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6A

District 17-6A Season Preview

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There’s a lot of intrigue in 17-6A this year. Three teams have new head coaches, while Cypress Falls replaces Spring Woods in the lone change from the previous alignment.

The addition of the Golden Eagles means there will be five playoff squads from 2023 vying for four playoff tickets.

Here’s what to watch for in District 17-6A.

Cy-Fair Bobcats

Head Coach: Jeff Miller (5th season; 38-10 record)

Last Season: 11-2; 7-0 in district (Lost to North Shore in regional semifinals)

Cy-Fair Key Players and Storylines

The Bobcats are coming off a strong 2023 campaign, which included an upset of Katy in the area round. They have some work to do heading into this year especially offensively. Quarterback Trey Owens is now at Texas and their leading two rushers and top three receivers also all graduated.

They’ll still have some Division I talent in the passing attack with Houston commit tight end Wyatt Herbel. He proved himself as a receiving threat last year with 514 yards and 11 touchdowns to his name. Shifty junior running back Arnell Fontenot was one back among three that saw significant carries last year. Now, he’s the most experienced player in the backfield.

Up front, center Koy Faecher will bring important leadership in the trenches. He was a first team all-district selection last fall.

Defensively, the Bobcats have their star back in defensive lineman Landon Rink (71 tackles, 28.5 TFLs). The Defensive MVP of the district last year, he is currently committed to Texas A&M. However, the other six players on the Bobcat defense that earned first or second team all-district honors last year all graduated.

They’ll lean on junior defensive back Jaden Vaughn in the secondary this year. He has a pair of Division I offers to his name after this summer.

There’s no doubt that Cy-Fair is going to have a lot of new faces in some key places this fall. But in a program that has made the playoffs for 14 consecutive years and won a state title in 2017, there’s no such thing as a rebuilding year. Despite the roster turnover, the Bobcats will expect to compete for their fifth district title in six years.

Cypress Creek Cougars

Head Coach: Deveon McKinney (1st season)

Last Season: 3-7; 3-4 in district

Cypress Creek Key Players and Storylines

A new era of Cypress Creek football will begin this season after Greg McCaig retired. He had led the Cougars since 2002.

Their new head coach Deveon McKinney has coached for 15 years in Texas and had most recently been the run game coordinator at North Shore.

He has six starters back on each side of the ball to work with as he takes over the program.

The offensive skill positions will be one of Cypress Creek’s biggest strengths. Ethan Wright and Jayphon Duncan are both deep threats at the receiver position.

In the backfield, Garland Wilburn (1,122 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns) “runs extremely hard,” while tight end/H-back Henry Doucette is “physical in the run game” and “catches the ball well out of the backfield.” He was the district’s newcomer of the year in 2023.

The offensive line has some more question marks. Junior Maleek Tenisi will need to play a key role. He’s a “high ceiling athlete” who is “physical in the run game.”

Defensively, McKinney is excited about nose guard Marlon Cook. He believes he’s due for a breakout junior year. Senior linebackers Kodie Sanders and Bruchard Johnson are both playmakers that will boost Cypress Creek’s front seven.

The secondary has some holes to fill. That means seniors Darryl Brocken and Nixon Porter will have to step up. Brocken “moves well and tackles in space” from his nickel position, while Porter will be the Cougars’ lockdown corner.

McKinney said his players have handled the coaching transition really well. Now, he wants to make sure his staff’s systems and cultures get fully implemented this year as they look to build a foundation for years to come.

Cypress Falls Golden Eagles

Head Coach: Chris Brister (8th season; 46-30 record)

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

Cypress Falls Key Players and Storylines

The Golden Eagles are coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons. They’ll have a completely new backfield this year  after their starting quarterback and now-Army running back Trey Morris graduated. They also have to replace three all-district offensive linemen, who all graduated.

Junior running back Gabriel Wilson will be a player to watch. He can accelerate in a hurry and picked up his first Division I offer this summer.

There’s no doubting who will lead the Golden Eagle aerial attack. Wide receiver Chase Ferrell is an Air Force commit and is coming off a season where he had 858 receiving yards and five touchdowns.


On defense, linebacker Kaleb Burns (73 tackles, 18.5 TFLs) will be the star of the show. The Baylor commit was District 16-6A’s Defensive MVP last season. However, there’s work to do around him. The Golden Eagles had seven seniors last year earn first or second team all-district.

Sophomore Dyllon Harris is an up-and-coming player to watch at defensive end. Ashton Wilson will be the Golden Eagles’ playmaker in the secondary. He had two interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2023.

The Golden Eagles had a lot of work to do this offseason with several holes to fill on both sides of the ball. They’ll need their new starters to hit the ground running this fall as they look for a third consecutive playoff berth.

Cypress Ridge Rams

Head Coach: Andrew Shanle (6th season; 13-37 record)

Last Season: 2-8; 2-5 in district

Cypress Ridge Key Players and Storylines

Cypress Ridge has won just two games in each of the past four seasons, but head coach Andrew Shanle is hopeful of a breakthrough this year. The Rams have seven starters back on offense and eight returning on defense.

Senior offensive lineman Elijah Muhammad will be Cypress Ridge’s vocal leader on that side of the ball.

At the skill positions, receiver Murry Charles is an “athletic sophomore who can line up anywhere on the field.” Ki’Shon Munro brings plenty of versatility for Shanle and his staff to work with. He can either play at quarterback or receiver depending where the need is the greatest.

The Rams have a budding star in defensive end Kaden McCarty. He started as a freshman and has a “quick first step” coming off the edge. Linebacker Kyle Provost also will be a threat as a pass rusher. Shanle said he’s continuing to improve in coverage as well.

On the back end, safety Rennie Grismore has great instincts. He was a second team all-district selection a year ago.

Shanle said his players have been taking care of business on and off the field leading up to this season. Now, he’s hopeful that hard work will be rewarded with some key victories for this Ram program on the field this fall.

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Houston Memorial Mustangs

Head Coach: Gary Koch (32nd season; 194-147-3)

Last Season: 5-6; 5-2 in district (Lost to Houston Heights in bi-district)

Memorial Key Players and Storylines

Memorial bounced back from an 0-3 start last year to earn its fifth-straight playoff berth. The Mustangs have to replace their starting quarterback this year, but they’re well-stocked at receiver with William Van Wie, who’s a Houston commit in baseball, and Carson Wall, who was a first team all-district selection last season. He can be a handful for defensive backs to stay with.

Up front, juniors Harrison Rabel and Evan Paul will anchor the offensive line. Both were second team all-district honorees last fall.

Corbin Comiskey should be Memorial’s main man in the running game following the graduation of 800-yard rusher Cooper Gindorf. Comiskey had 446 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2023.

Defensively, the Mustangs are stout in the middle of the field. Linebackers Isaac Richardson and John Kafka were two of Memorial’s leading tacklers last season. Seniors Mason Riddle and Edward Gray will join them in that position group. They were both second team all-district selection last season.

Memorial should be strong again defensively after giving up just 25 points per game a year ago. Settling in a new quarterback will be one of the pieces of the puzzle Koch and his staff have to solve, but enough talent is back for Memorial for the Mustangs to set the bar at another playoff berth this fall.

Houston Northbrook Raiders

Head Coach: Demond Stafford (1st Season)

Last Season: 0-10; 0-7 in district

Northbrook Key Players and Storylines

Demond Stafford took Pasadena Dobie to the playoffs in all three of his years leading the Longhorns. Now, he’ll take over a Northbrook program that has won just one game in the last six seasons combined.

The Raiders defense should take a step forward this year after giving up 42 points per game a year ago. Josue Giron (56 tackles, four TFLs) is a tackling machine at linebackers. Defensive backs Ezequiel Diaz (69 tackles, six TFLs) and Vince Macias (43 tackles, two INTs) can also be relied upon to make plays in the open field. Maurice Campbell will join them in the secondary as a lockdown corner. Nose tackle Ismael Compean (29 tackles, 6.5 TFLs) will be a leader in the trenches.

Offensively, backs Arrion Matthews and Niko Zeledon will lead the rushing attack and also serve as receiving options out of the backfield.

Stafford has a good foundation to build on with the defensive talent the Raiders have returning this year.

He knows how to win from his time at Dobie. Now, he’ll look to establish that same winning culture in the Raiders program this fall.

 Houston Stratford Spartans

Head Coach: Todd Rankin (7th season; 41-25 record)

Last Season: 9-4; 6-1 in district (Lost to Summer Creek in regional semifinals)

Stratford Key Players and Storylines

The Spartans advanced to the third round of playoffs a year ago, their best postseason run in 10 years.

Stratford returns seven starters offensively, although it did graduate its top three receivers.

Expect the ground game to carry this team early. Head coach Todd Rankin is excited about the potential of that rushing attack.

Running back Javier Denson missed much of last year due to injury, but Rankin said he’s had an exceptional offseason. Quarterback Aaron DeLeon (3,301 passing yards, 557 rushing yards, and 54 total TDs) is a dual threat who led the Spartans in rushing in 2023. He’s a “huge playmaker” who can make something out of nothing.

On the offensive line, junior Foard Polley is a returning starter. Rankin believes he’s ready to step into a leadership role in the trenches in 2024.

On the other side of the ball, just four starters are back, although the Spartans did add a transfer from Strake Jesuit in lockdown corner John Jospeh. Linebacker Tiergan Burl (72 tackles, 6 TFLs) will be a force in the “middle of the defense,” while defensive lineman Carson Davidson (40 tackles) is an “athletic defensive lineman who can win one-on-one matchups.”

After losing to eventual 6A Division II runner-up Summer Creek in the regional semifinals a year ago, Rankin said his team now has firsthand experience of seeing “what state level teams are made of.” He expects the Spartans to be back in the playoffs this season as they look to peak at the right time and make some noise deep into November.

Jersey Village Falcons

Head Coach: Levelle Norris (1st season)

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

Jersey Village Key Players and Storylines

For the first time since 1997, the Falcons will have a new head coach following David Snokhous’ retirement. Levelle Norris will be the interim coach for the Falcons in 2024. He has plenty of familiarity with the current group of players having been on staff since 2017.

Seven starters are back on offense, while five return on defense for Jersey Village this fall.

Norris likes the talent he has at the skill positions. Dinh Huynh caught 34 passes for 507 yards a year ago at receiver, while Colby Hall was a second team all-district tight end last fall. Their experience will be crucial as the Falcons must replace a four-year starter at quarterback following the graduation of Adam Tran.

Center Easton Critchfield will be the focal point of the Jersey Village offensive line.

On the other side of the ball, defensive end Demarcus Griffin (43 tackles, 13.5 TFLs) and defensive tackle Taylor Williams (3o tackles, 2.5 TFLs) will make a strong duo for the Falcons up front. Senior defensive back Kendall Hawkins will be a key player for the Falcons in the back end.

Jersey Village has made the playoffs four-straight years heading into this season. With the experience his squad has returning, Norris expects the Falcons to extend that streak to five this fall.

 

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