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District 27-6A Season Preview

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27-6A is nearly identical to what 28-6A was last year with the departure of San Antonio Marshall the lone change. That means it’s eight teams battling for the four playoff spots this year.

Among the storylines to watch: three teams have new head coaches while Johnson and Reagan are looking to build off their playoff victories from a year ago.

Here’s what to watch for in District 27-6A.

San Antonio Brandeis Broncos

Head Coach: Kemmie Lewis (1st Season)

Last Season: 5-6; 4-4 in district (Lost to Cibolo Steele in bi-district)

Brandeis Key Players and Storylines

The Broncos were forced into a coaching change over the offseason after Charles Bruce was promoted to the Northside ISD Assistant AD role. In comes Kemmie Lewis in his place. Lewis was most recently the defensive coordinator at Harlan although he has six years of head coaching experience at San Antonio Memorial (2016-2021).

He has a strong group to work with this year as seven starters are back on offense and nine return on defense.

Tre Pepito is set to get the keys to the offense at quarterback. His “ability to extend plays” should make the Bronco offense a dynamic one. Jaylin Baker (518 receiving yards and four touchdowns) should “stretch the field” at receiver.

Chris Valenzuela will anchor the offensive line. He’s got “great technique” and is a strong and aggressive blocker.

Defensively, the Broncos are strong on the back end. Defensive back Ian Luna (89 tackles and 15 TFLs) has the physicality that helped him finish as Brandeis’ leading tackler last season. He’ll team up with Deron Hall (40 tackles) to form a ballhawking duo. They both had four interceptions in 2023.

Linebacker Javier Hernandez (64 tackles, nine TFLs) will serve as Brandeis’ chief run stopper. His “relentless effort” will be big for the Broncos in the middle of the field.

The Broncos got off to a late start this offseason as Lewis wasn’t hired until late May. However, they have the leadership to get them through the transition with 45 seniors on their roster. Lewis believes that if his group continues to compete week in and week out, they’ll have a chance to push for Brandeis’ first district title since 2019.

San Antonio Churchill Chargers

Head Coach: Nate Shaw (1st season)

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

Churchill Key Players and Storylines

Churchill will have a new head coach for the first time since 2015 after Ron Harris stepped down over the offseason. Nate Shaw takes the reigns for the Chargers. He was most recently the offensive coordinator at Brennan.

He’ll have just 15 returning lettermen to work with this year. Among them are four returning starters on offense and five on defense.

The good news is they have weapons to move the ball offensively. Quarterback Hunter Pavlicek (984 passing yards and five touchdowns) is heading into his third year as the starter. The Chargers will want to see him take another step forward this season. He has two of his top receivers from last year to aim for again in seniors Diego Sostre (432 receiving yards) and Miles Pace.

Nicola Pari was a battering ram at running back last year (647 rushing yards and eight touchdowns). Shaw expects him to play a key role at linebacker this season alongside junior Aiden Ross (64 tackles, 11 TFLs), who was a second team all-district selection last year.

Defensive back Sutton Cantrell (55 tackles) will be Churchill’s playmaker to watch in the secondary. He’s the Chargers’ lone returning first team all-district player.

As Shaw takes over a program that missed the playoffs by just one game last year, he wants to see them “compete at a high level” and “play a physical brand of football.” If they can do that, he believes they can position themselves to make the playoffs.

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San Antonio Clark Cougars

Head Coach: J.L. Geist (6th season; 22-29 record)

Last Season: 6-5; 5-3 in district (Lost to Converse Judson in bi-district)

Clark Key Players and Storylines

Clark returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2013 a year ago.

Now, the Cougars will aim to keep the momentum going with a group that doesn’t have a ton of varsity experience. Just five starters are back on defense, while only three return on offense.

One of the positions Clark needs to fill is at quarterback, but the weapons are there for this offense to sling the ball around. Sophomore sensation receiver Elisha Johnson (380 receiving yards and five touchdowns) is a spark plug for the Cougar offense. He was last year’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year for the district.

Junior receiver Jackson Shannon is another player Geist believes can give defenses problems. The Cougars also have Kaleb Harrington who can play as a tight end or receiver.

Defensively, senior defensive backs Logan Childs and Caleb Hernandez have the football IQ to keep the secondary clicking. Childs should be one of Clark’s primary defensive leaders.

In front of them, linebacker Sevin Sweatts (60 tackles, seven TFLs) always finds a way to the football.

With so many new players stepping in, Geist knows it might take time for his Cougars to get up to speed this season. He expects his group to show improvement throughout the fall so they can compete for a playoff spot down the stretch.

San Antonio Johnson Jaguars

Head Coach: T.P. Miller (3rd season; 17-6 record)

Last Season: 10-2; 7-1 in district (Lost to Lake Travis in area round)

Johnson Key Players and Storylines

The Jaguars won their first playoff game in three years last season. They have half their returning starters back from that team as they look for even more in 2024.

The offense in particular will be a strength. The Jaguars have to replace quarterback Ty Hawkins, who transferred to IMG, but running back Bubba Johnson, a three-year letterman, gives the Jaguars an experienced and prolific option in the running game. Oklahoma State commit receiver Jaden Perez (577 receiving yards and six touchdowns) will give the Jaguar passing game a big boost after he transferred in from Brandeis.

Center Josh McNeil should pave the way for that skill talent up front.

Defensively, two juniors lead the way in the front seven. Defensive end Jacob Estevez has a high motor coming off the edge, while linebacker Aidan Poteet will bring plenty of physicality in the middle of the field.

Behind them, defensive back Sam Draper, a Grambling State commit, (65 tackles and three interceptions) is one of Johnson’s leading-returning tacklers. He’ll need to lead the talented but inexperienced group of players the Jaguars will have in the secondary.

The motto for this Johnson team is simple: #NextStep24. The Jaguars haven’t made it past the area round since 2013. They want to change that as they continue to grow on and off the field.

San Antonio LEE Volunteers

Head Coach: Wendell Harris (2nd season; 0-10 record)

Last Season: 0-10; 0-8 record

LEE Key Players and Storylines

The Volunteers have just six returning starters (four on offense/two on defense) heading into 2024, but head coach Wendell Harris is confident his team is more prepared to compete this fall.

They’ll have a good foundation to build on up front with offensive linemen Timothy Colbert and Kellen Harris. Colbert, a senior, will be the leader of the group, while Harris has a lot of promise as he heads into his junior year.

The question is who will be taking snaps behind them. Both Zach Talamantes (480 passing yards and five touchdowns) and Diego Zertuche (456 passing yards) saw playing time last year, and they’re battling it out for the starting quarterback gig again this year.

Middle linebacker Eric Kalns (71 tackles) will lead the defense. He’s “strong, quick, and smart” and was LEE’s leading tackler last season. In front of him, Juan Salazar will be zeroing in on his defensive line duties after going both ways last season. He’s a three-year varsity starter.

Harris is excited to get defensive back Christian Hill back. He missed half of last season due to injury, but Harris said he has come “back stronger” and is ready to have an impact.

With so many new starters, LEE will be leaning heavily on its senior leadership. Even with the roster turnover, Harris said his staff has made some changes that should help the Volunteers take a step forward this season.

San Antonio Madison Mavericks

Head Coach:  Blaine Pederson (8th season; 41-36 record)

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

Madison Key Players and Storylines

The Mavericks will be relying on several fresh faces to step up this year with just four starters back on offense and only two returning on defense.

Still, head coach Blaine Pederson likes the group he has offensively this year. The Mavericks have a bona fide star in junior receiver Jordan Clay (819 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns). At 6’4″ and 200 pounds, he has great size and is an “outstanding athlete.”

Quarterback Blake Hickman will be tasked with getting Clay the ball. Pederson said they “need him to have an outstanding season” for this Maverick offense to really click.

He should be well-protected up front led by center Jeremy Gutierrez. Pederson believes the offensive line will be “the most improved part of the team.”

Safety Colton Eggleston will run the defense. In front of him, linebacker Elliot Willis has “great speed” and is an “outstanding tackler.” The Mavericks will need his playmaking ability in the front seven.

There are going to be several starters that lack varsity playing experience. However, Pederson expects the Mavericks to have enough to be in the playoff mix after missing out the past two seasons.

San Antonio Reagan Rattlers

Head Coach: Lyndon Hamilton (8th season; 59-22 record)

Last Season: 11-1; 8-0 in district (Lost to Westlake in area round)

Reagan Key Players and Storylines

Reagan rattled off its second-straight district title and first undefeated regular season since 2015 a year ago. With six starters back on both sides of the ball, they’re aiming high again this fall.

The offense has a variety of ways to get the ball to the end zone. Running back Cole Pryor is as reliable as they come. He’s a four-year starter, who rushed for 1,556 yards last season.

Caleb Cappuccio looks set to return to quarterback after playing receiver last season (1,021 receiving yards and eight touchdowns). He was 8-0 when he started two years ago as a sophomore.

Running back/receiver Rayshon Hurt (308 rushing yards and two touchdowns) is one of the “brightest young talents in the San Antonio area,” according to head coach Lyndon Hamilton. Good luck staying with him. He hit 10.6 in the 100-meter dash this past spring.

Ian Armstrong (22 tackles and one interception) will primarily play at corner, but he should see some snaps at receiver too. He really grew throughout last season and Hamilton believes he’ll “be one of the better two-way players in the district and city.”

Linebacker Cole Higby (50 total tackles, six TFLs) is ready to make some noise after earning the district’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year last season. He’s an “instinctive player.” Joining him in the front seven is senior defensive end Kayden Mimes (28 tackles, four TFLs). Hamilton is excited about his potential and said he “should have a breakout year.” That would be exactly what Reagan needs as there isn’t a lot of depth around him on the defensive line.

Not only is the offense full of weapons, the offensive line should also be “better than it has been in a long time.” All the pieces are there for Reagan to make a run as the Rattlers look to break past the area round for the first time since 2014.

San Antonio Roosevelt Rough Riders

Head Coach: Darnell Barnes (1st season)

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

Roosevelt Key Players and Storylines

Darnell Barnes takes over at his alma mater at a good time. The Rough Riders are coming off their winningest season since 2020 and have 17 starters (eight on offense/nine on defense) back from last year’s team.

Quarterback Shai Markajani (1,042 passing yards and seven touchdowns) returns to lead the offense. He has a great arm and great size at six-foot-five. Receiver Elijah Smith (540 receiving yards and three touchdowns) will help stretch the field.

In the ground game, the Rough Riders have to replace their bell cow from a year ago. However, Barnes expects junior running back Yail Louis to step up. He has “great strength, speed, and vision.”

Linebacker Josh Gray will be “the heartbeat of the defensive front.” He has a “nose for the football” and should be flying around the field making plays this fall.

On the back end, cornerback Ivan Gaines (34 tackles and three interceptions) is “great in man or zone coverage” while fellow defensive back Jamare Smothers (58 tackles) will be “the brains of the back end of the defense.” He’s a good safety blanket with his tackling ability.

Barnes expects his squad to be fast and physical. And with the motivation they have coming off of last year, he expects his Rough Riders to be back in the playoffs this season.

 

 


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