District 18-6A
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Dickinson Gators
Barbers Hill Eagles
Deer Park Deer
Clear Springs Chargers
Clear Falls Knights
Clear Creek Wildcats
Clear Lake Falcons
Clear Brook Wolverines
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Lorenzo Aguirre, Dickinson
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Trace Yates, Deer Park
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Raiden Cook, Barbers Hill
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Luke Babin, Barbers Hill
ON THE CUSP: Clear Falls Knights
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Barbers Hill Eagles
Doug Brown (VYPE)
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Deer Park Deer
Matt Powell (VYPE)
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Clear Springs Chargers
Matt Powell (VYPE)
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Clear Falls Knights
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
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Dickinson's breakthrough felt inevitable a season ago. Armed with one of Houston’s most imposing rosters, the Gators came within inches of reaching their first UIL State Final Four since capturing a championship in 1977. A 13-1 finish in 2025 was only blemished by a Region III Final loss to North Shore, which went on to claim the UIL 6A Division I title. That narrow miss has only intensified Dickinson’s hunger as the Gators look to carve their names into program history this fall. Reigning District MVP Lorenzo Aguirre returns under center following a prolific junior season in which he amassed more than 3,400 passing yards and 43 touchdowns. The senior quarterback will have no shortage of weapons, headlined by senior receiver Ja’marion Payne and versatile junior Jayse Washington. Payne hauled in eight touchdown receptions a year ago, while Washington earned second-team all-district honors and provides a dynamic presence across the field. Senior tailback Tavin Gomez powers the ground attack in response to securing second-team recognition last season, with Michael Pugh Jr. adding another explosive option in the backfield. First-team all-district selections Chase Lewis and Braeylon Bradley anchor a formidable front for head coach John Snelson’s defense. Lewis enters his senior year with major recruiting momentum after posting 71 tackles and six sacks, earning offers from North Texas, UTSA, Tulane, UNLV, and UTEP. Four-star cornerback Royce Bimage paces a ball-hawking secondary after a breakout sophomore showing that drew interest from Ohio State, Texas A&M, LSU, Notre Dame, Miami, and USC. Safety Darian Coleman and linebacker Ethan Sampson round out the unit, fortifying the back end and interior, respectively.
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The Eagles make their Conference 6A debut this fall on the heels of a 10-4 campaign that culminated in a Region III Final appearance. Barbers Hill quickly re-established itself as a bona fide contender under first-year head coach Cody Simper, and all indications suggest The Hill is equipped to maintain that standard despite the jump in classification. Continuing the theme of change, one of the offseason’s most intriguing developments was the arrival of quarterback Luke Babin. The four-star Baylor commit joins the Eagles after a standout stint at Woodville, where he secured District 12-3A Division II Co-MVP distinction. Babin accounted for more than 3,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns, adding nearly 600 rushing yards and seven more scores on the ground. He’ll fit right in with a proven group in Mont Belvieu. Athlete Kaegan Morton (UTSA) emerges as the focal point of the Eagles’ skill-position unit, bringing the type of game-breaking speed that propelled him to the UIL Track & Field State Meet this past spring. Anthony “Bowe” Bonnet Jr. gives Barbers Hill another reliable weapon out wide after a second-team all-district nod. Miles Spurlock (So. RB) is a name to watch, already holding Division I offers from Houston, Texas Tech, UTSA, and Texas State. Senior Cameron Davis adds experience in the backfield, while Max Summers and Breydon Nelson provide muscle up front. Defensively, the tandem of Raiden Cook and Bryce Jackson is primed to wreak havoc in the trenches. Cook, a four-star Houston commit, returns after recording 10.5 sacks in just eight games, while New Mexico State-bound senior Bryce Jackson added 15 of his own. Their disruptive presence should pay dividends for a Barbers Hill secondary led by Chris Clark, Kross Kilgo, and Cole Ackerman.
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Continuity works in Deer Park’s favor as September approaches, giving the Deer an opportunity to carry forward the progress established during a 6-5 showing a year ago. A three-way tie for second in the district standings set up a daunting first-round matchup with North Shore, making an early postseason exit easier to understand. Even so, the experience should serve as a valuable springboard for a program that appears to be on the rise. The driving force behind head coach Austin Flynn’s offense remains running back Trace Yates. Now a senior, Yates totaled more than 700 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns last fall, earning first-team all-district recognition before he announced his commitment to Army West Point in June. Quarterback Haden LaFrenz, who holds offers from Texas State and UTSA, figures to build on an impressive sophomore campaign. He threw for more than 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, adding 557 rushing yards and six more scores on the ground. Those efforts resulted in District 24-6A Newcomer of the Year distinction. LaFrenz still has an abundance of weapons at his disposal, most notably second-team all-district wideout Aandon Schroeder and rising Class of 2028 prospect John Arthur-French Jr. First-team all-district pick Jack Paradysz further enhances the offense with his versatility at H-back. Flipping the field, first-team defensive end Michael Benavides commands the pass rush, with first-team middle linebacker Derek Woytek locking down the interior. Juniors Eddie Lopez (DT) and Lex Sablatura (OLB) join the mix after both landing on the second-team all-district squad.
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Coach Anthony Renfro and company are coming off another productive fall that saw Clear Springs finish 7-4 overall and secure a playoff berth. Their run ultimately ended against Summer Creek in a challenging Bi-District showdown. Powering the Chargers' response is a new wave of talent, beginning with junior running back Darrien Moore. Expected to take on a larger workload, Moore already flashed his potential with roughly 400 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns, which earned second-team all-district honors. Fellow second-team selections Connor Walter and Mariano Aguirre bolster an imposing offensive line that also features senior Kaden Sullivan, creating lanes for Elijah Rubins (Sr. RB) to make an impact. Similar to Moore, signal-caller Jaxon Weber will look to carve out his own path as he steps into the Clear Springs QB1 role as a junior, leaning on tight end Koltyn Hutto as a dynamic pass-catching option. On defense, seniors Elisha Rambo and Kaden Corpus shore up a playmaking secondary, with fellow senior Caden Chavez offering two-way potential as a lineman capable of contributing on both sides of the ball.
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Clear Falls pieced together seven wins last year and extended its playoff streak to seven consecutive appearances, though the Knights’ momentum was ultimately cut short by eventual 6A Division II State Finalist C.E. King. Defense appears to be the strong suit for coach Zach Head’s squad, led by senior linebackers Tristan Gaviria and Briggs Worthington. Both topped 120 tackles in 2025 en route to second-team all-district accolades. In the trenches, senior James Peralta spearheads the effort to stop the run, while safety Landen Schaft patrols the Knights’ back end. Replacing production will be a priority for Clear Falls following the graduation of quarterback Kyden Barker (Tulsa) and wideout Zach Greer, two unanimous first-team all-district selections. Regardless of who takes over under center, the cupboard isn’t bare. Senior wide receivers Graysonn Sneed, a second-team pick, and Chace Rieman return as dependable targets on the perimeter.
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A sixth-place district finish and 3-7 record left Clear Creek searching for answers, but the Wildcats have a chance to rewrite the narrative moving forward. Head coach Dwayne Lane will rely on the one-two punch of J’shon Parks and Luke Rose in the backfield to keep the chains moving. Parks brings a versatile presence, contributing both on the ground and through the air, while Rose serves as a more traditional, every-down back. Defensively, edge rusher Jake Roberts sets the tone up front, carrying momentum from a second-team all-district showing into the fall.
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Clear Lake took a step back in 2025, going 1-9 overall with its lone victory coming against Clear Brook. Still, a fresh opportunity awaits the Falcons, who have every reason to believe they can recapture the swagger of 2024, when they reached the postseason. The offense shows flashes of potential, beginning with first-team all-district lineman Mark Breaux. The senior will be counted on to protect quarterback Jordan Foret, a veteran capable of directing the attack. Sophomore athlete Zaedrian Lewis adds another dimension with the ability to impact the game as a passer, runner, or receiver. On defense, Clear Lake has reason for optimism in the secondary. Junior Terrell “TJ” Stinson returns after a stint at Hitchcock, where he earned District 12-3A Division I Newcomer of the Year honors. Already holding multiple Division I offers, Stinson gives the Falcons a legitimate lockdown presence at safety.
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The road doesn’t get much easier for Clear Brook, which enters the fall looking to reverse course and climb back into the win column. Offensively, senior Samuel Alfred takes command under center, where he'll look to establish chemistry with WR1 Mack Rebouche, a second-team all-district pick a year ago. Senior Teodoro Garcia strengthens the trenches, while linebackers Rome Jordan and Nicholas Jones team with two-way sophomore athlete Moziah Hayling to reinforce the Wolverines’ defense.
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