Bellaire Cardinals
Head Coach: Devonte Jones (2nd season; 6-5 record)
Last season: 6-5; 4-2 in district (Lost to Cy Falls in bi-district)
Bellaire Key Players and Storylines
There was no drop-off as Devonte Jones took over at Bellaire last year. The Cardinals earned their third consecutive playoff berth and finished 6-5 for the second-straight year.
2026 brings a new challenge. Bellaire and their fellow Houston ISD schools slide into 20-6A where they’ll compete with the Spring Branch and Alief ISD schools. Nine teams mean playoff spots will be at a premium.
If the Cardinals want to keep their streak alive, they’ll have to replace virtually their entire offensive production. Both quarterbacks who saw significant playing time last year graduated as did Bellaire’s top two rushers and three leading receivers. Emanuel Kirby is the only returning skill player who accounted for over 100 yards of offense a year ago.
Up front, they do have a clear leader on the offensive line in 6’4″, 265-pound tackle Paul Wallace, who is a returning first team all-district honoree.
Defensively, there is not much more experience after Bellaire’s seven leading tacklers all graduated or moved schools. The Cardinals will lean on returning second team all-district defensive tackle Sifredis Romero in the trenches. In the secondary, opposing quarterbacks will have to be weary of ballhawk cornerback Keaton Davis (27 tackles and four INTs) and lanky 6’4″ safety Cayden Adams.
| CB | Class of 2027 | Bellaire (TX) 6,0 • 170 • 3.1 GPA • 4 ints • 12 pbu’s • 2 ff’s (from MaxPreps)
Not finished.‼️Offers: ACU • Lamar University • SDSU • HCU
Interests: TSU • Montana State • University South Dakota • Illinois State • Georgetown
🎥Highlights… pic.twitter.com/P0ZYH5HhPN
— Keaton Davis (@Keaton_Davis27) April 16, 2026
There’s no hiding Bellaire is short on experience this year. Jones and his staff will need to develop the next crop of Cardinals quickly if they want to have a shot at Bellaire’s fourth consecutive playoff berth.
Bellaire Cardinals 2026 Football Schedule
*- Denotes District 20-6A Contest
8/27 @ Fort Bend Austin 7:00 p.m.
9/3 vs. Port Arthur Memorial 7:00 p.m.
*9/11 vs. Houston Memorial 7:00 p.m.
*9/18 @ Westside 7:30 p.m.
*9/24 vs. Alief Taylor 7:00 p.m.
*10/2 @ Lamar 7:00 p.m.
*10/9 vs. Houston Heights 7:00 p.m.
*10/15 @ Elsik 7:00 p.m.
*10/31 vs. Hastings 7:00 p.m.
*11/6 @ Stratford 7:00 p.m.
