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District 3-6A Season Preview

district 3-6a texas high school football preview

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District 3-6A will look different than in previous years. The Crowley schools, Boswell, and Weatherford remain from the previous alignment, but this time, they are joined by the Mansfield schools.

North Crowley will be the favorite after reaching the state semifinals in 2023. However, the battle for the playoff spots should be wide open. Only three out of these seven programs made the postseason a year ago.

Here’s what to watch for in District 3-6A.

Crowley Eagles

Head Coach: Carlos Lynn (2nd season; 7-4 record)

Last Season: 7-4; 4-3 in district (Lost to Byron Nelson in bi-district)

Crowley Key Players and Storylines

Crowley hasn’t won a playoff game in 11 years, but the Eagles’ squad this year has some serious juice. They return 15 of their starters (eight on offense/seven on defense) from last year’s seven-win team.

Offensively, it all starts with quarterback Caleb Williams, who head coach Carlos Lynn described as a “big-time playmaker.” In addition to throwing for 2,869 yards and 34 touchdowns a year ago, he also led the Eagles in rushing (771 yards and seven touchdowns).

When he turns to the air, he’ll have two extremely talented receivers to aim for in Derrick Tasby (826 yards and 13 touchdowns) and Antayvious Ellis (708 yards and seven touchdowns), who burst onto the scene as a freshman a year ago.

Defensively, Lynn said the Eagles have work to do in the trenches. They will have a brand new defensive line in 2024.

But behind them, good luck to opposing quarterbacks because Crowley’s secondary is stacked. Brandon Ford is a “lockdown corner” while Jonathan Blake is a “hard-hitting safety.” That unit also boasts Tamondre Bowie, who led the Eagles in tackles (92) and interceptions (4) last season.

The hopes are high for this Crowley squad. Lynn has set the bar at making it to at least the third round of playoffs, a mark that hasn’t been reached by the Eagles since 1971.

Fort Worth Boswell Pioneers

Head Coach: Wes Weaver (2nd Season; 6-4 record)

Last Season: 7-4; 4-3 in district (Lost to Southlake Carroll in bi-district round)

Boswell Key Players and Storylines

Boswell will have its sights set on its fourth-straight playoff appearance this fall. However, the Pioneers have had plenty of work to do over the offseason with just three starters back on defense and only two on offense.

Head coach Wes Weaver feels good about the players he has at the skill positions on both sides of the ball led by receiver Kairel Robertson (731 receiving yards and nine touchdowns) and cornerback Christian Lassiter.

Robertson will be Boswell’s “best offensive threat” in Weaver’s eyes, although there are question marks on who will be throwing him the ball. Weaver said the battle is still ongoing for the starting quarterback role.

On the offensive line, Bryce Henderson is heading into his third year on varsity and will bring some key experience for the Pioneers in the trenches.

Defensively, in addition to Lassiter leading the back end, the Pioneers are in good shape at linebacker. Both junior Brandon Seevers (4o tackles) and senior Nicolas Bullie bring plenty of athleticism and can be threats off the edge from their outside linebacker position.

Weaver expects his Pioneers to be in the playoff mix again this fall. But with so many new faces, their mindset will be key.

“I expect us to be physically and mentally tough when we take the field,” Weaver said. “We will be a young, inexperienced team, so attitude, effort and competitiveness of the group is gonna  have to carry us early.”  

Mansfield Tigers

Head Coach: Greg George (6th Season; 25-26 rec0rd)

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

Mansfield Key Players and Storylines

The Tigers came up a game short of the playoffs in 2023. However, the program as a whole has been getting back on track. They now have back-to-back winning seasons after four straight years with losing records.

As they look to get back to the postseason in 2024, the Tigers have some good experience to work with as seven starters are back offensively and six return on defense.

Head coach Greg George likes what he has at the skill positions led by Jacobe Hayes, a “dynamic athlete” who led the Tigers in receiving yards (493 yards and four touchdowns) a year ago. Tim Abraham can play at both receiver and corner. He has plenty of length at 6’3″.

And it won’t just be those playmakers carrying the offense. Quarterback Braxton Van Cleave, a Kentucky baseball commit, is a dual threat signal-caller. Last year, he had nearly 1,600 yards passing and added another 244 yards on the ground.

George said the trenches are where the Tigers are the youngest. That means returning starters offensive lineman Jaylin Turner and defensive tackle Jeffrey Fobbs will have to take on leadership roles in their respective position groups.

On the defense as a whole, linebacker Sawyer Warren is the player to watch. He was the third-leading tackler in the district a year ago.

George said he will set the bar high for his Tigers as they look to break back into the postseason and push for their first playoff victory since 2017. He said their culture built on character, integrity, and hard work is a sturdy foundation that should allow the program to continue to reach its potential on the field.

 Mansfield Lake Ridge Eagles

Head Coach: Kirk Thor (13th season; 65-71 record)

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

Lake Ridge Key Players and Storylines

Lake Ridge is ready to move on from a disappointing 2023 season. Head coach Kirk Thor said his team will be young this year with just 13 returning lettermen, but he believes the Eagles have some good talent coming through the pipeline.

Four starters return offensively. Most notably, the Eagles have an anchor on their offensive line in four-star tackle Felix Ojo. The junior comes in at 6’7″ and 285 pounds and has over 20 Division I offers. Sophomore Justin McBride is ready to step in on the offensive line as well. Thor is confident he will be a three-year starter for the Eagle program.


Out at the skill position, the Eagles best threat will be Parker Threats. He has good speed and will be sorely needed in a unit replacing its leading rusher and receiver from a year ago.

Defensively, Lake Ridge has just three starters back. Linebacker Jaden Jones was a second team all-district selection a year ago, while Tylen Hockett should be a key player in the Eagle secondary.

Lake Ridge will be relieved to have escaped the District of Doom, which included annual matchups against Duncanville and DeSoto. And looking forward to this fall, Thor believes things are looking up for the Eagle program with several promising young players ready to step into bigger roles. He’s hopeful they’ll develop enough to have his team in the playoff mix come the closing weeks of the season.

Mansfield Legacy Broncos

Head Coach: Jeff Hulme (4th Season; 7-23 record)

Last Season: 3-7; 2-5 in district

Mansfield Legacy Key Players and Storylines

The Broncos will be ready to seize the opportunity presented with this new-look 3-6A.

Heading into this season, they return just under half of their starters from a year ago with five back on each side of the ball.

Jaden Manning (367 rushing yards and two touchdowns) is likely to step up into the premier role in the backfield following the graduation of Kaidan Johnson. He received his first Division I offer from UTEP back in late April.

Xander Walker was a force last year defensively as a linebacker, finishing with 97 tackles. Hulme expects him to play a key role as a tight end this season too. On the offensive line, Khalil Sanogo brings some size to the tackle position at 6’5″ and 275 pounds.

Defensively, the Broncos have some budding stars in the secondary. Brian Barton is getting Division I looks, while Landon Isbell was a second team all-district selection at safety last year. Immanuel Moore should anchor the Bronchos up front after earning second team all-district honors as well in 2023.

Hulme said the Broncos may not have a ton of quality depth at the moment, but the team’s overall chemistry is strong. With that togetherness and some of the high end talent Legacy has at the skill positions, the Broncos will hope to be in the playoff battle come the final weeks of this season.

North Crowley Panthers

Head Coach: Ray Gates (3rd season; 26-2 record)

Last Season: 14-1; 7-0 in district (Lost to Duncanville in state semifinals)

North Crowley Key Players and Storylines

Something special is brewing at North Crowley. The Panthers made their furthest playoff run since their 2003 state championship a year ago. They also notched back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time in program history.

They’re loaded and ready to make another run at state this season.

Dual threat quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. (3,092 passing yards, 1,105 rushing yards, and 52 total touchdowns), a North Texas commit, is back to lead the way offensively. He’ll be joined in the backfield by running backs Cornelius Warren (705 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns), a UNLV commit, and Daniel Bray (1,359 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns), who transferred in from Abilene Cooper this offseason.

The offensive line will have no trouble paving the way for this explosive trio. They’ll have Missouri commit Henry Fenuku on the interior and four-star prospect junior John Turntine III out at tackle. Center John Delgado was also a first team all-district selection last year.

Defensively, the Panthers have just as much talent. The sky appears to be the limit for senior linebacker Jonathan Cunningham, who is committed to Texas.  He’s far from alone in the middle of the field. Fellow linebacker Ja’Brelle Asbury was also a first team all-district selection in 2023.

And for opposing quarterbacks, the North Crowley secondary will put them to the test. Cornerback Draden Fullbright is committed to Tulsa, while fellow defensive back Gaylon McNeal Jr. is also getting Division I looks.

The amount of next-level talent on this North Crowley team speaks for itself. And considering Ray Gates has not lost a regular season game so far in his tenure, this Panther team is not going to be an easy proposition to take down. Don’t be surprised if they put together another season to remember in 2024.

Weatherford Kangaroos

Head Coach: Aubrey Sims (4th season; 19-12 record)

Last Season: 5-5; 3-4 in district

Weatherford Key Players and Storylines

The Kangaroos haven’t finished below .500 in all three seasons under head coach Aubrey Sims. However, they’ve made the playoffs just once, a testament to how tough District 3-6A has been in recent years.

A year ago, the Kangaroos saw three different players see significant playing time at quarterback. Sophomore Cutter Kennedy (636 passing yards and six touchdowns) is the lone returner out of that trio.

The return of Weatherford’s top option in the passing game will help. Colton McClure caught 52 passes for 864 yards a year ago. Expect the Kangaroos to get him plenty of targets again this season. Their other four top receivers from 2023 all graduated.

Defensively, safety Micah Moore (99 tackles) led the Kangaroos in tackles a year ago. Joining him in the secondary is corner James Gray (38 tackles and three interceptions). He’ll likely be trusted against opposing teams’ top receivers after leading the Kangaroos in interceptions last fall.

In the front seven, Asa Dowling should be Weatherford’s premier pass rush option off the edge.

The Kangaroos have some production to replace on both sides of the ball, but they will be hopeful of seizing the opportunity presented by this new-look District 3-6A after coming up just short of the playoffs the past two seasons.

 

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