Atascocita, Summer Creek to battle in District 22-6A

Aug 26, 2019

District 22-6A is top heavy with regional contenders Atascocita and Summer Creek. After that, it's a toss-up as the Humble ISD and Pasadena ISD schools battle for the third and fourth playoff spots.

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VYPE Preseason Rankings

Atascocita
Summer Creek
Dobie
Kingwood
Humble
South Houston
Memorial
Pasadena
Sam Rayburn
(Bold Denotes Playoff Teams)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Brice Matthews, Atascocita
OFFENSIVE MVP: Bryan Bush, Summer Creek
DEFENSIVE MVP: Asyrus Simon, Atascocita
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Dontavion Crosby, Dobie
SLEEPER TEAM: Humble

Atascocita Eagles

Craig Stump enters this season having to replace one of the best offensive linemen to come through Houston in recent years in Kenyon Green, who is bound for Texas A&M. A trio of Will Jones, Jer'Marques Bailey and Kameron Dewberry will anchor the line. Behind that line Brice Matthews (QB) returns after a District 22-6A Offensive MVP season where he passed for 3,280 yards and 29 touchdowns. His top target includes Dylan Robinson (University of Houston-commit), who had 1,208 yards and 16 scores. In the backfield is secondteam, all-district selection T.J. Thomas, who will carry the rock after rushing for more than 1,000 yards a year ago for the Eagles. Defensively, Asyrus Simon (UTSAcommit) will anchor the defensive line and be a key piece of a unit that brings back eight starters, including OLB David Tuihalangingie. Also, back on defense will be first-team, all-district selections Daniel Onwuachi (linebacker) and Taylen Blaylock (safety); second-team, all-district picks Leonard Randolph (defensive line) and Devyn Brooks (safety).

Summer Creek Bulldogs

One point is all that separated Summer Creek from a share of the District 22-6A Championship last season, which would have been its first since 2013. A dramatic 36-35 loss to Atascocita is what ended up being the difference. The Bulldogs will have to replace big men Jack Zelezinski (McNeese State) and Angel Robles on the line but have some firepower returning. Back off that team is dynamic dual-threat quarterback Bryan Bush, who was the District 22-6A MVP last year. Bush passed for 1,985 yards and rushed for another 1,375 yards and tallied 48 touchdowns. Expect a full offseason to pay off huge dividends for him heading into just his junior season. Other key returners on offense include Luke Lapeze and Kelvin Banks on the line, Elijah Bean and Drevion Grant at the receiver position and Torrie Curry and Sam Williams in the backfield. Defensively, Devion Hargrove returns after a first-team, all-district season at cornerback. The Bulldogs will have to find some pieces down in the trenches, but the explosive play of Bush will carry them early to success.

Dobie Longhorns

Dobie heads into this year needing to replace the talented Kris Morris, who rushed for 1,386 yards and 17 scores. District 22-6A Newcomer of the Year Darius Hale will step up as the lead back this season. Last year, Hale rushed for 1,132 yards and 15 scores in the regular season. In an offense that was predicated on the run, it will be a key for Dobie to have Hale and Dontavion Crosby to find early success. Other key returners for the Longhorns amongst their 14 returning starters, include Jason Brooks (OL), Giambi Boyd (CB), Javen Sanchez (DL), James King (OL), Cameran Guy (WR) and Jesse Mitchell (LB). Second-year coach Kevin Berneathy has some pieces back to get this program back into the playoffs for a second-straight season.

Kingwood Mustangs

Kingwood's offense in 2018 was just like Dobie's, based a lot on the success of the running game. Unlike Dobie though, the Mustangs must replace both pieces of their dynamic duo – Blake Parr and Casey Roth. Kingwood does return Grant Wall at quarterback, who had 750 yards and nine touchdowns passing last season. Other key returners on offense include Parker Hemphill (TE), who was a first-team, all-district pick last year; Jack Dugas (WR) and Kasey Duplechin (RB). Defensively, the Mustangs bring back outside linebackers Brandon Lewis (70 tackles), Cade Burgess and Thomas Sutter.

Humble Wildcats

Humble is coming off its first year at the Class 6A level and went 5-5 overall. Entering his eighth season at the helm of the Wildcats, Charles West has some pieces coming back and it starts at quarterback with Dexter Wyble. The incoming senior got a substantial amount of playing time last year after Chase Pena tore his ACL. Wyble finished the year with 787 yards and six touchdowns through the air. The Wildcats will have to find an answer at running back having to replace District 22-6A leader Isaiah Robinson (1,404 yards, 15 TDs). Other key returners from the offensive side include offensive linemen Ryan Suge and Nathaniel Alcantar and receivers Dontee McCray (572 yards, 3 TDs) and Robert Williams (338 yards, 4 TDs). Defensively, Tavian Coleman (DE), Joel Davila (DB), Aaron Lockett (LB), Brandon Moore (LB) and Eric Osegueda (LB) will be keys to the Wildcats stopping opponents.

South Houston Trojans

Patrick Longstreet enters year two at South Houston. There was a lot of hype around the Trojans to start 2018 as they opened the year at 3-0, which was the best start for the team since the 1975. South Houston went 3-4 the rest of the way and finished on the outside looking in. Entering 2019, the Trojans return just seven starters (five on offense, two on defense). Returning Trojans include Kendyll Hubert (695 yards rushing) and Brodrick Williams (384 yards) in the backfield. Second-team, all-district receiver Keith Oliver is back after recording 516 yards and eight scores last year. Other key returners include receiver Joseph Phillips and lineman Bryan Ramos. Defensively, Deondre Corbin is back at strong safety.

Pasadena Memorial Mavericks

After back-to-back playoff appearances, last season didn't go the way the Memorial hopeful had wished, going 3-7 overall. Heading into this year, new coach James Crocker will look for incoming junior Tyler Bennett to replace the rushing skills of Austin Franklin and Sabian Smith. Bennett had 488 yards and five scores on the ground last year. At quarterback, Jordan See will be the man taking the snaps. Other key offensive names to remember include offensive linemen Justin Rodriguez, Caleb Mendez, Daniel Aguirre and Ivan Robles. Defensively, Adrian Tamez is back after recording 50 tackles last year as a sophomore.

Pasadena Eagles

Pasadena is in the same boat as Memorial as David Zapien takes over the head-coaching duties being promoted from within. Zapien will have his work cut out for him, trying to turn around a team that has gone 2-27 the past three seasons and hasn't made the playoffs since 1996. Jacob Henriquez returns after rushing for 507 yards last year. Other key players to watch include receiver Kemon Haywood, offensive lineman Daniel Flores and quarterback Joshua Spann. Defensively, Luis Arroyo and Nelson Herrera will be some names to remember.

Sam Rayburn Texans

Sam Rayburn has had a rough go of it the past few years, not winning a game since the 2016 season. The Texans will have a new coach in 2019 as Shaun Wynn heads back to North Shore as an assistant. Demond Stafford takes over as he comes over from Pasadena Memorial. Despite the lack of success, the Texans do have some youthful experience coming back. In the backfield, RB Julian Falcon (170 yards rushing and 89 yards receiving) and QB Bryan Aguirre (138 yards rushing and 252 yards passing) are back. Other key returners include Isaiah Walker (RB), Alexis Telles (LB), Gerardo Ledezma (DB) and Jose Lemus (LB). Getting that first win under their belts this season will be key to getting some momentum going for the Texans.

atascocita district 22-6a summer creek dobie kingwood humble south houston memorial pasadena sam rayburn pasadena isd humble isd brice matthews bryan bush asyrus simon dontavion crosby txhsfb

VYPE 411: Rouse's Kingsbery Heads South To UTSA

The Austin area produces a lot of top tier athletes. That's why VYPE Austin editor/reporter Thomas Bingham caught up with Leander Rouse baseball player and 2020 UTSA commit Fischer Kingsbery this week. Check out our VYPE 411 Q&A segment to learn about his college opportunity, the type of athlete he is, the 2020 high school baseball season and more.

Bingham: "You're a 2020 UTSA baseball commit. What excites you about the opportunity and why was it the right college choice for you?"

Kingsbery: "The biggest thing that excites me about playing baseball at the next level, especially at UTSA, is the coaching staff. After meeting with them a few times, I knew that it would be the best place to spend my next four years. One of my personal goals as an athlete is to become the best player I can possibly be so, after hearing the experiences the coaches had with developing pitchers, I knew it would be a great fit to reach my goal."

Bingham: "When did the offer come in and how honored were you when you received it?"

Kingsbery: "I was offered the week after I attended a baseball camp at UTSA at the end of last summer. I had played in a tournament with my summer club team at UTSA and [assistant] coach [Scott] Shepperd saw my outing. Then, I was invited to a UTSA camp and after that [was] asked to come with my family for a visit the following Saturday. We were in the coach's office when I received the offer and it was like nothing else. The hard work and late nights had all payed off at that moment. I was so grateful and, on the car ride home, I gave coach a call and accepted the offer."

Bingham: "As a senior at Leander Rouse, how do you try to lead by example on the baseball field?"

Kingsbery: "The biggest way I see myself leading by example is by putting in the extra work. You don't become great by just practicing at practice. I work with a private trainer and a private pitching coach up to four times a week. I also focus on my diet and getting the right nutrients."

Bingham: "What goals are you chasing as a senior to finish your high school career on the right note?"

Kingsbery: "My main goal for the year is to put us in a position to win baseball games, so that we continue our run of winning district and try to get to the state tournament. Whenever I'm on the mound, all I want to do is get batters out and keep them off the board."

Bingham: "Leander Rouse won a playoff series in 2019. How are you and your teammates planning on building off of that in 2020 and what goals are y'all chasing?"

Kingsbery: "We exited the playoffs earlier than we wanted to last year, and we're using that loss as motivation to be better and go farther this year. Our goals are the same as prior years: to make it to the state tournament. What makes this year different is that as a varsity team, we're working more outside of practice to get stronger, which should translate to the field."

For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) on Twitter.

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TCU Baseball Enters Longhorn Territory; Leaves With 2 Of Austin's Best

When you've advanced to five College World Series since 2010 like TCU baseball has, you attract great talent from all over, including in another national power's backyard. The Horned Frogs left the Metroplex for Central Texas, where The University of Texas at Austin is the located, and sold a pair of local pitchers on their program. One was Georgetown's Braxton Pearson and the other was Lake Travis' Storm Hierholzer. Both have experienced big time success in their high school careers, so Fort Worth fans will welcome them with open arms.

"TCU was the best option for me," said Pearson. "The school and the coaches were just amazing [and] everything I wanted in a college. My coaches at Georgetown always taught me [that] having a good winning history and brotherhood culture was important and that was TCU."

Like Pearson, Hierholzer couldn't pass up the coaching staff that TCU offered.

"What excites me is working with a great coaching staff, who I know will help me improve greatly," said Hierholzer. "The offer came in after the PBR futures game during the summer before my junior year. I felt great because a very high caliber baseball school believed in me."

Both players will rock their purple attire soon, but also know that their senior year performances will go a long way in reaching a goal that their teams fell just short of in 2019.

For Pearson and Georgetown, they're motivated after falling 14-2 to Colleyville Heritage in the 2019 UIL 5A state title game.

"The playoffs last year and the run to the state championship game was the best thing that has ever happened in my career," said Pearson. "My teammates weren't just my teammates. They were my brothers [and] we had the tightest bond. We say second isn't sweet, so we wanna get back to the championship game and win and fight for what's ours."

Lake Travis is another hungry squad because it suffered a tight 6-2 loss to eventual classification state champ Southlake Carroll in the UIL 6A state semifinal.

"We felt every emotion after the loss at Dell Diamond last year, and we have been working very hard during the offseason to not let that happen again," said Hierholzer. "Every win gets us closer and closer back to the state tournament, so we will take it day by day and slowly get back and win it."

As disappointing as the end of last season was, both athletes have proactive plans to finish what they started.

"As a senior, I'm looking forward to being the leader on the team and showing the younger guys what it means to be an Eagle and becoming the best teammate I can be," said Pearson. "I would like to mature in my baseball career and give the Eagles whatever it takes to get back to the Dell Diamond. I'm [also] looking to prove what I got to fill a spot at TCU."

As for Hierholzer, he will lean on his day-to-day work ethic to guide Lake Travis teammates through the campaign.

"I [will] try to do my best to show the new players how things work and teach them to embrace the grind," said Hierholzer. "My goals this year are the same as every year: win a state championship and give my team a chance to win every time I step on the mound."

For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPEATX) on Twitter.

Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.

2019 2019-2020 2020 austin austin high school sports austin texas high school sports baseball braxton pearson central texas championship game commit commitment final georgetown high school lake travis recruit recruiting season semifinal state championship storm hierholzer tcu texas title game uil state vype sports

VYPE 411: Future TCU Athlete Boyers Is The Charger Behind Boerne's Magical Year

The San Antonio area produces a lot of top tier athletes. That's why VYPE San Antonio editor/reporter Thomas Bingham caught up with Boerne Champion multi-sport athlete and 2020 TCU baseball commit Luke Boyers this week. Check out our VYPE 411 Q&A segment to learn about his role in one of the greatest football seasons in the town of Boerne's history, why he signed with TCU and more.

Bingham: "You're a 2020 TCU baseball commit. What excites you about the opportunity and why was it the right college choice for you?"

Boyers: "The coaches were interested in me at a young time in my high school career and that excited me. I never imagined being able to play D1 baseball as a realistic goal. The environment over in Fort Worth breathes baseball, and a small town feel in a town of that size makes me feel comfortable."

Bingham: "The town of Boerne enjoyed a lot of football success during the 2019 season (three playoff teams, including UIL state semifinalist Boerne Champion, UIL area round finalist Boerne and TAPPS state champ Geneva School of Boerne). What were those months like around town and what does the town mean to you?"

Boyers: "My town here in Boerne means the world to me. We have an amazing crowd at every single one of our games, whether it be home or away. The city was living through us and our success on the field this year and it brought the town together."

Bingham: "You and Boerne Champion proved a lot of people wrong during the 2019 football season. What are you going to remember most about your team's extended run?"

Boyers: "I'm going to remember how we weren't supposed to be the team that we were, but that is what made us so special. It was the closest group of guys I have ever been with and outside critics didn't matter. We weren't the most talented team, but we never thought we could lose. It was all a mindset to play angry and play as one."

Bingham: "Your senior year is off a strong start after what you did as a quarterback in 2019. What are your goals for the 2020 baseball season, so you can finish your high school career on a high note?"

Boyers: "Our goal for this year is to bring home another district championship. Then, continue to play and make it all the way to Round Rock."

For more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen) and VYPE (@VYPESATX) on Twitter.

Looking to get more involved? Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com

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