6A

Fort Bend Ridge Point Panthers 2026 Season Preview

by
Adam Ogburn
August 4

Fort Bend Ridge Point Panthers

Head Coach: Rick LaFavers (7th season; 49-14 record)

Last Season: 11-1; 7-0 in district (Lost to North Shore in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 32 (4 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)

Ridge Point Key Players and Storylines

Ridge Point has been unbeatable in district play under head coach Rick LaFavers. Literally. The Panthers have not dropped a district game since October 17, 2019. Last season, they went undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 2016.

However, LaFavers believes that was the most talented team in Ridge Point history with 14 players heading off to play Division I football.

That’s not to say the cupboard is empty. Double-digit players on Ridge Point’s roster already have Division I offers heading into this season. That includes playmaking receivers Suhaib Ramseur (339 receiving yards and five touchdowns) and junior Caiden Lawrence (253 receiving yards and three touchdowns). Quarterback Brody Bartee is also back to run the show after throwing for 2,098 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. The real question on offense will lie with the run game where the Panthers are replacing their starting running back and three Power Four offensive linemen.

Junior Season Highlights✝️
11-1 Record
Stats-
– 2,145 yards
– 27 tds
– 4 int
– (119/189)- 62% completion @Coach_LaFavers @Coach_SG @CoachSethHarris @CoachKScholz @RPHS_FB @TheQBTech pic.twitter.com/I5DoZKyv38

— BrodyBartee (@BarteeBrody) December 1, 2025

Defensively, the Panthers will be incredibly stout with eight returning starters. Linebacker Dyllon Bennett (77 tackles, nine TFLs) is a four-year starter and the first-ever three-year team captain in Ridge Point history. He’s joined at linebacker by junior Brayden Bonik (58 tackles, 10 TFLs), who’s a national talent with over 40 offers, and rising talent junior Khalen Taylor (37 tackles, 6.5 TFLs).

In the secondary, safety Bryson Dossett has one of the fastest 110 meter hurdle times in the nation, while fellow safety Aaron Williams (56 tackles, three TFLs) has great size and physicality at 6’1” and 200 pounds. Up front, junior defensive end Chris Racey (46 tackles, seven sacks) is a legit pass rushing threat after taking home the district’s defensive lineman of the year last season.

One wrinkle of realignment saw Strake Jesuit join the Fort Bend schools in District 21-6A. If Strake can make the playoffs along with either Travis or Elkins, Ridge Point would go Division II. If that happens, LaFavers believes the Panthers could be a dark horse to reach state if they can stay healthy and take care of the football.