Tomball Cougars
Head Coach: Dave Handal (5th season; 35-15 record)
Last Season: 9-3; 6-2 in district (Lost to Willis in area round)
Returning Lettermen: 20 (3 returning starters on offense; 6 on defense)
Tomball Key Players and Storylines
Tomball has had no problem finding success in November with head coach Dave Handal. The Cougars have now won playoff games in all four seasons under his leadership.
The offense only returns three starters from last year, but the run game is in great shape. Junior running back Ian Thomas (1,544 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns) is a legit Power Four prospect, while physical senior Trevon Johnson (689 rushing yards and six touchdowns) can have just as much of an impact when Thomas is on the sideline. Up front, left tackle Jacob Minuti will lead the offensive line as the unit’s lone returning starter.
2028 Tomball (TX) four-star RB Ian Thomas out here at The Box Showcase. #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/IKA2vLY1pZ
— Jackson DiPasquale (@jackson_dip) May 17, 2026
Out wide, Chance Green (30 tackles, 14 PBUs) and Cam Hunt (61 tackles, two forced fumbles) will be working double time. Not only are they key players in the Cougar secondary but they’ll be needed to play some receiver this year too.
Physical safety Caleb Gafford (60 tackles, three INTs) is another ball hawk on the back end. In the front seven, defensive linemen Bennet Tucker (43 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Dawson Siegert (58 tackles, 1.5 sacks) will be called upon to slow down opponents’ backfields.
On special teams, Tomball has an X factor in kicker Andres Von Der Meden, who is another Power Four prospect.
The biggest hurdle the Cougars have to overcome this fall is the inexperience associated with losing 13 starters. As long as they can gel quickly, a sixth-straight playoff berth will be the minimum expectation with hopes of more November success to follow.
Tomball Cougars 2026 Schedule
*-Denotes District 15-6A Contest
- August 27 (Thursday) — vs. Stratford at TISD Stadium — 7:00 PM
- September 5 (Saturday) — @ Cinco Ranch at Legacy Stadium — 6:30 PM
- *September 11 (Friday) — vs. Klein Forest at TISD Stadium — 7:00 PM
- *September 18 (Friday) — @ Klein Cain at Klein ISD Stadium — 7:00 PM
- *October 2 (Friday) — vs. Magnolia West at TISD Stadium — 7:00 PM
- *October 10 (Saturday) — @ Klein Collins at Klein ISD Stadium — 6:00 PM
- *October 16 (Friday) — vs. Klein at TISD Stadium — 7:0 PM
- *October 23 (Friday) — @ Klein Oak at Klein ISD Stadium — 7:00 PM
- *October 30 (Friday) — vs. Tomball Memorial at TISD Stadium — 7:00 PM
- *November 6 (Friday) — @ Magnolia at Bulldog Stadium — 7:00 PM
