Connect with us

6A

District 27-6A 2025 Season Preview

Austin Roof Inspection


The playoff battle was a fierce one in District 27-6A last fall. The final two playoff spots had to be decided by a three-way tiebreaker.

Up at the top, Johnson brought home its first district title in three-years. The Jaguars will look to go back-to-back this fall with 15 returning starters.

Here’s what to watch for in District 27-6A.

San Antonio Brandeis Broncos

Head Coach: Kemmie Lewis (2nd season; 6-4 record)

Last Season: 6-4; 4-3 in district

Brandeis Key Players and Storylines

Brandeis was the odd man out in a three-way tiebreaker for the final two playoff spots a year ago. Still, there’s encouragement to take from a 6-4 campaign in Kemmie Lewis’ first season.

The Broncos will be able to keep opposing defenses on their toes with electric junior quarterback Wynter Smith (670 passing yards, 1,114 rushing yards, 11 total TDs). He has good size too at 6’3″. Much of his skill production from last year graduated, although junior slot receiver Grayson Hallmark (186 receiving yards is one to watch.

Nick Barber is a New Mexico commit at tight end up front. He’s a physical presence at 6’3″ and 250 pounds. Offensive lineman Brennon Williams will be Brandeis’ anchor in the trenches after earning first team all-district honors last season.

Defensively, the Broncos have some work to do. They graduated their eight leading tacklers. Look for defensive lineman Robert Spears and cornerback Kai Luna to be among the players that emerge as Brandeis’ leaders this year.

A player like Smith at quarterback will keep Brandeis in a lot of games this fall. If the defense can gel together, the Broncos will expect to be in the playoff mix again this year.

San Antonio Churchill Chargers

Head Coach: Nate Shaw (2nd season; 6-5 record)

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

Returning Lettermen: 20 (5 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)

Churchill Key Players and Storylines

The Chargers have a good amount of experience back after making the playoffs in Nate Shaw’s first year at the helm.

They will have a new starting quarterback this year, but running back Kalobe Rond (777 rushing yards and nine touchdowns) can more than carry the load in the backfield while the new starter settles in. Receiver Jayden Watkins (192 receiving yards) is ready to step into the role of Churchill’s go-to receiver this season.

Tight end Archer Fuchs is a reliable blocker who can serve as an occasional pass-catcher as well.

Defensively, the Chargers will be the strongest at linebacker with seniors Aiden Ross (57 tackles) and Logan Schmidt (46 tackles).

Churchill also has a special teams weapon with kicker/punter Jason Cardenas, who was recently offered by UTSA.

Shaw said the Chargers are a little bit undersized, but they’re ready to get on the field this fall. He wants his team to strive to win one more game in each section of their season (non-district, district, and playoffs) as they aim to continue to make strides in his second year.

San Antonio Clark Cougars

Head Coach: J.L. Geist (7th season; 28-34 record)

Last Season: 5-6; 4-3 in district (Lost to Harlan in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 30 (8 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)

Clark Key Players and Storylines

After going ten years between playoff berths, the Cougars have now gone dancing in back-to-back years.

There’s high hopes for this year’s team too with eight starters back on both sides of the ball.

Clark’s scoreboard operator could be in for a busy year. Quarterback Isaiah Santillan (1,411 passing yards and 11 touchdowns) “leads the offense with poise and determination” and is back for his second year behind center. He’s got quite the weapons around him.

Wide receiver Elisha Johnson (578 receiving yards and seven touchdowns) is “dynamic when he gets the football”, while running back Xavier Canavis (1,432 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns) is the perfect mix of physicality and speed.

On the other side of the ball, the three starters Clark has to replace are all in the secondary. The front seven though will pack a punch.

Linebacker Michael Nwankwo (29 tackles, four sacks) just put on pads for the first time last spring, and the Clark coaching staff believes he’s just “beginning to scratch the surface of his potential as a player.” Fellow linebacker junior Dom Moore (61 tackles, two FFs) is Clark’s leading returning tackler.

Xavier Redding (40 tackles, nine TFLs) is “an aggressive, physical player” on the defensive line.

Everywhere you look, there’s experience on this Clark roster. With so much potential for the season, head coach J.L. Geist is keeping his message simple. He wants his team to focus on improving each week as they work towards another playoff spot.

San Antonio Johnson Jaguars

Head Coach: T.P. Miller (4th season; 27-8 record)

Last Season: 10-2; 7-0 in district (Lost to Lake Travis in area round)

Returning Lettermen: 28 (6 returning starters on offense; 9 on defense)

Johnson Key Players and Storylines

The Jaguars are ready to pounce again after their second-straight area round appearance last season.

Now, they’ll have to figure out who’s going to run the ball after Bubba Johnson and his nearly 1,300 rushing yards graduated.

The passing game though is in good shape with junior quarterback Elvis Estrada (1,960 passing yards and 16 touchdowns), who showed great composure behind center a year ago. Bryson Thompson (500 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) is the only returning receiver who had double digit catches last year. He brings explosiveness to the receiver room and will be an impact player in the passing game.

Center Josh McNeil, a two-time all-district player, and junior Terrin Abrego, who earned first team all-district honors in 2024, will lead the offensive line.

The Johnson defense only gave up just over 22 points per game last year, and it returns leaders at all three levels. Linebackers Cade Pantuso (97 tackles) and Elijah Guajardo (83 tackles) were both all-district players a year ago. Defensive lineman Jaydon Bell (40 tackles, 13 TFLs) has an “explosive first step” and will be someone opposing tackles will have to keep tabs on all year long.

Cornerback Mikhail McCreary (46 tackles, three INTs) is Johnson’s premier cover guy. He burst onto the scene as a sophomore last year, and is attracting Division I interest from across the country.

Johnson won its first district title in three years in 2024. Head coach T.P. Miller said the goal is for the Jaguars to repeat that feat this year as they look to continue to build themselves into a state contender.

San Antonio LEE Volunteers

Head Coach: Wendell Harris (3rd season; 1-19 record)

Last Season: 1-9; 0-7 in district

Returning Lettermen: 29 (9 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)

LEE Key Players and Storylines

The Volunteers haven’t won a district game in four years. And although they are still on the younger side, a lot of their players now have varsity experience under their belt.

The challenge Wendell Harris and company have is several of their top guys will go both ways this fall. That includes offensive guard/defensive tackle Kellen Harris, who is LEE’s bedrock in the trenches. He earned first team all-district honors on both sides of the ball in 2024.

Quarterback Zachary Talamantes (541 passing yards and five touchdowns) is comfortable running the show offensively, now in his third year on varsity and second season as a starter.

Look for him to get junior receiver Fabian Martinez (125 receiving yards) involved more this season. Junior running back Tahrie Chandler (574 rushing yards) also returns to pace the ground game.

Defensively, while Harris causes problems up front (15 tackles, nine TFLs), defensive back Cristian Hill (72 tackles) will keep things from breaking free on the back end. He was LEE’s leading tackler last season and has a “great motor.”

The Volunteers both improved their offensive points per game and lessened their defensive points allowed per game in 2024. They’ll look to keep that positive momentum going by “playing with pride and competing at a high level” no matter the opponent.

San Antonio Madison Mavericks

Head Coach: Blaine Pederson (9th season; 43-44 record)

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

Returning Lettermen: 31 (5 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)

Madison Key Players and Storylines

Madison lost its first eight games last year before ending the season on a two-game winning streak. However, several of those first eight contests had close calls. Four of those losses were by just one score.

Head coach Blaine Pederson expects the offense to be productive again this year. It’ll start with Baylor commit Jordan Clay (900 receiving yards and five touchdowns), who has outstanding size at 6’4″ and 200 pounds and the route running to match. Promising sophomore Isaiah Moton is a speedster who can play either running back or receiver.

The Mavericks will need to lean on senior guard Jonathan Alvarez to lead an inexperience offensive line.

Defensively is where Madison should make the biggest jump with eight returning starters. Defensive ends Axel Caracheo and Jameer Bailey (25 tackles) will both be active coming off the edge. Linebacker Bryan Gutierrez (62 tackles, five TFLs) is another player who will hear his name called a lot. He “has a nose for the football.”

Madison made the playoffs six straight seasons from 2016-2021, but it is now going on four years since the Mavericks last danced in the postseason. Pederson believes this team can make a run at snapping that drought especially with the growth he expects to see defensively.

San Antonio Reagan Rattlers

Head Coach: Preston Meyer (1st season)

Last Season: 7-4; 6-1 in district

Returning Lettermen: 31 (6 returning starters on offense; 7 on defense)

Reagan Key Players and Storylines

After Lyndon Hamilton departed to take the head coaching job at Gonzales, the Rattlers promoted defensive coordinator Preston Meyer to take over the head gig.

Reagan will have a new quarterback this year, but the Rattlers will have some bite to their ground game. Running back Rayshun Hurst (522 receiving yards, 111 rushing yards) is a three-year starter and has “elite speed.” Senior offensive linemen Emiliano Garcia, Caedmon Garcia, and Ethan Davila all return after helping the Rattlers rush for 2,200 yards last season.

Tight end/fullback Ethan Hamlin, a three-year starter, will also play a key role in opening running lanes for Hurst with his physicality and strength. Fellow tight end RC Wagner can be “an effective pass-catcher on the perimeter.”

Defensively, the front seven is the strength for the Rattlers with linebacker Cole Higby back. He led the team in tackles last season. Senior defensive linemen Henry Guzman and Hunter Cacciatorre have the versatility to both stop the run and get after opposing quarterbacks.

The cupboard isn’t bare in the secondary either. Defensive backs Jykel Harmon and Ricky Armstrong are both ballhawks who are returning starters.

The last five seasons, Reagan has finished either first or second in its district. Meyer will want to keep that consistency going especially with the returning talent the Rattlers have on both sides of the ball.

San Antonio Roosevelt Rough Riders

Head Coach: Darnell Barnes (2nd season; 2-8 record)

Last Season: 2-8; 1-6 in district

Roosevelt Key Players and Storylines

The Rough Riders will be looking for a bounce back year after a 2-8 season in 2024. It was their fewest amount of wins in a season since 2014.

They’ve got a sturdy foundation on the offensive line to lean on with four-star tackle Kaeden Scott, fellow Division I prospect senior guard Richard Severyns, and senior center Omar Williams. Behind them, running back Yail Louis will pace the ground game after earning second team all-district honors last year.

Defensively, junior safety Rayne Russell-Fields is the name to know. He received an offer from UTSA last month.

Football is a game won in the trenches, and the Rough Riders certainly have that offensively. Barnes will hope that can be the key to his guys taking a step forward in the win column this fall.


texas high school football podcast

Related Topics
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in 6A

Randalls - Fresh Food. Local Flavors.
Become an Official Partner of Texas HS Football
NFHS Network - Watch Texas High School Football Online
Roof Repair & Roof Replacement Roofers VKTRY - Performance Insoles
Roof Replacement and Roof Repair by Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal