DISTRICT 15-6A
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS (Playoff teams in bold)
Klein Collins Tigers
Tomball Cougars
Klein Cain Hurricanes
Tomball Memorial Wildcats
Klein Bearkats
Klein Oak Panthers
Klein Forest Eagles
Waller Bulldogs
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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Tucker Parks, Klein Collins
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gibson Pyle, Klein Cain
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Keegan Demmer, Tomball
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ashton Ansley, Tomball Memorial
ON THE CUSP
Klein Oak Panthers
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Tomball Cougars
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Klein Cain Hurricanes
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
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Tomball Memorial Wildcats
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
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Klein Bearkats
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
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Klein Oak Panthers
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Klein Forest Golden Eagles
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Waller Bulldogs
Doug Brown (VYPE)
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The Klein Collins Tigers have won seven of the past eight district titles, the only one they lost was the COVID season. So, the Tigers are the “Brand” of Klein ISD and one of the best programs in the city of Houston but don’t get the respect deserved. While Collins graduated 10 first teamers from 2022, the Tigers reload. QB Tucker Parks (Western Kentucky) returns as a three-year starter and should be penciled in for the MVP. He accounted for over 3,400 yards and 44 scores as a junior. His offensive line returns two second-teamers in Kelvin Williams and Brady Marshall. Michael Wilson should be the featured back in a run-first offense, and Donovan Baker (first-team) and Rodny Ojo (second-team) will be the primary receiving targets. The defense is always stingy at Collins. It starts up front with Antoine Milon and Logan Taylor, while first-teamers Chris Gant and Zac Cole will anchor the secondary. Klein Forest move-in Trent Spence will add another dimension to the defense. Kicker Ben Pena is also a weapon with his leg.
How about those Tomball Cougars? The Cougars have found a sweet-spot in Class 6A DII in Region II. The Red and White reached the Regional Semis in 2023 and look to continue their success under coach Dave Handal. Their defense is going to be salty with nine returners back in the huddle, with the anchor being LB Keegan Demmer. He has a nose for the football with over 150 tackles and sets the tone. He gets freed up by ends Ramon and Lucas Pernas, who are college-level defenders. Oswaldo Morales will play beside Demmer and will be backed up by DB Matt Gainey. The offense returns their big three in QB Carter Noyes, RB Koby Fosher and WR Brooks Junod, who have succeeded at the varsity level over the past few years. The Cougars are on the come up and don’t look to be going anywhere soon.
Klein Cain shared the district title last season with Collins and won a playoff game. Coach James Clancy has built a solid program and it’s only going to get better. It will start up front in the trenches in 2023 led by All-American OL Gibson Pyle, a Nebraska-commit, who stands 6-foot-5, 300-pounds. He will be flanked by Jabari McAlmont and Austin Redeo, who will open holes for and protect brother Isaac (QB) and Caleb (Athlete) Mooring. Receivers Blaine Bullard and Max Hendrick will stretch the field. On defense, Tyler Edwards and Jacob Hollins will stop the run, letting LB Trent Lancaster run free. He is a tackling machine. The secondary will be worked on leading up to the season.
Coach Sam Parker has a huge senior class at Tomball Memorial, which bodes well for a team that reached the postseason in 2022. The defense will lead the way as 10 starters are back in the fold. Each level is well established. Up front is Jalen Ellis, who controls the line. The backers are the strength with Ethan Lea, Brayden Poe and Blake Holt running down ball carriers. Colin Helmer and R’Mon Williams will patrol the secondary. On offense, QB Lane Stockton will be at the helm with Isaiah Nelson carrying the rock. Clayton Schupp, Sutton Clark and Henry Buelow will be the bigs up front, while Lance Martinez and Ashton Ansley will be the targets down the field. Ansley is already picking up offers as a junior.
The Klein Bearkats just missed out on the postseason last year and looks to get back in the conversation with a loaded offense that starts with QB Bankston Lembcke, WR Angel Alarcon, athlete Griffin Tillis and OL Nicholas Robertson. William Clay anchors the defense.
For Oak, it will be QB Lucas Scheerhorn and RB Jacob Eveson leading the offense and Jaxson Dicus and Will LeBlanc headlining the defense. Coach Johnathan Wilson has left to be an assistant at SFA, so enter Darrick Vaughn at Klein Forest, who played at Texas State and in the NFL. QB Jaylen Bragg will run the offense and Trenton Burkhalter spearhead the defense. It’s year two under coach Marcus Mendoza at Waller and the Bulldogs are ready to get in the conversation. RB Alex Barrs is back and will carry the load on offense.