondary. Opposing quarterbacks need to know where safety Sam Peterson (38 tackles) is at all times. He had seven interceptions a year ago.
Linebacker Cade Haug had a team-record 153 tackles in 2024. He’ll also be called upon to play some running back as well this season. Up front, the Mustangs will turn to junior Gideon Colby to step up on the defensive line. He “flashed when he had his opportunity” on last year’s senior heavy unit.
Kingwood inserted itself into the statewide conversation for the first time in years last fall. Now, they’ll aim to re-create that magic this season as they rely on the culture they established in 2024.
Sheldon King Panthers
Head Coach: Cory Laxen (1st season)
Last Season: 5-5; 3-4 in district
Returning Lettermen: 23 (7 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)
C.E. King Key Players and Storylines
Cory Laxen takes over at C.E. King after George Young stepped down over the offseason. Laxen played in college as an offensive lineman at Rice, and had most recently been the Panthers’ associate head coach.
He’s got a lot of familiar faces to work with this year. Seven starters are back on both sides of the ball.
Running back Dionne Sims (1,047 rushing yards and 13 TDs), a Stephen F. Austin commit, is ready to be the bell cow again this year with his experience and leadership. Junior Antwon Sanders (342 rushing yards and six touchdowns) is also attracting Division I attention and should form quite the one-two punch with Sims.
They also have reliable options in the passing attack. Senior Le’Jerric Clark (336 receiving yards and three touchdowns) and junior Braylon Lane (260 receiving yards and four touchdowns) are C.E. King’s top two returning receivers.
Center/tackle Xavier Goode understands the whole offensive line and will be the Panthers’ leader in the trenches.
Defensive end Domonic Toulon (71 tackles, 25 TFLs) is C.E. King’s primary playmaker defensively. Defensive Omarion Smith will help plug holes in the interior. Physical defensive back Dwight Wiley (29 tackles) will be eager to build on a strong junior season where he earned second team all-district honors.
This year’s C.E. King group is all in, according to Laxen. They will have some sophomores stepping up in a couple of key positions, but after missing the playoffs for the first time in seven years in 2024, they’re determined to get back to winning ways this season.
