GAMES
RANKINGS
The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Randle Lions football team.
VYPE Houston 2026 Football Preview | District 11-5A DI: State Glory Still Beckons Randle Amid Division I Move
Angleton Wildcats
Iowa Colony Pioneers
Freeman Golden Eagles
Friendswood Mustangs
Victoria East Titans
South Houston Trojans
Dulles Vikings
Pasadena Eagles
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Landen Williams-Callis, Randle
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Josh Brister, Friendswood
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kasen Jammer, Angleton
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Christopher “CJ” Beaty, Freeman
ON THE CUSP: Friendswood Mustangs
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Angleton Wildcats
Matt Powell (VYPE)
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Few programs have flexed their supremacy over such a short span quite like Randle. Maintaining a 31-1 record over the past two seasons speaks volumes about the “No Days Off” mentality head coach Brian Randle has instilled throughout the locker room. Now, it’s back to work for the Lions, who still have a score to settle after narrowly missing out on back-to-back UIL titles last December, falling 35-19 to South Oak Cliff in the 5A Division II State Championship game. The move up to 5A Division I should be seamless, especially with five-star Texas commit Landen Williams-Callis still toting the rock. Named the Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year, Williams-Callis added another chapter to his historic résumé in 2025, capturing his third straight District MVP honor while eclipsing 4,000 all-purpose yards and accounting for a staggering 62 combined scores. Senior wideout Kamar Chavez-Brown blends size and speed on the perimeter and in the return game, coming off a District 9-5A DII Utility Player of the Year season highlighted by 1,125 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. That should ease Brady Bratcher's transition as the new QB1 behind a stout offensive line anchored by Houston commit Samuel Thiergood. Meanwhile, seniors Camron Hypolite and Caleb George — both first-team all-district selections — establish the standard on the defensive front, freeing fellow first-teamers A’Mari Harris (Sr. LB), Patrick Oliver (Sr. CB), and Julian Gerena (Sr. S) to continue stifling opposing playmakers on the road back to AT&T Stadium.
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Angleton had every intention of returning to the State Final Four last fall. Instead, an injury-riddled second half of the season derailed those aspirations, as the Wildcats' playoff hopes were dashed by College Station in the opening round, capping their year at 9-2 overall. Suffice it to say, head coach Jason Brittain and company are eager to prove that setback was merely an anomaly. Powering the attack will be an efficient ground game, headlined by senior running backs Wyatt Neyland and Jayden Moore. A recent Navy commit, Neyland earned first-team all-district distinction in 2025 after rushing for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Moore looks to elevate a second-team campaign that saw him amass 641 rushing yards and 14 total scores. North Texas commit Noah Smith (first-team) — an Iowa Colony transfer — and future Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun Noah Ernst (second-team) set the tone in the trenches, creating time for senior QB Trey Gardner to find wideout Jake Brittain downfield. Defensively, Angleton boasts one of H-Town’s most resourceful weapons in athlete Kasen Jammer. Best known for his lockdown presence at cornerback — where he garnered first-team recognition before committing to Duke in June — Jammer is a multi-dimensional threat who impacts kickoff returns and the offensive side of the ball. New Mexico State-bound safety Landon Miles (first-team) paces the secondary alongside Jordan Hasker (Jr. CB), while Brayton Rangel (Sr. LB) and John David Brittain (So. LB) round out the group.
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Mirroring the campaign authored the year prior, Iowa Colony once again posted a 12-2 record in 2025, ultimately advancing to the Region III Championship. The Pioneers’ only setbacks came against district rival Randle, whom they’ll now join in District 11-5A Division I following the latest UIL realignment. Coach Ray Garza’s relentless offense, which averaged just under 47 points per game, will feature some new faces this fall — most notably at quarterback, where junior Gage Martinez takes command. Already well-versed in the system, Martinez gained valuable reps behind former field general Carson White (now at Hightower), and now the opportunity is his. District Offensive Lineman of the Year Chukwuemeka “Chu Chu” Tasie (Sr. OL) controls the interior, with senior wide receiver Braylon Watts and tailback Denim Barnes (second-team) taking on expanded roles. On defense, first-team safety Kalen Simmons returns after a standout sophomore showing highlighted by 66 tackles (5 TFL), four passes defended, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. The four-star DB’s all-around impact has only accelerated his rise, with offers from Texas Tech, Arkansas, and Duke continuing to roll in. Sophomore Dylan Thomas (6-foot-2) complements Simmons in the secondary, while second-team linebackers Jordan Lockhart and DuQuay Buckhanon help fortify a ferocious unit featuring Texas State commit Charles Egbo (Sr. DL), Sidney Tyler (Sr. MLB), Awston Amboree (Sr. OLB), and Henry Fisher (Jr. DL).
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Freeman enters the fall looking to make a statement, as one of Katy ISD’s newest high school programs prepares for its first official varsity season in 2026. The Eric Robinson-led Golden Eagles wasted little time turning heads, delivering an impressive 8-2 mark against an independent schedule last fall and signaling their arrival as a potential force in Greater Houston football. The centerpiece of the attack remains senior Christopher “CJ” Beaty. An athlete in the truest sense, Beaty has earned his reputation as Freeman’s dual-threat quarterback, compiling nearly 1,200 passing yards and 16 touchdowns through the air, while adding 374 rushing yards and nine more scores on the ground. Athlete Jeremiah Cooper also left an immediate impression as a freshman, totaling nearly 1,100 all-purpose yards and 17 scores. Two-way senior Christian Tillman (RB/S) and junior WR Kenyon Roberts provide additional playmaking ability. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Salofi Alexius should continue to be a force in the middle after pacing Freeman with 51 tackles and six sacks last fall. Bolstering the stop effort will be junior hybrid safety Xander Lopez, along with Khalil Thomas (Jr. LB) and Dezman Ray (So. DE).
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The pathway back to the postseason becomes considerably more challenging for Friendswood, as the UIL realignment ushers in a tougher district slate. Still, the Mustangs have a proven track record of rising to the occasion, most recently going 6-5 and reaching the Bi-District round. Signal-caller Josh Brister figures to build on a junior campaign punctuated by 1,855 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. Standing 6-foot-5 with the athleticism to excel on the basketball court as well, Brister possesses all the physical tools to command the offense under head coach Jordan Johnson. Tailbacks Tripp Bateman and Charlie Moore form a dynamic duo in the ground game after combining for nearly 1,600 rushing yards and 19 scores a year ago, with Moore also providing Brister a reliable pass-catching option. The same holds true for senior wideout Antwon “AJ” Parker, who returns off a season in which he racked up 854 receiving yards and seven scores through the air. Defensively, outside linebacker Grant Martin and second-team all-district cornerback Austin — an Air Force commit — headline the Friendswood stop effort.
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Victoria East’s 1-9 finish last season came against the backdrop of a grueling District 13-5A Division I slate, which featured two-time defending state champion Smithson Valley alongside San Antonio powers New Braunfels, Pieper, and Boerne Champion. It won’t get much easier in the Titans’ new district, but first-year coach Brad Smithey will look to launch a new era at VEHS. Senior running back Christian Franco leads the way following a second-team all-district nod, running behind an offensive line that includes fellow seniors Zalerrion Jones and Noah Gonzalez. Two-way threat Travis Zimmer will also play an important role, contributing at both safety and wide receiver for the Titans.
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Second-year head coach Lamont Mayberry hopes to steer South Houston toward a turnaround, as the Trojans concluded their run in Class 6A with a winless showing. Still, that doesn’t mean South Houston won’t flash signs of potential. Playmakers La’Kee Baker (Sr. ATH) and Makih Cowart (Jr. ATH) add juice to the offense, with Cowart earning first-team all-district recognition. On defense, senior Jeremiah Micheaux will look to establish himself as a force up front.
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Though Dulles recently endured a difficult 0-10 result, 2026 could provide a fresh opportunity for the Fort Bend ISD program, which drops to the 5A classification as part of the offseason shift. Coach Bill Garrey will lean on versatile sophomore athletes Daryl Ward and Douglass Jones to make an impact on both sides of the ball, with Jaheim Gordon (Jr. DB/RB), Matthew Akintola (Sr. RB/LB), Donald Collins (Jr. RB), and Emmanuel Martinez (Sr. DL) providing additional support.
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Pasadena posted an identical 1-9 record to the year prior, opening the season with a win over Austin (Houston ISD) before finishing the year with nine consecutive losses. Under head coach David Zapien, the Eagles aim to return to the district win column behind the efforts of Shaun Aguirre (Jr. QB), Leo Tamez (Sr. S), Derek De La Rosa (Jr. LB), and Martellis Mosley (Sr. ATH).
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