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District 12-6A Season Preview

insoles to jump higher

 

 

Don’t let District 12-6A fly under the radar. This Central Texas district is teeming with Division I talent.

Making things even more interesting this year is that two out of the three teams that missed the playoffs a year ago have potential Division I quarterbacks leading their offenses this year.

And with Harker Heights bringing in a new coach and losing 33 seniors to graduation and Temple having to replace three Division I players, the complexion of this district could look very different this season.

Here’s what to watch for in District 12-6A this fall.

Bryan Vikings

Head Coach: Ricky Tullos (2nd Season)

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

Bryan Key Players and Storylines

Hopes are high in Bryan heading into this season, according to head coach Ricky Tullos.

“We have a great core of returners with a tremendous amount of playing experience,” Tullos said. “We are excited about the opportunity this fall.”

He believes with 2023 being the second year for his players in his system, they’ll be more confident and comfortable when they take the field this fall.

Five starters return on offense and seven are back on defense from last year’s team.

The receiving room will be the strength of the offense. Not only does it boast Texas Tech commit Tyson Turner (665 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns), but junior Terrence Lewis (523 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) is also receiving looks from Division I schools. They were Bryan’s two leading receivers from last season and should play a big role in an offense that put up points in bunches a year ago, averaging over 34 points per game.

On the offensive line, Bryan graduates two all-district players, but Tullos believes junior Nate Surley can step up as a leader this season.

Defensively, Bryan struggled against the top three teams in the district. The Vikings allowed at least 38 points in each of their three district losses.

Linebacker Tate Allen (119 total tackles, four forced fumbles) will be the leader of the unit again this season. Tullos also expects defensive lineman Nathan Murphy (50 tackles, 10 TFLs) and safety Luke Weltens (77 tackles) to play key roles this year, giving the Vikings solid talent at each of the three levels on defense.

A year ago, Bryan took care of business against the bottom three teams in the district but lost each of its games against the top three teams in the district by 25 points. The Vikings hope the experience they have returning this year will help them close the gap on those teams. The aim this year is not just to make the playoffs for the fourth-straight year but also contend for a district title.

Copperas Cove Bulldawgs

Head Coach: Tony Johnson (2nd Season)

Last Season: 2-8; 0-6 in district

Copperas Cove Key Players and Storylines

It has been a tough stretch for Copperas Cove. Across the past three seasons, the Bulldawgs have won just four total games.

However, the Copperas Cove coaching staff said there’s an excitement surrounding the program heading into this year that hasn’t been there in previous years.

Following a strong offseason, with seven starters back on each side of the ball, the Bulldawgs should be improved across the board.

Offensively, the Bulldawgs averaged 21 points per game a year ago. And while there are questions about who will take over at running back this season, there’s no doubt who will lead the passing game. Both Trishtin Glass (six touchdowns) and Demetrius Pearce (five touchdowns) return after finishing last season with over 500 receiving yards.

On the offensive line, the Bulldawgs return a mammoth in the trenches in Michael Uini. At 6’7″, 335 pounds, he is committed to play for Georgia at the next level.

Defensively, Copperas Cove will need improvement if it wants to win more football games this year. Last year, the Bulldawgs allowed over 40 points per game.

Anthony Jackson (43 tackles, three takeaways) will lead the linebacking corps, although besides him, the Bulldawgs will be rather inexperienced at that position.

At the other levels of the defense, safety Xavier Taclibon (56 tackles) and defensive lineman Rion Childers should each play key roles this season.

With plenty of experience returning, the Copperas Cove coaching staff believes they’re close to turning the corner. They said the Bulldawgs should have talent to break through and secure a couple of district wins this season.

Harker Heights Knights

Head Coach: Mark Humble (1st Season)

Last Season: 12-2; 6-0 in district (Lost to DeSoto in Regional Final)

Harker Heights Key Players and Storylines

Harker Heights was a force to be reckoned with a year ago as the Knights made their deepest playoff run in school history.

Mark Humble will look to keep that momentum going as he takes over the Harker Heights program following the departure of Jerry Edwards to Colleyville Heritage. Humble served as an assistant coach at Denton Ryan last season.

He’ll have his work cut out for him early on as Harker Heights must replace 33 seniors from last year’s team. The Knights return just five starters on each side of the ball.

However, Harker Heights does have the skill talent to maintain an offense that averaged 33 points per game a year ago. Not only is quarterback Dylan Plake back (2,084 passing yards and 22 touchdowns) but so are wide receivers TJ Johnson (600 receiving yards and nine touchdowns) and Rocky Crooks (317 receiving yards and three touchdowns).

And at running back, following the graduation of Houston signee Re’Shaun Sanford, Kaden Butler is poised to take on a large role after starring at linebacker a year ago (82 total tackles).

For Humble, his biggest concern is the interior line on either side of the ball. The Knights will be young in the trenches, so it will be a question of how quick some of its promising prospects can develop into reliable starters.

Defensively, linebacker Kabriel Anderson-Dale (116 tackles 11 TFLs) will lead the way along with defensive back Ashton Stanford (37 tackles). Other players Humble expects to step into bigger roles this year include linebacker Terrell Washington, defensive lineman Amari Cheeks, and defensive back Brian Hood.

Humble said that Harker Heights is a unique program because of Killeen’s connection to the active military. He said it truly makes the school a melting pot.

With so many graduated seniors needing to be replaced, unity will be key as Humble’s Knights look to play the game the right way and continue the winning tradition the program has had in recent years.

Hutto Hippos

Head Coach: Will Compton (2nd Season)

Last Season: 5-5; 2-4 in district

Hutto Key Players and Storylines

The Hippos are hungry coming into 2023 following a year where they missed out on the playoffs by just one game.

And this year, hopes are high in Hutto especially with the seven starters they have returning on offense.

Texas Tech commit quarterback Will Hammond (2,763 yards and 30 touchdowns) can sling the ball all over the field and he has a great number one target in Division I prospect receiver Alex Green (900 receiving yards and nine touchdowns). Don’t sleep on Hammond’s rushing ability either after he led the Hippos with 828 rushing yards and nine touchdowns a year ago.

Up front, head coach Will Compton expects Preston Huneycutt to be a leader on the Hutto offensive line.

There are some more question marks surrounding a defense that gave up 39 points per game a year ago. Just three starters return on that side of the ball, meaning Hutto will need some younger players to step up and quick.

Among the returners, the Hippos do have key players at all three levels of the defense in defensive lineman Tristan Compton (23 tackles), linebacker Matthew Madrano (46 tackles), and defensive back Steven Galindo (43 tackles).

The offense should be able to hang with any team in district, the question will be whether the defense can make enough progress to avoid Hutto being in shootouts week after week.

But with a special talent like Hammond leading the Hippos this year, Compton believes it’s not out of the question for Hutto to be in the district title conversation down the stretch this fall.

Temple Wildcats

Head Coach: Scott Stewart (8th Season)

Last Season: 7-4; 5-1 in district (Lost to Waxahachie in bi-district)

Temple Key Players and Storylines

Temple maintained its 100% playoff record under Scott Stewart last season. The Wildcats haven’t missed the playoffs dating back to 2012.

Heading into this year, the Wildcats have to replace both Texas A&M signee linebacker Taurean York and Houston wide receiver Mikal Harrison-Pilot.

Temple’s defense will be almost a total rebuild. Including York, seven of their eight all-district selections from a year ago have graduated. Defensive tackle Ayden Brown is the lone returning all-district defensive player for the Wildcats. Keep an eye though on sophomore defensive lineman Jamarion Carlton and fellow sophomore cornerback Jason Bradford as potential stars in the making. Both already have multiple Division I offers.

On the other side of the ball, the Wildcats have to replace their star gunslinger from a year ago, Reese Rumfield, who transferred to Belton.

Speedy junior wide receiver Christian Tutson will be one of the Wildcats’ biggest threat offensively. They also have center Endrei Sauls back to anchor the line up front.

This Temple team will look vastly different to last year’s after a swath of graduations. However, with talent continuing to come up the pipeline, Stewart and the Wildcats should still be in a good position to contend for a playoff spot this fall.

Waco Midway Panthers

Head Coach: Shane Anderson (3rd Season)

Last Season: 2-8; 2-4 in district

Midway Key Players and Storylines

It has now been four years since Waco Midway last made the playoffs. For a team that competed in the 2017 6A Division II State Title Game, it has been a frustrating stretch.

Head coach Shane Anderson said his staff and players are ready to get Midway back to where it was from 2007-2019, where the Panthers had four undefeated regular seasons and made the playoffs all 13 years.

However, it won’t be easy. This season, Midway returns just one starter on offense and only five on defense.

The Panthers do get a big boost at the quarterback position as Ty Brown (2,243 passing yards and 24 touchdowns) transfers in from Belton, where he was the District 11-5A Division II MVP. After leading Belton to a district title and area round appearance, his winning pedigree will be vital for an inexperienced Panther offense.

Up front, Anderson expects junior Michael Collins to anchor the offensive line. Collins holds an offer from Texas State.

Defensively, linebacker will be the strength of the unit. Senior linebackers Esrom Martinez (87 tackles) and Kannon Clendenin (83 tackles) were two of Midway’s three leading tacklers a year ago. Their experience in the middle of the field will be crucial as Midway looks for a stronger 2023 campaign after allowing nearly 40 points per game a year ago.

Behind them, Anderson is expecting safety Phil Minnitt (40 tackles) to be a leader in the secondary.

Anderson said the Panthers have had a great offseason which he thinks will bode well on the field for them this season. The addition of Ty Brown is a big one as Midway seeks to break through and make it back to the postseason in 2023.

Weiss Wolves

Head Coach: Vernon Hughes (1st Season)

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

Weiss Key Players and Storylines

Weiss didn’t have to go far to find its new head coach following the resignation of Steve Van Meter. It decided to promote Vernon Hughes into the head coaching role. Hughes has served as Weiss’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons.

The Wolves have made the playoffs the past two seasons, and Hughes said that he will keep that bar just as high as it was under Van Meter.

Although Weiss returns just five starters on each side of the ball, Hughes believes they’ll have enough talent to make it back to the postseason again this year.

Jax Brown (839 passing yards and nine touchdowns) split time last year and is prepared to step fully into the starting quarterback role this year. He has quite the number one receiver to rely on in TCU commit junior Adrian Wilson (547 receiving yards and eight touchdowns). Up front, Hughes expects Jeshuah Davis to lead the offensive line.

Defensively, there’s a stark contrast between the experience in the front seven and secondary. Hughes said every player in the front seven either started last season or has significant varsity football experience. The group, which will be led by defensive linemen Chidera Otutu (73 tackles and 10 TFLs), a UNLV commit, and Brian Bacon (30 tackles), is “fast, active, and play with reckless abandon.”

The secondary, meanwhile, has the most talented player on the entire defense in Texas Tech commit Peyton Morgan (85 tackles). However, he is one of only two players returning on the back end of the Weiss defense. Hughes said he’s prepared for some growing pains as younger players settle into new roles.

As one of the smallest 6A schools in Texas, Weiss punched above its weight to earn a playoff berth last season. With the buy-in Hughes has seen from his players since taking over, he believes his Wolves are set for another successful season in 2023.

 

 

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