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6A

District 24-6A Season Preview

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District 24-6A has one change from the previous alignment, but it’s a big one. In comes Deer Park, which has made the playoffs the past five seasons.

That should make the battle for playoffs spots that much more competitive this season.

Here’s what to watch for in District 24-6A.

Brazoswood Buccaneers

Head Coach: Eric Luster (1st Season)

Last Season: 3-7; 0-6 in district

Brazoswood Key Players and Storylines

Former North Forney coach Eric Luster takes the reigns at Brazoswood after Joe Dale Cary departed to take over at Tomball Memorial.

Luster said the passion for football and the investment in athletes at Brazoswood has him excited to take over the Buccaneer program.

Five starters return on each side of the ball for a team that finished 3-7 a year ago.

The Buccaneers will lean on bell cow running back Jose Trevino (1,068 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns) offensively.

They also have two junior receivers who Luster is expecting big things from in the passing game. Israel Williams brings plenty of athleticism and is one of Brazoswood’s team captains. Braylon Burby is also expected to take on a bigger role this year with his size and reliable hands.

On the other side of the ball, cornerback Mallon James is physical and will be Brazoswood’s number one player in man coverage. Linebacker Ethan Gaston will be the captain of the defense in the middle of the field. Jackson DeAtley will be a threat in the trenches. He’s a “gifted defensive lineman that plays with leverage.”

Brazoswood won’t have great depth, but Luster is eager to see his guys compete this fall. He wants the Bucs to develop a “fast and physical style of football” as they look to find success in his first year at the helm.

Clear Brook Wolverines

Head Coach: Patrick Sanders (3rd season; 4-16 record)

Last Season: 3-7; 2-4 in district

Clear Brook Key Players and Storylines

Clear Brook showed signs of growth in Patrick Sanders’ second year charge, notching a two-win improvement from 2022.

This year, the Wolverines will need some new faces to step up with just 12 lettermen returning (including five starters on offense and four on defense).

Junior dual threat quarterback Ryan Benavides, who also is a star on the diamond for the Wolverines, is back. Sanders is impressed with the way he commands the offense. Left tackle Jordan King will protect Benavides’ blind side and will be the anchor of the offensive line.

Receiver Jayden Price (208 receiving yards) is Clear Brook’s most experienced offensive player. He brings a “calming demeanor” that should help the Wolverines offensively.

Defensively, Clear Brook has plenty of talent in the front seven. Outside linebacker Jayveon Johnson is a Division I talent who is “relentless to the ball,” while inside linebacker Cedric Jenkins is “great against the run.” Up front, the Wolverines will lean on defensive tackle Khyle Forbes.


As Clear Brook heads into its third season under Sanders, he’s expecting them to be competitive in district action. They showed growth a year ago, and he wants to continue to see improvement at every level this fall.

Clear Creek Wildcats

Head Coach: Dwayne Lane (7th season 25-38 record)

Last Season: 7-5; 3-3 in district (Lost to Summer Creek in area round)

Clear Creek Key Players and Storylines

Clear Creek bounced back from a 2-8 campaign in 2022 in a big way. The Wildcats had a five-win improvement last fall, including their first playoff victory since 2015.

They’ll start with a rather clean slate offensively this fall after graduating their starting quarterback, leading rusher, and leading receiver.

Receiver Javian Taylor should be one of the Wildcats’ top targets this fall. He was a second team all-district selection in 2023. Whoever gets the nod at quarterback will be well-protected. The Wildcats are in good shape at offensive tackle with Jaxson Abel and Wyatt Patterson, who impressed last year as a sophomore.

When it comes to the trenches defensively, Keshawn “Tank” Jones lives up to his nickname. He squatted 660 pounds back in May and was a second team all-district selection last season. Safety Luke Crowder (65 tackles, seven TFLs) will be a playmaker to watch on the back end.

The Wildcats have some work to do after graduating a number of key seniors. However, Dwayne Lane has made his Wildcats playoff contenders more often than not across his six seasons in charge, so expect them to be in the mix again this year.

Clear Falls Knights

Head Coach: Zach Head (8th season; 47-29 record)

Last Season: 7-5; 5-1 (Lost to C.E. King in area round)

Clear Falls Key Players and Storylines

Before 2019, Clear Falls had made the playoffs just once in its seven-year program history. Now, the Knights have been to the postseason in each of the last five years.

They’re gearing up for another successful season with four starters back on offense and six returning on defense.

Head coach Zach Head said the Knights will need team captains Jacob Lockstein, a four-year starter, and James Jordan to lead the offensive line with some inexperienced players stepping in alongside them.

The skill positions though have no such question marks. Wide receiver/running back Dylan Proctor (442 rushing yards, 457 receiving yards; 10 total touchdowns) is an explosive playmaker, while fellow receiver Nate Cox (542 receiving yards and five touchdowns) has great ball skills and good size at 6’2″ and 190 pounds.

Senior Jake Champagne is expected to step in at quarterback. He has “great anticipation on throws” and a good understanding of the offense after serving as a backup a year ago.

Defensive linemen Tanner Crocker (29 tackles, 12 TFLs) and John Hurst (34 tackles, four TFLs) should make the Knights’ defense pretty formidable up front. Hurst was a first team all-district selection a year ago, and Head believes he’s a Division I prospect with his explosiveness off the line.

Preston Pitts (104 tackles, 20 TFLs) is another Division I prospect from his outside linebacker position. He was Clear Falls’ second-leading tackler a year ago.


In the secondary, Kingston Cramer has great range and Kullin Pruitt (46 tackles) has great instincts. Junior Brian Harris will also be another key player on the back end.

A year ago, a blowout loss to Dickinson is all that separated the Knights from a district title. Head is hopeful his team can finish the job this year as they look to take that next step as a program.

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Clear Lake Falcons

Head Coach: Donald Lawrence (2nd season; 4-6 record)

Last Season: 4-6; 1-5 in district

Clear Lake Key Players and Storylines

Clear Lake hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018, but a pair of three-point losses is all that separated the Falcons from the postseason a year ago.

Head coach Donald Lawrence said his team will have room for growth this season with just five starters back on offense and two returning on defense.

They will need a new quarterback to emerge quick. And with uncertainty surrounding that position, Clear Lake will lean on running back Caleb Benjamin (509 rushing yards and three touchdowns) to chew clock. Benjamin is a dynamic threat, who will also be used in the return game.

The Falcons also have a strong group of returning receivers led by Talandis Cotton (350 receiving yards and five touchdowns). Up front, center Jack Wadzeck will be the “leader of the offensive line.”

The defense will revolve around safety Cameron Nelson (94 tackles, four TFLs). Lawrence said he’s Clear Lake’s best tackler and “will be making plays all over the field.” He’ll be joined in the secondary by cornerback Aden Scruggs.

Looking ahead to this fall, Lawrence expects his team to be better and more competitive in 2024. The Falcons may have some inexperience in key positions, so they’ll focus in on continuing to take steps in the right direction throughout the season.

Clear Springs Chargers

Head Coach: Anthony Renfro (4th season; 22-14 record)

Last Season: 7-5; 4-2 (Lost to North Shore in area round)

Clear Springs Key Players and Storylines

The Chargers continue to find success under head coach Anthony Renfro. They have now made it to the area round in all three years under his leadership.

They’ll be tough to slow down this year with the dynamic duo leading their passing attack. Arizona commit Muizz Tounkara (411 receiving yards and four touchdowns) has great size at 6’3″ and remarkable speed as well, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. It’s a big boost that he has another Division I talent throwing him the ball in Lamar commit quarterback Julian Salazar. Salazar was the district’s Offensive MVP a year ago.

The Chargers will lean on Tristan Jefferson on the offensive line. He started all 12 games last year as a sophomore, earning second team all-district in the process.

Defensive tackle Za’Qwuan Nunn will anchor the Chargers up front on the other side of the ball. He’s the only one of Clear Springs’ five defensive first team all-district selections from last season that didn’t graduate. That doesn’t mean though that Nunn is the only experienced player the Chargers have on their defensive line. Senior defensive end Brody McGee was a second team all-district selection last season.

Dylan Cervantes will make his presence felt from his linebacker position. He had over 70 tackles and 15 tackles for loss in 2023. And hen other teams go through the air, they’ll have to be weary of safety Zach Parish. He’s getting looks at the Division I level.

The Chargers are going to be fun to watch offensively with their passing attack. Renfro has made them into a consistent winner, so they’ll expect to be battling for one of the top spots in 24-6A again this season.

Deer Park Deer

Head Coach: Austin Flynn (7th season; 42-23 record)

Last Season: 9-2; 5-1 in district (Lost to North Shore in bi-district)

Deer Park Key Players and Storylines

The Deer have become regular district title contenders under the leadership of Austin Flynn. They have finished either first or second in the district standings in each of the last five seasons.

Last year, it was second as the Deer fell 38-35 to eventual district champion Dobie. This year, they’ll have exactly half their starters back (five on offense and six on defense) to help them combat the challenges of their new-look district.

Landon Kieselehorst is back to lead the Deer behind center. He scored 24 total touchdowns a year ago and earned first team all-district honors. He’ll have reliable protection on his blind side from North Texas commit left tackle Roberto Rodriguez. Flynn believes that offensive line will be one of the strengths of this Deer Park team.

The secondary is another strength with experienced corners Ethan Chavez, a three-year starter, and Andre Jackson, a two-year starter.

In front of them, the Deer will need some player to step up at linebacker after they had two first team all-district selections graduate. However, they do have the veteran leadership of nose guard Cameron Colquitt in the front seven. He’s a three-year starter, who was a first team all-district selection a year ago.

Deer Park faced Clear Brook and Clear Creek in non-district play a year ago, but besides those two opponents, it will be a completely new-look district for them this year. With those new challenges ahead, Flynn wants to see his team to establish itself as a playoff contender week in and week out.

Dickinson Gators

Head Coach: John Snelson (13th season; 101-37 record)

Last Season: 9-2; 6-0 in district (Lost to Pearland in bi-district)

Dickinson Key Players and Storylines

The Gators are hungry for another district title this fall. They’ve won two in the past three seasons under head coach John Snelson.

If they’re going to add another trophy though, they’re going to have to rely on their offense. Seven starters are back on that side of the ball while just two return on defense.

The Gators are going to be quite the intimidating force up front. Tyler Thomas is “one of the best offensive lineman in the state,” according to Snelson. It’s safe to say those in College Station agree with Thomas currently committed to Texas A&M.

Dickinson also has quite the duo at tight end in TCU commit Mason Peterson (311 receiving yards and five touchdowns) and Bowling Green commit Jeremiah Scoby. Both have great length and can be playmakers in the passing game.

On the other side of the ball, Dickinson will be strongest in the front seven. Outside linebacker Jacyn Mason has a “high motor” and is a playmaker off the edge. Fellow linebacker Camryn Jones will certainly make his presence felt. Snelson said he “tackles everything in sight.”

Defensive lineman Chase Lewis will bring plenty of physicality to the trenches.

Year in and year out, Dickinson’s goal is “D.P.S.” Win district, practice on Thanksgiving, and play at state. They’ve been able to check off that first box a couple of times in recent years. Now, they’ll aim to get past the area round of playoffs for the first time since 2015.

 

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