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6A

District 14-6A Season Preview

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District 14-6A remains the same from the previous alignment as the Spring and Aldine schools prepare to do battle yet again. Westfield has had a stranglehold atop this district for the past decade, but the Mustangs did have a late-offseason coaching change.

The Aldine schools have been on the rise as they look to close the gap at the top. Aldine broke a long losing streak in 2023, while Nimitz had its winningest season in two decades.

There are a lot of storylines to watch in this district. Here’s our team-by-team preview for 14-6A.

Aldine Mustangs

Head Coach: Cirilo Ojeda (3rd Season; 2-18 record)

Last Season: 2-8; 0-7 in district

Aldine Key Players and Storylines

Aldine snapped a 35-game losing streak a year ago with back-to-back wins over fellow 6A programs Northbrook and Houston Sam Houston.

Offensively, the Mustangs will need some inexperienced players to step up, but they do have a couple of key players returning in the passing game. Not only is tight end Samuel Saravia a physical player who is great at finishing his blocks, he is also a weapon as a pass-catcher. Receiver Ronnie Nolbert has great speed and is a “swiss army knife” across the middle of the field.

And when other teams are looking to throw the ball, they’ll have to deal with Jashyne Daniels. He’s a true lockdown corner. A year ago, he broke up 11 passes and didn’t allow a single touchdown.

In the front seven, linebacker Carlos Cruz is the leader of the defense, while defensive tackle Keishon Wiser can do it all. The Mustang coaching staff said he’s a great pass rusher and run stopper and could be a potential Division I talent.

The next goal for Aldine will be trying to break through with its first district win since 2015. The Mustang coaching staff said they expect relentless effort from their players this fall as they look to build off their successes from a year ago.

Aldine Davis Falcons

Head Coach: Kelvin Chatham (2nd season; 5-5 record)

Last Season: 5-5; 3-4 in district

Davis Key Players and Storylines

Kelvin Chatham kept Aldine Davis moving in the right direction in his first year in charge. The Falcons have now improved off of their previous season’s win total in each of the past three years.

But after coming up just a game short of the playoffs in 2023, the Falcons are determined to go dancing this fall.

They return 13 starters (five on offense and eight on defense) from a year ago.

Seniors Nicolaus Chenevert and Edward Lopez will make the offensive line a strength. Chenevert was a first team all-district selection in 2023. The Falcons graduated their quarterback and three leading receivers from a year ago, so junior running back Nicholas Tramble (704 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) will be that much more important to the Falcons this season. He’s a three-star prospect who has multiple Power Five offers.

Defensively, the Falcons also have the majority of their defensive line returning headlined by junior Caedyn Daughtry. Behind him, linebacker Treymaine Gray was a first team all-district selection a year ago, while stellar athlete safety Drake Williams is another Falcon getting looks at the Division I level.

The Falcons will need some players to step up at the skill positions offensively this season. But after challenging for the playoffs a year ago, the Davis coaching staff is hopeful that the culture they have sought to establish will help get their team over the hump in 2024.

Aldine Eisenhower Eagles

Head Coach: Odell James (2nd season; 3-7 record)

Last Season: 3-7; 2-5 in district

Eisenhower Key Players and Storylines

Eisenhower heads into year two under head coach Odell James after a 3-7 campaign in his first season. The Eagles have been on a streak of making the playoffs every other season, so they’ll hope that stays true this season after coming up short a year ago.

They do have dual threat quarterback Eugene Durst Jr. leading the way offensively.

At the skill positions, the Eagles boast a strong receiving core. Junior receiver Jason Washington will be one of the targets Durst turns to in the passing attack with their strong rapport.

Linebacker Reginald Clark is a playmaker to watch on the Eisenhower defense.

The Eagles graduated all four of their all-district players from a year ago. How quickly some of their younger talent steps up could determine the fate of their 2024 sseason.

Aldine MacArthur Generals

Head Coach: Blake Ware (1st season)

Last Season: 1-9; 1-6 in district

MacArthur Key Players and Storylines

MacArthur heads into its first season under head coach Blake Ware. Ware will be back on his old stomping grounds after graduating from MacArthur back in 1989. He had previously been the head coach at Dayton the past four seasons.

The Generals have a strong backbone in the middle of the field defensively. Linebackers Jonathan Doomes and Halakilangi Muagututia Jr. were both second team all-district honorees last season. Muagututia is also a highly touted long snapper. He’s currently committed at that position to play at UCLA. Senior safety Aijalek Silvers was another second team all-district pick in 2023.

Sophomore Kellyn Husband will give the Generals a big boost in the trenches. He was a second team all-district selection at Coldspring-Oakhurst last season. He can play both nose guard or center.

Out at the skill positions, the Generals have experience with senior running back Nick Macias and senior receiver Senai Chatman.

When Ware was in high school, MacArthur made the playoffs all four years. He’ll look to rebuild this program to those heights as begins his first season at the helm.

Aldine Nimitz Cougars

Head Coach: Cornelius Harmon (3rd season; 14-8 record)

Last Season: 8-3; 5-2 in district (Lost to Willis in bi-district)

Nimitz Key Players and Storyline

The Nimitz program is flourishing under the leadership of Cornelius Harmon. Its eight wins a year ago were the most in a single season for the program since 2003.

That positive trajectory has a good chance of continuing this fall too as the Cougars return nine starters on offense and seven on defense from a year ago.

Opponents will have to watch out for the Nimitz passing attack. Quarterback Albert Brown had a breakout sophomore season a year ago and has great arm strength. That’s a huge asset when you have weapons like three-year starter Ke’Lyn Washom (903 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns) and talented route runner Malachi Augustus (930 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns) leading your receiving corps. Both are getting looks from the Division I level.

Defensively, the Cougars have another bonafide star in aggressive strong, athletic linebacker Javar Thomas. Defensive back Armad Bailey is a ballhawk who can cover a lot of ground, while defensive lineman Kedrick Johnson is physical and loves the game of football. All three earned first or second team all-district honors a year ago.

Harmon said his team may not have a ton of depth this fall, but there is no doubting their experience. That bodes well for sustained success as he looks to continue building the program on and off the field.

Spring Lions

Head Coach: Antonio Singleton (3rd season; 9-12 record)

Last Season: 5-6; 4-3 in district (Lost to The Woodlands in bi-district)

Spring Key Players and Storylines

The Lions returned to the playoffs last year after missing out in 2022, but Antonio Singleton will be expecting even more from his program this fall.

He said his team has some experienced players “that know how to physically and mentally prepare and lead the culture in our program.”

Five starters are back on each side of the ball.

The Lions should be fierce on the offensive line with Robert Loera and Carter Culbertson leading the way.

That will allow Ahran Ogbor (553 passing yards, 895 rushing yards, 11 total TDs) to operate behind them. He played a lot of quarterback last year and led the Lions in rushing, although he is being recruited as a receiver. No matter where he lines up, expect to see his number called a lot this fall.

Defensively, Spring will be stout in the front seven. Defensive lineman Floyd Guidry (47 tackles, 26 TFLs) is a three-star prospect who made a living in opposing teams’ backfields last season. Behind him, linebackers Rico Phillips and Reuben Ingram (44 tackles, 10 TFLs) are an experienced duo that bring plenty of physicality in the middle of the field.

The Lions will be young in some spots, but Singleton is hopeful the leadership from their key players will be enough to get them back in the district title race this fall.

Spring Dekaney Wildcats

Head Coach: Anthony Williams (12th season; 63-55 record)

Last Season: 8-3; 6-1 in district (Lost to Oak Ridge in bi-district)

Dekaney Key Players and Storylines

Dekaney had its 2023 season end in heartbreak as Oak Ridge blocked a field goal as time expired to secure a 29-28 bi-district victory over the Wildcats.

They’ll be eager to have another go at it this year with the talent they have back on both sides of the ball.

They have another of options to rely on offensively. They have quite the one-two punch in the passing attack with USC commit receiver Tanook Hines (528 receiving yards and five touchdowns) and Texas commit tight end Nick Townsend (431 receiving yards and seven touchdowns). They’ll be far from one dimensional though. Powerful junior running back Samaritian Cunningham (375 rushing yards and four touchdowns) is set to step into the bell cow role this year. He’s also garnering interest from the Division I level.

Defensively, the trenches will be Dekaney’s biggest strength. They have two three-star prospects coming off the edge in senior Jamal Frilot (54 tackles and 9.5 TFLs) and junior Calvin Carter. Good luck opposing tackles. Oh, and Townsend (76 tackles, 11.5 TFLs) will play a lot snaps defensively too either at defensive end or outside linebacker. He was Dekaney’s leading tackler last season.

The secondary won’t be easy to pick apart either. Corner Var’quan Green and safety Brent O’Neill were both second team all-district selections a year ago. Keep an eye on freshman Trey Finney too. Despite not playing a snap of high school ball yet, he already has double digit Division I offers.

Dekaney showed its potential with a run to the third round of playoffs in 2022. The Wildcats will surely be aiming to play well into November again this season with the next-level talent they have leading the way.

Spring Westfield Mustangs

Head Coach: Desmar Black (1st season)

Last Season: 11-3; 7-0 (Lost to Duncanville in regional final)

Westfield Key Players and Storylines

Westfield has made a habit of making playoff runs. They have won at least two playoff games in every season since 2016. However, the last two years, they have met their match against Duncanville in the regional final.

The Mustangs head into the fall of the back of a late-offseason coaching change. Matt Meekins retired in late July after nine seasons leading the Mustangs. Defensive coordinator Desmar Black will be the interim coach in 2024.

It was the offense though that made the most noise a year ago, averaging 45 points per game.

That unit will have to replace running back Taji Atkins, who is now at Rice after rushing for over 2,500 yards a year ago. However, quarterback Miles Dent (1,914 passing yards and 23 touchdowns) does return in the backfield.

He got a big boost in the passing game when Louisiana commit Evan Stroman (236 receiving yards and five touchdowns) moved in from Cy-Ridge. Fellow receiver Emmanuel Yancy (337 receiving yards) is looking to build off a strong sophomore season. He’s Westfield’s leading returning receiver.

Up front, tackle Jordan Reasonover should anchor the offensive line. Ryan Anderson was a second team all-district selection at center last season. He can play anywhere on the offensive line for the Mustangs.

Defensively, TCU commit safety Joseph Albright (82 tackles) will make plays all over the field for the Mustangs. Westfield also has plenty of talent in the front seven. On the defensive line, they’ve got Army commit Nehemiah Allen (44 tackles, 12 TFLs) and Jadden Perkins (53 tackles, 17 TFLs), who is Westfield’s returning leader in tackles for loss. Behind them, linebacker Keshawn Monroe (60 tackles, 13 TFLs) is another threat off the edge.

The Mustangs have been nothing but consistent with 11 district titles in the past 12 seasons. They’ll expect no drop off this season even with the passing of the torch on their coaching staff.

 

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