23-6A (formerly 21-6A in the previous realignment) is Houston’s version of the District of Doom. Last year, North Shore and Summer Creek played for state championships, while Atascocita and C.E. King each advanced to at least the third round of playoffs.
This fall, the district adds Channelview, which has made the playoffs four years in a row.
There’s a good chance a couple of deserving teams are left watching the bi-district round at home this year.
Here’s what to watch for in District 23-6A.
Atascocita Eagles
Head Coach: Craig Stump (13th season; 121-31 record)
Last Season: 11-3; 5-2 in district (Lost to North Shore in regional final)
Atascocita Key Players and Storylines
Atascocita has won 11 games in each of the past three seasons. However, they have lost to North Shore in the regional final all three years.
However, head coach Craig Stump believes his team is a legitimate state title contender this year. It’s easy to see why. Seven starters are back on each side of the ball.
The Eagles are spoiled at running back with Oklahoma commit Tory Blaylock (616 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns) and three-star prospect junior Cardae Mack (1,370 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns). Paving the way for them up front will be four-year starter Mike Musquiz.
Watched some of this Atascocita vs. Katy game and 2026 RB Cardae Mack has stolen the show.
Well over 150 yards with three touchdowns on 13 carries vs. Katy including this one.
Paging all my recruiting experts…This dude is crazy pic.twitter.com/YMbUPfUT0I
— Matthew Brune (@MatthewBrune_) September 2, 2023
Atascocita does have to replace its starting quarterback and three leading receivers from a year ago. However, receivers Brodrick Malone (167 receiving yards and two touchdowns) and Kyran Pate (485 receiving yards) are both Division I talents waiting in the wings.
On the other side of the ball, the Eagles will be young on the defensive line so they’ll need Chris Minor (54 tackles) to be their anchor. He was a first team all-district selection a year ago.
The secondary is in good shape with cornerback Brandon Washington (32 tackles, three INTs) and safety Hunter Sowell back. Sowell earned his first Division I offer in May.
Not only are the Eagles loaded with Division I talent among their upperclassmen, Stump also believes the sophomore class will be big contributors this year. Atascocita will hope that wealth of options will help them break through that regional final barrier as it seeks that first state title in school history.
Baytown Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
Head Coach: Daniel Ragsdale (3rd season; 2-18 record)
Last Season: 1-9; 0-8 in district
Goose Creek Memorial Key Players and Storylines
Goose Creek Memorial has only played two seasons of 6A football in its history back in 2016 and 2017. Across those two seasons, the Patriots won just one game, so they’ll hope for better results this time around.
Daniel Ragsdale’s squad returns just 15 lettermen from a year ago, although they do have five starters back on each side of the ball.
Speedy receiver Joshua Babin may be the Patriots most dangerous player. He was a second team all-district utility selection a year ago. Sophomore Matthew Thomas brings good size and strength to the receiving core. He’ll also see snaps at linebacker.
Sophomore SZN Highlights 26’ @GcmPatriot @GCMFBRecruiting @TrustMyEyesO @CoachJP3 @kevcolston @iCoachNash @iamtitusjay pic.twitter.com/olNCZvQNBq
— Joshua Babin (@JoshuaBabin26) November 12, 2023
Senior Guillermo Gutierrez will give Ragsdale options along the offensive line with his position versatility.
Defensively, Martin Alamillo will be a good leader for the Patriot defense at linebacker. Fellow linebacker Jaylan Green will be another important player in the middle of the field with his athleticism. Both Green and Alamillo could see carries offensively at running back as well.
On the back end, junior Myles Reimonenq brings good size and athleticism to the secondary.
Ragsdale said the Patriots will have the double edged sword this year of relying on young talent. Whether their ability or inexperience wins out remains to be seen.
C.E. King Panthers
Head Coach: George Young (3rd season; 18-9 record)
Last Season: 9-4; 4-3 in district (Lost to Fort Bend Hightower in regional semifinal)
C.E. King Key Players and Storylines
Sharing a district with Atascocita, North Shore, and Summer Creek has done C.E. King a world of good. Even though they have finished fourth in district play the past two seasons, they have made it to at least the third round of the playoffs in both years.
They’ll hope this district will prepare them for the playoffs yet again this season with just four starters back on each side of the ball.
Speedy running back Dionne Sims is back to pace the ground game. He led the Panthers in rushing last year (795 yards and nine touchdowns) as a sophomore.
We took home the W against Kingwood HS and here is one TD run opened up by my line. @CEKCoachYoung1 @coach22ab @COACHPATROB @corylaxen @Locklyn33 @HoustonChronHS @UHCougarFB @TCUFootball @duckscrootin @UTSAFTBL @LSUFBrecruiting @HokiesFB @FSUFootball @AggieFootball @OU_Football pic.twitter.com/LczciAW7xT
— Dionne C F Sims (@dionne_cf) October 9, 2023
C.E. King graduated its top four receivers, so expect tight end Mehki Emerennini (248 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) to play a big role this season. Up front, tackle Denathius Harris will be a physical blocker for the Panthers.
Opposing tackles will have to be weary of Dominic Toulon. He was a menace off the edge a year ago, finishing with 95 tackles and 26 tackles for loss.
Behind him, the Panthers will lean on physical linebacker Jaivienx Mouton (42 tackles, 11 TFLs) and Zarion Hogg in the secondary. Hogg was a second team all-district selection a year ago.
The Panthers may not be the biggest team on paper, but head coach George Young said their team unity is great. This program has figured out how to peak at the right time the past two years, and that will be the expectation again this season as they aim for another deep playoff run.
Channelview Falcons
Head Coach: Averion Hurts (18th season; 72-110 record)
Last Season: 5-6; 4-2 in district (Lost to C.E. King in bi-district)
Channelview Key Players and Storylines
The Falcon program is soaring higher than it ever has before. Channelview has made the playoffs four years in a row, the longest streak in school history.
With five starters returning on each side of the ball, the Falcons will be aiming to extend that school record this fall.
Quarterback Jason Wheelock (1,418 passing yards and 12 touchdowns) is back for his second year behind center. Head coach Averion Hurts said he has great football IQ. He has pieces around him too with a strong anchor up front in right tackle Justin Taylor and a deep threat in receiver Joshua Wiggins (161 receiving yards and two touchdowns).
Week 2 v.s. Mac Arthur
More improving to do @DjMac8 @djhollywood1911 @DavidWatson___ @JamesEd68697556 @nemoisabucket pic.twitter.com/emhDrQnkQ0
— Jason wheelock (@JasonW_2025) September 3, 2023
Other teams will have to be weary when attacking Channelview through the air. Junior cornerback Shelton Cavitt has “really good ball skills” and earned first team all-district honors a year ago. Safety Brandon Orellana (42 tackles) is another returning starter. He’ll serve as the Falcons’ field general.
Up front, Channelview will be expecting a lot from three-year letterman Joshua Torres (68 tackles, eight TFLs). He has good strength and agility from his defensive tackle position.
Hurts said he considers this district like the SEC as the Falcons go against state contenders like North Shore, Atascocita, and Summer Creek. With no margin for error, the Falcons will have to “grow up and adjust fast,” if they want to earn another postseason ticket this fall.
Galena Park North Shore Mustangs
Head Coach: Willie Gaston (2nd season; 15-1 record)
Last Season: 15-1; 7-0 in district (Lost to Duncanville in 6A Division I State Championship Game)
North Shore Key Players and Storylines
The Mustangs didn’t miss a beat as Jon Kay passed the torch off to Willie Gaston. The Mustangs have now made it to the state championship game in five of the past six seasons. Unfortunately for them, they have now fallen to Duncanville on the biggest stage in each of the past two years.
Unfortunately though for their opponents, almost the entire North Shore offense is back this season. Quarterback Kaleb Bailey (3,152 passing yards and 34 touchdowns) is heading into his third full year as the starting quarterback, so he will be ready for the moment. He’s spoiled when it comes to weapons. Rice commit running back D’Andre Hardeman Jr. (1,709 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns) will be ready to be the Mustangs’ bell cow again this season.
TOUCHDOWN MUSTANGS
North Shore: 28
Westlake: 19
Running back D’andre Hardeman Jr dives and scores
5:45 Left in the Third Quarter #TXHSFB | @NSNationFb | @vypehouston | @VypeATX pic.twitter.com/kNwjB4Qu6y
— Ashton James Lux (@ashtonjlux) December 10, 2022
And when it comes to their passing attack, defensive backs will have to worry about three-star commit Deion Deblanc (404 receiving yards and seven touchdowns), The Woodlands transfer Quannell X Farrakhan Jr. (820 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns), a Colorado commit, and senior Cameron Smith.
Up front, the Mustangs have Pittsburgh commit Jordan Fields and Louisiana commit Jaokby Isom.
On the other side of the ball, good luck trying to attack North Shore’s defense through the air. Cornerback Devin Sanchez (21 tackles and five INTs) is one of the top prospects in all the nation. He’s not alone either. The Mustangs also have Arkansas commit Nigel Pringle (13 tackles and three INTs) and highly-touted junior Chace Calicut among their cornerback options. In the front seven, linebacker Charles Ross, a LSU commit, is the player to watch. He had 71 tackles and six sacks a year ago.
North Shore has made plenty of headlines across the past six years with its five part saga against Duncanville. The Mustangs are loaded again this season as they look to grab that crown back after seeing their last two seasons end in heartbreak at AT&T Stadium.
Humble Wildcats
Head Coach: Robert Murphy (2nd season; 4-6 record)
Last Season: 4-6; 2-5 in district
Humble Key Players and Storylines
Humble didn’t back down from a challenge a year ago. The Wildcats took C.E. King to overtime, lost to Kingwood by 10, and only fell to North Shore by two touchdowns.
They have just four starters back on offense and five returning on defense, but head coach Robert Murphy believes that youth could be a strength. He said he has seen his players eager to prove themselves day in and day out throughout the offseason.
Humble has the offensive weapons to do some damage. Running back Tharren Hill is a “strong downhill runner,” while McArthur Baker III is a dynamic playmaker. Murphy said he’ll get snaps in the backfield and slot this fall.
At quarterback, Tristian Bernard is back after splitting time with Baker a year ago. Murphy said he’ll be a vocal leader for this Wildcat squad.
Junior safety Marcus Bourda Jr. (78 tackles and five TFLs) will be Humble’s defensive leader. He is heading into his third year as a starter.
Humble 2026 S Marcus Bourda@MarcusBourdajr2 | @FootballHumble pic.twitter.com/vR83QX2xz0
— Jason Howell (@Jason_Howell) June 17, 2024
Bourda Jr. was Humble’s second leading tackler a year ago. Their leader in that category was linebacker Demoy Carr (95 tackles, 12 TFLs). He’s also back and can bring plenty of speed to the middle of the field.
In the trenches, keep an eye on defensive lineman Jalen Lolesio. He’s “athletic, physical, and has great hands.” Murphy said he’ll demand a double team from the opposition.
The Wildcats are hungry heading into Murphy’s second season. He said he has a “team full of selfless kids who all want to be better. After those aforementioned close calls a year ago, Murphy believes his team is ready to push for a playoff spot this fall.
Kingwood Mustangs
Head Coach: Cale Melton (5th season; 11-29 record)
Last Season: 3-7; 3-4 in district
Kingwood Key Players and Storylines
Kingwood was the best of the rest in District 21-6A a year ago, finishing a game outside the final playoff spot. This season, the Mustangs will be hoping to close the gap on the top contenders with seven starters back on offense and nine returning on defense.
The Mustang offense is anchored up front by left tackle Hayden Wright. At 6’5″ and 250 pounds, he’s a reliable force to protect Kingwood’s quarterback Holland Hargrave‘s (767 passing yards and seven touchdowns) blind side.
Running back Marquez Davis (913 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) has great “vision and strength,” while receiver Jailen Monegan (195 receiving yards and four touchdowns) has reliable hands and is a good route runner.
Marquez Davis,RB
C/O ‘25HS: Kingwood(TX)
Finished the season w/ 913 yds on 169 carries. 5.4 YPC. 9 TDs. Long Run: 64 yds.
Great RB build (5’11” 182). Frame can support additional lbs for college, if needed.
Strong every down back w/ breakaway speed in the open field.
4.8gpa pic.twitter.com/4n2dLEInvo
— Mark Russell (@MarkRussellQB) November 14, 2023
On the other side of the ball, Kingston is loaded in its front seven. Linebackers Sam Malone (107 tackles) and Braden Fuentes (95 tackles) are both three-year starters and will serve as the quarterbacks of the defense. Outside linebacker Cade Haug (69 tackles) has great size and speed. He’ll see snaps at running back too.
Up front, opposing tackles will be in for a busy night against Kingwood’s defensive ends. Casen McDonald (55 tackles, seven TFLs) and Adeolu Dada (53 tackles, three TFLs) are also three-year starters. They’ll keep you on your toes with their ability to fly around and make plays.
Kingwood has no shortage of veteran talent, which will give the Mustangs confidence heading into this season. However, in such a loaded district, head coach Cale Melton said his team will simply need to take it one game a time as they look to snap a five-year playoff drought.
Humble Summer Creek Bulldogs
Head Coach: Kenny Harrison (7th season; 48-27 record)
Last Season: 14-2; 6-1 in district (Lost to DeSoto in 6A Division II State Championship Game)
Summer Creek Key Players and Storylines
Summer Creek had its breakthrough moment in 2023, reaching its first-ever state championship game. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they ran into a DeSoto team that was undoubtedly the best team in the state last fall.
Now, the Bulldogs will look to prove they have staying power among the state’s elites. It helps they have quarterback Blake Thomas (2,487 passing yards and 27 touchdowns) back leading the way. A dual threat, he can keep opposing defenses on their toes.
There is work to be done at the skill positions. 2,100-yard rusher Lloyd Avant is now at Tulsa, while Summer Creek’s top three receivers also graduated. Keep an eye on senior running back Aaron Alexander (343 rushing yards and five touchdowns) and sophomore receiver Tre Brown (227 receiving yards and three touchdowns) as players that could take on bigger roles this season.
🦴 Touchdown @SC_BulldogFB 🦴
As the kids say, Blake Thomas has been “in his bag” today. He fires a strike to freshman Tre Brown for another Bulldog touchdown.
Summer Creek 52
Stratford 15
11:20 | 4th#TXHSFB pic.twitter.com/45zlQbWbb0— Ryan Brauninger (@R_Brauninger) November 25, 2023
Defensively, the Bulldogs are going to be tough to handle up front with TCU commit defensive end Chad Woodfork (33 tackles and nine TFLs) and Washington State commit defensive tackle Josiah Pratt (70 tackles and 16 TFLs). They also have two reliable tacklers on the backend in safeties Brandon Jones (83 tackles), a Northwestern State commit, and Qwest Simmons (78 tackles and eight TFLs).
If you take out the state championship game, Summer Creek allowed just 12.7 points per game a year ago. That defense should be just as strong this year and with Thomas leading the way offensively, the Bulldogs will be eyeing another state run in 2024.
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