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District 13-6A Season Preview

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District 13-6A is the same from the previous alignment, but it still has plenty of intrigue. A year ago, Willis knocked off The Woodlands for the district title. Now, the question is whether they can repeat that feat without quarterback DJ Lagway. And in the race for the playoffs, it took a tiebreaker to separate Conroe and College Park for the final postseason spot last fall.

This district is deep and should be highly competitive again this season.

Here’s what to watch for in District 13-6A.

Caney Creek Panthers

Head Coach: Kendall Hineman (5th Season; 5-35 record)

Last Season: 3-7; 1-7 in district

Caney Creek Key Players and Storylines

The Panthers are slowly but surely moving in the right direction. A year ago, Caney Creek’s three wins were the most in a single season for the program since 2014.

The biggest question mark for this year’s squad is what the Panthers will do at quarterback. Head coach Kendall Hineman and his coaching staff are tasked with replacing a four-year starter following the graduation of Christian Aguilar.

However, the offense still has some key pieces with seven starters returning. Speedy running back Darrall Ellis is expected to step into a bigger role this year, while athletic wide receiver Jahamante Kuhn is looking to build off a promising sophomore season where he earned second team all-district honors. Up front, offensive lineman Moises Vega is a four-year starter who earned all-district honors last year.

On the other side of the ball, five starters return. The Panthers are stout at linebacker. TJ Garza is a great tackler while Dane Cook was the district’s newcomer of the year in 2023 as a sophomore. Hineman is also excited about defensive lineman Brandon Spoerle after he “finished last season strong,” earning second team all-district honors.

Hineman believes the tide is turning. Buy-in is strong and the players have now had multiple years in Caney Creek’s offensive and defensive schemes. That bodes well as Caney Creek looks to build off of last year’s successes.

Cleveland Indians

Head Coach: Quirino Silva (3rd season; 1-19 record)

Last Season: 0-10; 0-8 in district

Cleveland Key Players and Storylines

The Indians are still in the process of acclimating to the 6A level. They’ve won just one game across the past two seasons.

However, they have some young talent coming through that should give their coaching staff some hope. A number of players are back on defense after playing key roles as sophomores last season.

Defensive back Christian Harrison (55 tackles) is their leading returning tackler from last season. He earned second team all-district honors last year along with defensive back Dominique Gilkey (32 tackles) and linebacker Jayden Gibson (47 tackles, four TFLs). Safety Bryce Morris (23 tackles) and defensive tackle Canon McClain are two more juniors that should play a lot this fall.

Offensively, Gilkey (127 receiving yards, 107 passing yards) is listed as a receiver, but he also played some quarterback a year ago. Senior tight end Cruz Godinez will be a key blocker up front. He was an all-district honorable mention last season.

The Indians have some production to replace from last year due to graduation, including star receiver Andy Medina. However, the amount of juniors that earned valuable reps last fall will encourage head coach Quirino Silva and his staff. They’ll hope that experience will make the Indians increasingly competitive in 2024.

Conroe Tigers

Head Coach: Cedric Hardeman (7th season; 29-34)

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

Conroe Key Players and Storylines

Cedric Hardeman is turning Conroe into a playoff regular. The Tigers had made the playoffs just one time in eight years before he took over in 2018. Now, they’ve made it the last three seasons. It’s the first time the school has done that since 2007-2009.

This year, they return half their starters (six on offense and five on defense).

The Tiger offense has the weapons to be explosive again this fall. They have an athletic quarterback in Christian Nunley and a gamebreaker at running back in three-star prospect Dramecko Green.

Receiver Jalen Mayon (394 receiving yards) will bring plenty of versatility with his athleticism. He’s a threat on special teams too.

The biggest question for this unit will be up front, where there will be multiple new starters on the offensive line.

On the other side of the ball, four-star cornerback Dorian Brew is a “big-time player.” His father was a gold medalist at the 2004 Olympics in the 4X400 relay. At safety, Marc Jones is another player to watch.

Senior Jadyn Ramos (42 tackles, 11 TFLs) has a great motor and will be a disruptive player along the defensive line.

Hardeman said this offseason has been all about “developing great habits that will give us the best chance to play our best every game.” The Tigers will hope that pays off as they look for a fourth-straight playoff berth, something that hasn’t been done since the late 90s.

Grand Oaks Grizzlies

Head Coach: Shaun McDowell (2nd season; 3-5 in district)

Last Season: 3-7; 3-5 in district

Grand Oaks Key Players and Storylines

Grand Oaks heads into year two under Shaun McDowell eyeing its first playoff berth in school history.

The Grizzlies have a gunslinger at quarterback in junior Grant Smith (944 passing yards and two touchdowns). A three-star prospect, he’s seen playing time the past two seasons and will look to take off this year.

His entire receiving core is back from a year ago. Junior Preston Cloud (531 receiving yards and three touchdowns) and senior tight end Ty Rupe both have Division I prospects. Seniors Julian Kent (319 receiving yards and three touchdowns), Jordan Goodwin (136 receiving yards), and Gabriel DeSpain (126 receiving yards) should also all see their number called this season in the passing attack. The run game is in good shape too with the return of running back Devon Wallace. He had a strong sophomore campaign in 2023 with 565 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Defensively, Brandon Moylan is a hard-hitting linebacker that tackles everything in sight. He led the Grizzlies in that category with 101 total tackles a year ago.

In the secondary, Jackson DeGeorge (22 tackles) was a second team all-district selection.

Last year, Grand Oaks averaged just 17 points per game. With virtually all of its offensive production returning, the Grizzlies should be much tougher to slow down this season as they look to push for that elusive postseason spot.

New Caney Eagles

Head Coach: Mike DeWitt (2nd season; 5-5 record)

Last Season: 5-5; 3-5 in district

New Caney Key Players and Storylines

New Caney will be eager to get back on the field this fall after missing the playoffs for the first time in nine years in 2023. Three of New Caney’s five district losses came by seven points or less.

However, this season, the Eagles will have to rely on a lot of new faces stepping up as they return just seven starters from a year ago (five on offense and two on defense).

Head coach Mike DeWitt believes his team will be strongest in the trenches. Center Brycen Cole has great size and strength and started as a sophomore a year ago. Defensive end Zach Reyes is another returning starter, who has a great motor coming off the edge.

When it comes to offensive playmakers, DeWitt is excited about the potential of athletic sophomore quarterback Vincent Joseph. Senior wide receiver Jacobi Carter (90 receiving yards) has great hands and is New Caney’s leading returning receiver from a year ago.

The Eagles are in good hands at linebacker with AJ Stewart (32 tackles), who DeWitt calls the quarterback of their defense, and Ryan Baker (56 tackles, 9 TFLs).

DeWitt expects a bounce back from his team on the field this fall. The key will be finding a way to win those close games after finishing 1-3 in one possession games a year ago.

Oak Ridge War Eagles

Head Coach: Mark Schmid (6th season; 26-28 record)

Last Season: 8-4; 6-2 (Lost to Tomball in area round)

Oak Ridge Key Players and Storylines

The War Eagles took home just their second playoff win since 2002 last year with a a 29-28 bi-district triumph over Dekaney.

They have some work to do heading into this fall as they must replace four Division I commits they lost to graduation.

Receiver James Scott is the next War Eagle set to play Power Five football. The junior turned heads at this past summer’s seven-on-seven tournament and was 13-6A’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year in 2023.

Look for running back Justin Hayes to step up in the backfield after Oak Ridge graduated a pair of first team all-district backs. Offensive lineman Walker Mott should help pave the way up front. He was a second team all-district selection last fall.

On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Tylon Hughes will need to make his presence felt up front. He is the only returnee out of Oak Ridge’s 2023 defensive first and second team all-district honorees. Camren Fletcher is a player to watch in the secondary. He was an all-district honorable mention last fall.

The War Eagles have a lot of production to replace. This fall will be a test of the depth of the talent in this War Eagle program as they try to earn a third-consecutive playoff berth for just the second time in school history.

The Woodlands Highlanders

Head Coach: Jim Rapp (7th season; 49-23 record)

Last Season: 9-4; 7-1 in district (Lost to Duncanville in regional semifinals)

The Woodlands Key Players and Storylines

The Woodlands has had the unfortunate luck of running into Duncanville in the regional semifinals in each of the last two seasons.

This year, they’ll be looking for another playoff run with half of their starters back from a year ago (five on offense and six on defense).

Last year’s quarterback Mabrey Mettauer is off to Wisconsin, so the Highlanders do have a hole to fill at that position. However, there’s no shortage of talent at receiver. Both Shane Walker (578 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) and Jackson Bolender (576 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) are explosive options with great hands.


Parker Stewart and Caycen Bartolazzi are two-way players, but they’ll primarily make an impact at defensive back. Stewart is a good cover corner, while Bartolazzi is “a coach on the field with a nose for the ball.”

On the defensive line, Jy’Ree Jefferson has the quickness to make his presence felt in the trenches.

The Highlanders also have a weapon on special teams with kicker Scott Starzyk. He averaged over 40 yards a punt, and the Highlander coaching staff believes he’s the best kicker in Texas.

With The Woodlands combatting some roster turnover, its coaching staff wants to see continual improvement throughout the season. And for a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs since 1994, expect them to be a threat to make a run yet again come November.

The Woodlands College Park Cavaliers

Head Coach: Kyle Coats (2nd season; 4-6 record)

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

College Park Key Players and Storylines

A loss to Conroe in the regular season finale denied College Park a playoff berth a year ago. That has only served as fuel to the Cavaliers’ fire this season.

Head coach Kyle Coats said his team has circled November 15, 2024 (the Friday of bi-district playoffs) on their calendar as they look to achieve their goal of getting back to the postseason.

Five starters are back on offense and seven are back on defense to help the Cavaliers try to reach their objective.

Rodrigo Bravo Jr. (1,010 passing yards and nine touchdowns) is set to take over the reigns at quarterback full time this year after seeing time behind Kam Montgomery, who moved to Ohio, in 2023. He’s a “hard runner with a good arm and quick release.”

The Cavaliers did graduate their top three receivers, but Jordan Styles (259 receiving yards and two touchdowns) is a great route runner, while Clint Rachal will bring good size and speed to the offense after transferring in from Legacy Prep.

Jayden Ogoli (291 rushing yards and six touchdowns) is set to take on a much larger role out of the backfield this season. Not only is he a hard runner, he also has good hands as a pass-catcher.

Defensively, the Cavaliers have quite the combo at safety. Marco Beltran (91 tackles) is aggressive and can lay the boom, while David Sands (61 tackles) has the football IQ to put himself at the right place at the right time.

In the front seven, linebacker Aidan Endicott (67 tackles) was College Park’s second leading tackler from last year behind Beltran. Nose guard Rema Nwosu is “the heart of the defensive line,” and should be a force alongside defensive tackle Terrance Wofford, who transferred in from Oak Ridge.

Coats said he wants to see how his team responds to adversity this year with some younger players stepping up. However, this is a “tough group that plays for each other,” and seems to be really buying in to what Coats and his staff are preaching ahead of 2024.

“Our kids have worked really hard this offseason buying into our standard and what is expected from them in the weight room, on the field, and in the community,” Coats said. “We haven’t stopped competing since the season ended and I can’t want to see all their efforts and hard work pay off.”

Willis Wildkats

Head Coach: Trent Miller (3rd season; 17-6 record)

Last Season: 12-1 (Lost to DeSoto in regional semifinals)

Willis Key Players and Storylines

2023 was a season to remember for the Wildkats. Their 12 wins were the most in a single season in program history. They also finished undefeated in the regular season for the first time since 1971.

Quarterback DJ Lagway, who is now on campus at Florida, may have graduated, but the cupboard at Willis is far from bare. Half of the Wildkats’ starters return from a year ago (seven on offense and four on defense).

Looking at this Willis roster, the receiver room is loaded. Jermaine Bishop (1,414 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns) is not only a lockdown corner, but head coach Trent Miller considers him “the most electric 2026 receiver in the state.” And that’s not all. The Wildkats also have a three-year starter in Jalen Mickens (883 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns) and three-star prospect Romel Stevens.

Up front, guard Mason Isbell is a “dominant two-way player” who will anchor the Wildkats in the trenches.

Defensively, in addition to Bishop, the Wildkats also have versatile defensive back Luke Reynolds. Defensive lineman Frankie Long has a “high motor” and can play both on the edge or on the interior.

After last season’s heroics, Miller said his guys are hoping to go even deeper in the playoffs this time around. And with the offensive weapons the Wildkats have plus the belief that is flowing through this program after last season, Willis looks set for another big year.

 

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