6A

Katy Cinco Ranch Cougars 2026 Season Preview

by
Adam Ogburn
August 5

Katy Cinco Ranch Cougars

Head Coach: Chris Dudley (8th season; 36-40 record)

Last Season: 8-4; 7-1 in district (Lost to Cypress Falls in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 23 (3 returning starters on offense; 5 on defense)

Cinco Ranch Key Players and Storylines

Cinco Ranch is back in business. The Cougars broke through in 2025 with their first playoff appearance and first playoff win in three years. Now, the question is whether they can repeat that feat after graduating 14 starters.

Among those graduates were their starting quarterback and all five offensive linemen.

However, the cupboard isn’t bare. Jacob Chevez is a Power Four level talent who set a school record with 16 touchdown receptions last year as a sophomore, while fellow junior Max Williams was just as productive with 48 catches for 710 yards. Senior running back Brayden Gonzalez (673 rushing yards and eight touchdowns) will also be a threat in the open field with his quickness and vision.

4 TDs, 7 receptions, 217 yards. Last game of the season. Headed to the playoffs — time to lock in! 🏆🔥@Coach__OMalley @vypehouston @MaxPreps @ChrisDudley40 @GumpMalott @LeKen10 @COACHJUICE_ @LoneStarPrepsTX @cincofb @iam_alinedouard @PrepRedzoneTX @coachgaitan @CRFB_Recruiting… pic.twitter.com/UP2rRjqXf6

— Jacob Chevez (@Jacob__Chevez) November 2, 2025

Defensively, Cinco Ranch’s strength will be in the secondary with football magnet safety Andrew Reagan (106 tackles). Their front seven has some punch too with Division I caliber players in linebacker Christian Jackson (44 tackles, eight FLs) and 6’2”, 230-pound junior defensive end Chinachi Iroha (29 tackles).

Dudley expects to learn a lot about his team in the early going with non-district games against back-to-back 5A Division I state champ Smithson Valley and Tomball. He believes those games will be exactly what his team needs to get up to speed as they expect to compete for a playoff spot again this fall.