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6A

District 28-6A Season Preview

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District 28-6A contains the nine Northside ISD schools, found on the west and northwest side of San Antonio.

With Jay dropping down to 5A Division I, it means just three of these nine squads made the playoffs a year ago. That should create plenty of hunger in a district that will be competitive from top to bottom.

Here’s what to watch in District 28-6A.

San Antonio Brennan Bears

Head Coach: Stephen Basore (15th season; 130-44 record)

Last Season: 10-3; 7-1 (Lost to Lake Travis in regional semifinals)

Brennan Key Players and Storylines

Brennan has now made it to at least the third round of the playoffs in the past four seasons. Head coach Stephen Basore is excited about the experience he has coming back on this year’s squad with six starters returning on each side of the ball.

Junior quarterback Cayden Glass got his first taste of varsity action a year ago, and Basore believes he’ll be better because of it. He’s got a great duo of running backs alongside him in senior Jaden White and junior Micai Thompson. Both are pass-catching threats as well.

Up front, senior Rosendo Quintero should lead the offensive line. He was a second team all-district selection last season.

The Bears should be sturdy in the trenches defensively too with the return of Dylan Avalos and Dylan Chapman (26 TFLs, five sacks), a Davidson commit, on the defensive line.

Behind them, linebacker Gage Brown has “tremendous speed” to roam the field with. Nickel Tristan Escobar can “play the run and pass equally well.”

The Bears have a lot of starting experience back and plenty of team speed. That has Basore feeling confident his team can compete for a fourth district title in five years and make an even deeper playoff run this fall.

San Antonio Harlan Hawks

Head Coach: Eddie Salas (7th season; 53-19 record)

Last Season: 12-1; 8-0 (Lost to Cibolo Steele in regional semifinals)

Harlan Key Players and storylines

The Hawks were flying high a year ago with their second district title and second undefeated regular season in school history.

They have a wealth of skill talent back from a unit that averaged just over 40 points per game a year ago.

Payton Matthews (1,113 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns) is the go-to option in the passing game. He returns with Jordan Grady and Caelan Grbic-Schultz, both of whom also had over 400 receiving yards a year ago.

Taveion Ford can also play some at receiver, although he was also the Hawks’ second-leading rusher a year ago (642 rushing yards and seven touchdowns; 272 receiving yards). G’Ivori Graham (731 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) will lead the way in that Hawk backfield along with Adrien McDade (463 rushing yards and six touchdowns).

The biggest question is who will be getting these guys the ball. Head coach Eddie Salas believes the Hawks could have a two-quarterback system with sophomore Aiden Pitchford and junior Aldric Trotter both coming off impressive spring performances.

Defensively, opposing quarterbacks will have to be weary when turning to the aerial attack. Safety Craig Sanders proved himself to be a ballhawk a year ago with three interceptions and returns alongside DJ Wingfield (31 total tackles, two INTs). The Hawks will also lean on cornerback Kody Brown (two INTs and four PBUs) in coverage.

Alexander Ciccarello will be Harlan’s chief disrupter up front. he had six tackles for loss and three sacks in 2023.

The depth of talent the Hawks will have this year offensively is quite remarkable. They’ll need to solidify the trenches and the quarterback spot, but things are shaping up pretty well for Harlan to have another big season this fall.

 

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San Antonio Holmes Huskies

Head Coach: Pete Padilla (3rd season; 1-19 record)

Last Season: 1-9; 0-8 in district

Holmes Key Players and Storylines

Historically a long struggling football program, Holmes is looking to continue to grow as it heads into year three under head coach Pete Padilla.

The Huskies return half their starters from last season (four on offense and seven on defense).

There’s some changes coming to the offensive backfield as Jayden Hopkins slides over from receiver to quarterback. He made his mark as a freshman last season, finishing with 406 receiving yards. Now, he’ll give the Holmes backfield a dynamic option alongside three-year starter running back Christopher Geller (204 rushing yards and two touchdowns).

Geller will also make his presence felt defensively. He was the Huskies’ 2023 sack leader from his linebacker position. Holmes also has another playmaker alongside him in fellow linebacker Edgar Camargo.

Padilla said his Huskies will be young this year, but it remains to be seen whether their talent or inexperience will win out. No matter what, he wants his guys to give their best effort throughout the season as they look to compete with their district opponents.

San Antonio Marshall Rams

Head Coach: Timothy Williams (12th season; 32-78 record)

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

Marshall Key Players and Storylines

The Rams won just two games last year but another three of their losses were by just one possession.

They’ll hope to finish those types of close games this year with nine starters returning on offense and six back on defense.

Center Hamza Harhara and right guard Ethan Espinoza will give the Rams’ option-based offense a reliable foundation up front. Fullback Jalen Glover had a great junior season (933 rushing yards) and has a good blend of strength and speed.

Outside linebacker Romeo Ortiz is the undoubted leader of the Ram defense. A four-year starter, he “sets the tone on that side of the ball.” Marshall will also lean on junior inside linebacker Jackson Krause in the middle of the field.

In the secondary, safety Braylen Bailey has great range. He’s like a “coach on the field” with his leadership.

Head coach Tim Williams admitted his team might not be the biggest or the fastest, but they have great toughness and grit. He wants his team to bring that on Friday nights as they look to compete with high intensity for all 48 minutes.

San Antonio O’Connor Panthers

Head Coach: David Malesky (15th season; 104-59 record)

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

O’Connor Key Players and Storylines

The Panthers endured a rough start to 2023 but got some momentum heading into the offseason by winning their final three games.

For a program that made the playoffs in David Malesky’s first ten years, a playoff drought now dating back to 2019 will not sit well.

They have nine starters back from last season (five on offense and four on defense).

This fall, O’Connor will need to lean on an offensive line led by Zaije Walker after graduating its quarterback, starting running back, and top four receivers.

Tight end Zach Godby does return and has “great size and hands.” Junior Riley Eason will need to step up into that receiving void for the O’Connor offense. He has “great speed and quickness.”

Malesky is excited about the players he has back on the defensive line, including Erik Castillo, who’s “strong, fast, and physical.”

The Panthers will rely on speedy linebacker Jonah Moreno in the middle of the field, while Jeremy Maldanado will be the veteran presence in the secondary.

They also have a weapon to watch on special teams in junior kicker/punter Lane Rigby. He’s a Division I prospect.

Inexperience is something the Panthers will have to overcome early on this season after replacing so many starters. However, Malesky still feels like O’Connor “has a chance to have a good team,” as the pieces continue to gel throughout the fall.

 San Antonio Sotomayor Wildcats

Head Coach: Juan Morales (3rd season: 5-15 record)

Last Season: 4-6; 2-6 in district

Sotomayor Key Players and Storylines

Heading into its third varsity season, Sotomayor is having to do something it has never done before: replace starters. The Wildcats graduated their first class in school history this past May.

Now, they only have four starters coming back on defense while six return on offense.

Offensively, it’s all about the ground-and-pound. The Wildcat coaching staff is high on sophomore running back Cam Grady and believes he’s in for a breakout year. Another sophomore, Chauncey Moon, will be stepping in at quarterback. He’s a dual threat guy that should keep defense on their toes.

C.J. Little (190 receiving yards) will be everywhere for the Wildcats. Head coach Juan Morales said he can play any skill position on the field.

Linebacker Shawn Wasley (103 tackles, 33 TFLs) will be at the forefront of the Wildcats’ run defense. He was their leading tackler a year ago.

When opposing teams look to pass, they’ll have to be weary of defensive lineman Tristan Woodruff (35 tackles, 13 TFLs). He has a “great get-off” and is a major threat in the pass rush. On the back end, defensive back Michael Inweh is a player to watch in the secondary.

Morales said many of these players have experienced a baptism by fire by playing as underclassmen when the Sotomayor program was first beginning. Now, they’re three year lettermen and are ready to push for the Wildcats’ first-ever playoff berth.

San Antonio Stevens Falcons

Head Coach: Anthony Boykin (6th season; 18-35 record)

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

Stevens Key Players and Storylines

The Falcons head into 2024 with a mixed bag when it comes to experience. While nine starters are back on offense, only three return on defense.

Look for Stevens to boast a strong rushing attack. Seniors Elijah Corpus and Noah Alvarado bring experience to the offensive line as they look to pave the way for running back Nathan Lopez. Lopez is back after leading the Falcons in rushing yards a year ago.

Defensively, there are a lot more question marks. Senior linebacker Josh Bullag should be the glue in the middle of the field for a unit that will have a lot of fresh faces.

Head coach Anthony Boykin admits his team won’t be the biggest in 2024, but the Falcons do have great chemistry. That unity will be key as they look for a bounce back campaign this fall.

Northside Taft Raiders

Head Coach: Ricky Stade (7th season; 37-30 record)

Last Season: 6-5; 5-3 (Lost to Laredo United in bi-district)

Taft Key Players and Storylines

The Raiders have now made the playoffs the past four years.

They return five starters on each side of the ball this season as they look to extend that streak.

Head coach Ricky Stade believes the offense has a chance to be explosive despite some inexperience. One of the players he’ll be relying on stepping up is junior quarterback Tucker Vogel. Vogel led Taft’s JV to a 9-1 record last year.

It will help that Vogel will have senior running back Prometheus Elmore joining him in the backfield. Elmore has “good speed” and can be dangerous in the open field. Up front, senior Francisco Reyes is Taft’s do-it-all-man. He has played every position on the offensive line and brings some nastiness with him to the trenches.

On the other side of the ball, the Raiders boasted the district’s number one defense a year ago. Several key pieces are back including senior Dakkotah Perkins, a “powerful interior defensive lineman” who can “dominate one-on-one blocks.”

Stade is also high on a pair of juniors. He believes linebacker Angel Hernandez “will get downhill and blow things up,” while safety Cody Jackson can make plays all over the field.

The Raiders had a great offseason and got quicker and stronger as a whole. Stade believes that they’ll continually get better as the season progresses as they “gain more experience in a lot of key areas.”

San Antonio Warren Warriors

Head Coach: Matt Arrufat (1st season)

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

Warren Key Players and Storylines

Matt Arrufat leads Warren into 2024 after most recently serving as Brennan’s defensive coordinator. His defensive acumen will be put to the test right away as Warren must rebuild its defense after graduating nine of its starters from last year.

The offense doesn’t have a ton of experience either with just four starters back. However, the run game should still be a strength.

Tre’vion Mitchell (801 rushing yards and eight touchdowns) and Lorenzo Ramirez (477 rushing yards and three touchdowns) make up a dynamic duo at running back. The Warriors also return three key offensive linemen led by 6’5″ left tackle Devin Amos, a three-year lettermen.

Defensively, Lee Thompson (60 tackles, 10 TFLs) and Ernesto James (20 tackles, 11 TFLs) have proved to be disruptive from their linebacker positions. Safety George Silva (38 tackles) will need to take on a leadership role as Warren’s lone returner in the secondary.

The Warriors will have fresh faces all across the board. Just 13 of its players have varsity experience.

However, with Warren having won 14 games the past two seasons, the expectation is for this group to get back in the playoff mix after coming up just short last year.


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