GAMES
RANKINGS
PRIME TIME: DFW Football Playoffs Preview -- Argyle v. Walnut Grove (5A-D2 Region 1 Semis)
WHERE: Choctaw Stadium -- Arlington, TX
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Photo taken by: Jeff Rayome (Phlox Photography)
Argyle's Maguire Gasperson
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It would appear Argyle’s opening-night defeat to Lone Star was merely a brief hiccup in what has otherwise been a superb showing for Todd Rodgers and company. Since Week 1, the Eagles have rattled off 11 straight victories, punctuated by one-sided playoff performances against Lovejoy (56–0) and Cooper (77–35).
The driving force has been the connection between senior quarterback Maguire Gasperson and junior wideout Julian Caldwell, which defenses simply haven’t been able to corral.
Gasperson — the defending District 3-5A-II MVP and a UTSA-commit — has once again built a compelling case for MVP honors, surpassing 2,700 passing yards with 31 touchdowns to just three interceptions, plus seven more scores on the ground. Caldwell, a four-star prospect, has matched that production with 74 catches for 1,405 yards and an eye-popping 18 touchdowns, backed by offers from Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Ole Miss.
TCU-bound tight end Braden Bach adds another reliable target, with 349 yards and seven touchdown grabs. However, Argyle’s offense is far from one-dimensional.
Senior back Nathaniel Bruce is nearing 1,000 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns — all while contributing heavily on defense with three interceptions and four pass breakups. Junior Logan Rexroat brings further balance, surpassing 700 scrimmage yards with 11 scores.
Defensively, the Eagles feature standout playmakers at all levels, including Oklahoma State-bound defensive back Maliek Bracy, senior safety Sager Zamzow, and senior linebacker Chase Bagley, who leads the team with 20 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, junior MLB Brody Bomar anchors the middle, tallying a team-best 116 tackles and nine TFLs.
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Under head coach Tommy Allison, Walnut Grove has produced its most prolific campaign to date — a perfect 12–0 mark reinforced by familiar playoff wins over Seguin (35–21) and Lubbock-Cooper (55–13). Now comes a rematch with Argyle, with the Wildcats determined to flip last season’s outcome.
The offense revolves around senior running back Cameron Newton, who has been nothing short of spectacular. Building on his first-team, all-district showing, Newton has piled up more than 2,200 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns, along with 379 receiving yards and three more scores.
Sophomore quarterback Hayes Hackney, last year’s District 4-5A-DII MVP, has shown no sophomore slump — throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding two more on the ground. His balanced receiving corps, led by senior Zaiden Crain and junior Hayden Cooley, is closing in on 800 yards apiece with a combined 21 touchdowns.
Statistically, Walnut Grove has formed a dominant formula: more than 52 points per game on offense, and a defense holding opponents to roughly 17.
That defensive unit is powered by senior linebacker Keller Pittenger (76 tackles, 9 sacks, 14 TFL), senior MLB Alex Omet, senior safety Parker Olson, and junior edge DJ Henderson-Reynolds — each a major contributor to the Wildcats’ unblemished run.
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THE PINNACLE: 2025 UIL Volleyball State Finals Preview -- Cedar Park vs. Argyle (5A-D2)
WHERE: Curtis Culwell Center -- Garland, TX
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Picking up right where they left off a year ago, Cedar Park (38–12) is back on the brink of a championship. The Timberwolves stormed into the 5A-DII title game after a decisive sweep of Friendswood last Saturday, securing their second straight trip to Garland — and the program’s fourth overall since 2012.
Since taking over in 2019, head coach Lori McLaughlin has steadily molded Cedar Park into a perennial contender. With the entire starting rotation returning, the group enters Saturday’s state final playing with the assurance of a veteran unit that expected to be here. And after falling to Wakeland in last year’s match, the Timberwolves have been fueled all season by the chance to flip the script.
Some of the standouts for 2025-26 Cedar Park VolleyballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That effort has been anchored by senior outside hitter and Stanford-signee Joy Udoye, the reigning District 25-5A MVP, who has piled up 568 kills and 358 digs while eclipsing 2,000 career kills earlier this month. Opposite her is Incarnate Word-signee Mya Cheatum, whose 411 kills and steady presence make her the Knuckles to Udoye’s Sonic — a power duo that has overwhelmed opponents on both pins.
Cedar Park’s system thrives on rhythm, and its two-setter operation of Katelyn Hughes and Sibley Oster remains a defining strength. Hughes, a Lamar-commit, enters the final with 806 assists and 425 digs, while Oster, headed to Cal State-Fullerton, has added another 572 assists, giving the Timberwolves enviable balance and continuity.
The supporting cast is just as seasoned. Junior DS Anna Kurz, last year’s District Newcomer of the Year, surpassed 1,000 career digs behind a remarkable 700-plus this fall. Senior middle Sienna Benavides provides backbone at the net, contributing 280 kills and a team-leading 124 blocks. Together, the group’s cohesion — more than any single statistic — is what has carried Cedar Park back to the dance.
But waiting on the other side is an Argyle squad built with a similarly experienced backbone and its own unfinished business.
The Eagles (38–3), led by head coach Katelyn Johnson, were also knocked out by Wakeland last fall — this time in the State Semifinals — and have spent the past year eyeing a return built on growth rather than resentment.
Mission accomplished. Argyle powered to its seventh Final Four appearance and punched its ticket with a 3–1 triumph over Liberty last weekend. Now, the Eagles chase the program’s second UIL State Championship, nine years removed from its 2015 title run in 4A.
Where Cedar Park leans on its firepower, Argyle’s calling card is its superb defensive foundation. Senior DS Teagan Barnett has followed up her first-team, all-district season by eclipsing 500 digs, serving as the anchor of a backline that rarely yields clean swings.
The Eagles also operate with a dynamic two-setter system, featuring junior first-teamer Karsyn Rogers — an Arizona State-commit — and sophomore Makenna Gregory, who together have amassed nearly 1,100 assists and 500 digs. Their tempo forces opponents into constant adjustments.
Offensively, Argyle spreads the wealth, essentially forcing opponents to pick their poison. Freshman phenom Alexis Elsey has emerged as the headliner, leading the team with 312 kills and 263 digs — putting District 6-5A Newcomer of the Year honors firmly within reach. Meanwhile, seniors Hannah Baker and Susanna Hodson (Oklahoma Christian) have flourished in expanded roles, each clearing the 200-kill mark with veteran poise.
Two programs with parallel motivations. But only one can be crowned this Saturday in Garland.
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