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District 13-6A Season Preview

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Last year, New Caney shocked many across the state, securing a district title in its first year of 6A football.

It will have plenty of teams hot on its tails this year. The district boasts one of the top quarterbacks in the entire state, a defensive duo set to play for the defending college football national champions, and an offense with Division I talent at every position.

District 13-6A will be a gauntlet this year with just four playoff spots for its nine talented teams.

Here’s are its key players and storylines to watch in 2023.

Caney Creek Panthers

Head Coach: Kendall Hineman (4th Season)

Last Season: 1-9; 0-8 in district

Caney Creek Key Players and Storylines

Caney Creek has often faced an uphill climb on the football field having won just four games the past four seasons. Realignment last cycle wasn’t kind on the Panthers either as they’re now one of the smallest 6A schools in the state.

However, there’s some signs that Caney Creek might have a chance to take a leap forward this year. The Panthers return eight starters on each side of the ball.

Head coach Kendall Hineman also feels his team is in a better position to succeed this year. He said his players were prepared last year but were often a step behind. After an offseason full of agility work, he thinks his team is more ready to compete at a 6A level.

The offense averaged just 13 points per game a year ago, but it returns plenty of talent at the skill positions. The backfield will be strong with all-county running back Jaiden Graves (1,292 total yards and eight touchdowns) and quarterback Christian Aguilar, who has been a four-year starter for the Panthers.

Out at receiver, the Panthers will be relying on senior Timothy Palmer (342 receiving yards and four touchdowns) to lead the group.

On the other side of the ball, Caney Creek will be relying on three more seniors to lead the way in linebacker/defensive back Travarius Jackson (36 tackles, one INT), defensive back Isaiah Sanchez (38 tackles, one INT), and defensive lineman Hector Rodriguez (11 tackles, three sacks).

Although Hineman listed these six seniors as key players, he said the Panthers also have young talent that he thinks can push this year’s group of seniors. He expects several sophomores to see playing time, including two who saw playing time as freshmen last year.

Hineman said he has seen the support for the Caney Creek football program increase during his three years at the school. With this year’s blend of senior leadership and young talent, he’s hopeful Caney Creek can take a big step forward on the field in 2023.

Cleveland Indians

Head Coach: Quirino Silva (2nd Season)

Last Season: 1-9; 1-7 in district

Cleveland Key Players and Storylines

With Cleveland ISD growing rapidly, the Indians set out for their first 6A season in school history a year ago. In a highly competitive district, they managed to edge Caney Creek 34-27 but were unable to gain much traction in their other seven games.

This year, head coach Quirino Silva said he wants to see continued growth out of his squad as they continue to adapt to 6A football.

Some reloading will be required as just five starters are back on offense and four return on defense.

The Indians appear to have a quarterback battle on their hands between senior Ruben Mendez and sophomore Dominique Gilkey. Whoever ends up starting for the Indians will have Andy Medina (31 receptions, 280 yards) at their disposal as he looks to lead the receiving corps this season.

Defensively, Cleveland will be strong in the trenches. Defensive end Ivion Jordan (24 tackles) is Cleveland’s lone returning all-district player from last season. But it’s not just Jordan, the Indians also boast fellow defensive linemen Isaiah Harrison (14 tackles) and Jakorey Voss.

Silva knows that progress is needed in all areas after Cleveland averaged just over 11 points per game last year while allowing over 45. However, he believes if his Indians can focus on improving each and every time they take the field, they can be successful in what is a very tough district.

College Park Cavaliers

Head Coach: Kyle Coats (1st Season)

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

College Park Key Players and Storylines

For Kyle Coats, it seemed like all the stars aligned when the opportunity came to apply for the College Park head coaching job.

“My son, Calvin, was born in July 2022. The Cavalier mascot for College Park is also named Calvin. So, the job was a no-brainer,” Coats said. “My family and I are fired up to be a part of the College Park community!”

As he takes over for Lonnie Madison, who departed to Bridgeland this past offseason, Coats has some work to do. After two-straight eight-win seasons, the Cavaliers came crashing back to Earth in 2022 with a three-win effort that saw them miss out on the playoffs.

This season, Coats said the Cavaliers will rely on the three pillars of their program: toughness, discipline, and effort. Those characteristics will be vital as College Park settles in several new starters. Five starters return on offense, while just four are back on defense.

Junior quarterback Kam Montgomery (570 passing yards and four touchdowns) will be looking to progress as he heads into his second year as the starter. He’ll have several good weapons at his disposal including TCU commit tight end Cole Snodgrass (354 receiving yards and two touchdowns) and wide receiver Conner Dunphy (200 receiving yards and two TDs; 73 rushing yards and 2 TDs), who has been a jack-of-all-trades player for the Cavaliers.

Defensively, College Park is in good hands at the safety position where both Tim Thomas (20 tackles) and Kolin Bundy (56 tackles) return. Up front, Coats expects James Cui (17 tackles, two sacks) to be a key player for the Cavaliers on the defensive line.

A year ago, the Cavaliers started hot in district play with three blowout victories before losing their final five games, including four by 25 points or more.

In order to close the gap on the top teams in the district, Coats said it will be important for the Cavaliers to focus on doing the little things right each week. If they can do that, he believes the fundamentals they develop will be key as they aim to take a step forward on the field in 2023.

Conroe Tigers

Head Coach: Cedric Hardeman (6th Season)

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

Conroe Key Players and Storylines

After eight seasons without a playoff berth, Conroe has turned things around in recent years under head coach Cedric Hardeman. The Tigers have now made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Hardeman said that one of the keys has been his players focusing only on what they can control. That has produced habits that he said have been key to Conroe’s success.

The Tigers will be looking to extend their playoff streak to three years in 2023 with five starters back on offense and seven returning on defense.

Conroe had no problem putting points on the board a year ago, averaging over 34 points per game. The Tigers will have no shortage of offensive talent again this season with running back Dramekco Green (606 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns) and senior receivers Nigel Leday (576 receiving yards) and Braylon Reece (476 receiving yards). After an impressive sophomore year, Green is already receiving looks at the Division I level.

But as much talent as there is at the skill positions offensively, the Conroe defense is just as loaded. It’ll be hoping to improve on last year where it gave up just over 30 points per game.

The secondary will be tough for any quarterback to face with three-star corner Devondre McGee (18 PBUs) and Boise State commit safety Tice Williams (12 PBUs) anchoring that position group. And while they’re making things tough for through the air, the Tigers can rely on linebacker Mitch Melton (112 tackles) to help stunt opposing rushing attacks.

The Conroe program has been building momentum under Hardeman in recent years. With reliable returning talent on both sides of the ball, expect the Tigers to be right in the thick of the playoff hunt yet again this season.

Grand Oaks Grizzlies

Head Coach: Shaun McDowell (1st Season)

Last Season: 4-6; 2-6 in district

Grand Oaks Key Players and Storylines

Grand Oaks will be on its third head coach in just one year after Mike Jackson retired in the middle of last season.

This season, the Grizzlies bring over Shaun McDowell to take over the program. McDowell was most recently at Richmond Foster, which went 7-3 a year ago.

McDowell will look to lead Grand Oaks to its first-ever playoff berth in school history. Grand Oaks opened back in 2018, and the Grizzlies didn’t join a UIL district in football until 2021.

Offensively, promising sophomore quarterback Grant Smith (513 passing yards and five touchdowns) appears set to hold the keys to the offense this season. He split time as a freshman a year ago and already has offers from Texas A&M and TCU. But that’s not all the Division I talent Grand Oaks possesses offensively either as Smith will have three-star tight end Ty Rupe (188 receiving yards and three touchdowns) as a weapon in the passing game as well.

The Grizzlies also have plenty of options at running back with seniors Angel Sepulveda and Tristian Frazier and sophomore Devon Wallace all returning. Frazier was second team all-district in 2022, while Sepulveda and Wallace were honorable mentions.

Grand Oaks hopes all this talent will lead to more explosive plays this year after it averaged just 16 points per game a year ago.

Defensively, the Grizzlies will be strong in the trenches with Christian Ramos and Garrett Garrison back. In the secondary, Ikenna Agoh should be Grand Oaks’ top corner. He already has double digit Division I offers.

Grand Oaks struggled to hang with the top six teams in the district a year ago. All of its district losses came by 23 or more points. However, Grand Oaks will hope a new coach and some promising talent will help lead to better results on the field in 2023.

New Caney Eagles

Head Coach: Mike DeWitt (1st Season)

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

New Caney Key Players and Storylines

New Caney showed no signs that last year was its first-ever season as a 6A school. The Eagles reeled off an undefeated regular season and nearly advanced to the third round of playoffs but were denied by a Tomball touchdown with just 20 seconds remaining in the area round.

After Travis Reeve departed to take over at El Campo, New Caney welcomed in Mike DeWitt, who had most recently been an assistant at McKinney Boyd.

DeWitt is tasked with trying to build upon last season’s success. He said he’s been impressed by the leadership and work ethic his players have shown during the coaching change this offseason.

That dedication will be crucial as New Caney will be short on experience in some areas this year with six starters back on defense and just three returning on offense.

New Caney must replace its starting quarterback and running back from last season, but the receiver room has a good foundation with both Dravon Wilson (576 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and Eric Sanchez (246 receiving yards and three touchdowns) returning. Offensive lineman Johnnie Bailey will also provide crucial experience after earning first team all-district as a sophomore last year.

The Eagles held opponents to just 13 points per game a year ago defensively and DeWitt believes the unit should be strong again this year. Linebacker Daylen Wilson (89 tackles) displayed his next level ability by leading New Caney in tackles last season. Fellow linebacker Casen Rios (33 tackles) and defensive lineman Andrew Wilkinson (41 tackles) join him as the players to watch in the front seven.

Meanwhile, the secondary will be a minefield for opposing quarterbacks with Dravon Wilson (20 tackles), Dijon Lewis (69 tackles) and Kayden Cooper (43 tackles) all back.

New Caney was underestimated by many across the state a year ago as the Eagles moved up to the 6A level. It would be a grave mistake to overlook the Eagles again this season as they return enough talent to make it back to the playoffs for the second-straight season.

Oak Ridge War Eagles

Head Coach: Mark Schmid (5th Season)

Last Season: 7-4; 6-2 in district (Lost to Dekaney in bi-district)

Oak Ridge Key Players and Storylines

Oak Ridge has now made the playoffs two out of the past three years under the leadership of head coach Mark Schmid.

This year’s team will be all about the defense. That unit gave up just under 24 points per game last season, but it returns 10 starters this fall.

And it has some dogs in its front seven. Literally. Both defensive lineman Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (nine TFLs) and linebacker Justin Williams (105 tackles, 8.5 sacks) are committed to play at Georgia. Behind them, the War Eagles will look to cornerback Arinzie Ejeckam to be the leader of the secondary. He earned second team all-district honors last season.

Offensively, Oak Ridge returns just five starters, so there will be some inexperience it must combat. However, there is no shortage of talent at the skill position. The War Eagles will have a two-headed monster at running back in seniors Frankie Arthur, a four-star prospect, (1,445 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns) and Larry DeBose (352 rushing yards and three touchdowns). And DeBose missed most of the season last year, so expect much more production from him in 2023.

Out at receiver, the War Eagles will look to senior Tevian Jefferson to lead the way.

The biggest question mark for Oak Ridge is can they find a suitable replacement for Utah signee Steve Smedley at quarterback. If they can find that, watch out for the War Eagles this year.

Heading into this fall, their coaching staff is excited about the returning talent on this year’s tema. They said the biggest key will be for those experienced players to lead the way for the younger players who will be stepping into new roles this season. They believe that will lead to continued growth on the field for Oak Ridge in 2023.

The Woodlands Highlanders

Head Coach: Jim Rapp (6th Season)

Last Season: 10-3; 7-1 in district (Lost to Duncanville in regional semifinals)

The Woodlands Key Players and Storylines

New Caney upset the Highlanders to secure the district crown a year ago, but The Woodlands ended up making a deeper playoff run.

The Highlanders feel good about their chances for another playoff run in 2023.

Eight starters return on offense while just four are back on defense.

And wherever you look on offense, there is Division I talent. Wisconsin commit quarterback senior Mabrey Mettauer (2,619 passing yards and 32 touchdowns) will lead the unit behind center. This will be his fourth year on varsity for the Highlanders.

He has quite the offensive line protecting him. The Woodlands boasts three Division I commits in the trenches with TCU commit Ryan Hughes, Baylor commit Koltin Sieracki, and Army commit Everett Champlin.

At the skill positions, The Woodlands returns four out of its top five receivers. Quanell Farrakhan (530 receiving yards and seven TDs) has double digit Division I offers, while Shane Walker (450 receiving yards and six touchdowns), Aden Self (343 receiving yards and three touchdowns), and Patrick Rabel (362 receiving yards) all earned either all-district honors or an honorable mention in 2022. Meanwhile, at running back, the Highlanders added Beebe, AR transfer Kiandrea Barker, who is a four-star commit to Penn State.

Head coach Jim Rapp said that the offense will need to carry the defense early on as the unit gels with its seven new starters this year.

Defensive back Tyler Honeyman  is the Highlanders’ leading returning tackler from last year, while Rapp expects seniors Caden Clayton and Caleb Phllips to step up and lead the Highlanders at linebacker. On the defensive line, The Woodlands will rely upon a trio of seniors in Jack Miller, Caio Andrade, and Nolan Burris.

The Woodlands has quite the tests early on as it will host North Shore and travel to Houston Lamar in its two non-district games. Rapp believes it will be great experience for his squad before it’s thrown into the District 13-6A gauntlet in week three with a showdown against Oak Ridge and former Highlander head coach Mark Schmid.

Willis Wildkats

Head Coach: Trent Miller (2nd Season)

Last Season: 5-5; 4-4 in district

Willis Key Players and Storylines

Willis missed the playoffs for the first time in three years last fall. A narrow 28-24 defeat to Conroe proved to be the difference in the race for the district’s final playoff ticket.

However, this season, head coach Trent Miller is predicting a breakout season for his Wildkats. Eight starters are back on offense and seven return on defense. 12 of those players have Division I offers.

Most notably, the Wildkats have one of the top quarterbacks in all of Texas in Florida commit DJ Lagway (2,081 passing yards and 24 touchdowns). With players like running back Daylion Robinson (772 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns) and wide receivers Debraun Hampton (735 receiving yards and nine touchdowns)  and Jalen Mickens (762 receiving yards and eight touchdowns), Miller believes the unit should be able to put points on the board in a hurry this fall.

Defensively, Willis allowed just under 29 points per game a year ago. Miller said the run defense still need works, but it is making progress. Josiah Stephens will be a big part of that run defense from his spot on the defensive line.

The strong point for the Willis defense could be in the secondary, where the Wildcats boast highly touted sophomore Jermaine Bishop Jr. at corner and Imauree Holmes, who will also likely be a weapon at receiver, at safety.

Miller said his Wildkats were extremely young a year ago. But with a year of experience under their belt and a roster teeming with Division I talent, look for Willis to make some noise on the field this fall.

 

CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz

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