Mansfield Lake Ridge Eagles
Head Coach: Kirk Thor (15th season; 75-83 record)
Last Season: 9-3; 5-1 in district (Lost to Permian in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 47 (6 returning starters on offense; 4 on defense)
Lake Ridge Key Players and Storylines
Talk about a turnaround. Lake Ridge won just one total game between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but last year was a different story. The Eagles finished 9-3 and snapped a six-year playoff drought.
They have several key players back this season, but the competition will be even tougher as they return to the District of Doom alongside the likes of Duncanville, North Crowley, and Waxahachie.
Quarterback Deshawn Edwards (2,458 passing yards, 1,383 rushing yards) won’t be fazed. He’s a dual threat playmaker who was the District 3-6A Offensive MVP last season. He’s spoiled with weapons too. Jayden Evans (761 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns) is a Division I caliber receiver as is Micah Blow (710 receiving yards and six touchdowns), who lives up to his last name with state track level speed. Running back Jaiden Cotton rushed for 1,193 yards a year ago, so the Eagles should be able to boast a balanced attack.
It is the Deshawn Edwards show right now. He scores on a 48-yard run on fourth-and-1 to give Lake Ridge a 38-31 lead over Trinity with 6:14 left third quarter. Lake Ridge has scored 21 straight points.#txhsfb @SportsDayHS @dctf @ihss_dfw @LakeRidgeFB @MISDathletics @mansfieldisd pic.twitter.com/v15fBYYWxi
— Greg Riddle (@DMNGregRiddle) November 15, 2025
They also have some experience in the trenches with center Justin McBride, who is heading into his third year as a starter, and tackle Isayah Mulusa.
Defensively, Lake Ridge loses a lot off of last year’s team. Still, 6’1.5”, 280-pound defensive tackle Mason Johnson (71 tackles, 20 TFLs) will be a handful for opposing offensive lines, while junior safety Kylen Jones (50 tackles) brings experience as a returning starter on the back end.
Head coach Kirk Thor said the Eagles still have to build up some depth in their younger classes, but there’s no overlooking the talent on this year’s team. They’ll be desperate to prove last year wasn’t a fluke as they go up against some of the toughest teams in 6A.
Lake Ridge 2026 Schedule
*- Denotes District 11-6A schedule
28-Aug @ Prosper Walnut Grove at Prosper ISD Stadium 7:00pm
4-Sep vs. San Angelo Central at RLA Stadium 7:00pm
11-Sep @ Lake Highlands at Wildcat-Ram Stadium 7:00pm
*18-Sep @ Waxahachie at Lumpkins Stadium 7:00pm
*25-Sep vs. Mansfield at Newsom Stadium 7:00pm
*9-Oct vs. Skyline at Newsom Stadium 7:00pm
*16-Oct @ North Crowley at Crowley ISD Stadium 7:00pm
*23-Oct vs. Red Oak at RLA Stadium 7:00pm
*30-Oct @ Duncanville 7:00pm
*6-Nov vs. Crowley at Newsom Stadium 7:00pm
