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Three-Star Atascocita RB Cardae Mack
GOLDEN CHILD: Mack Could Be the Spark That Ignites Atascocita’s 2025 Breakthrough
Now a senior at Atascocita and a recent Arizona State-commit, Mack has become one of the state’s most complete and compelling individuals to put on a helmet. And while this fall will likely see him return to his natural position at running back, it was his all-around play last season – including a stint as a mobile quarterback – that showed just how adaptable and indispensable he can be.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“It all comes down to my family,” Mack said. “I’d always play with my brothers growing up, but I didn’t really get into it until around middle school, when I began to compete in select ball. At some point, I realized how good I was at the sport, so I locked myself in from there.”
That switch flipped hard. In 2024, Mack threw for nearly 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns with just three interceptions – all while rushing for an additional 1,918 yards and 22 scores. His dual-threat dominance earned him District 23-6A MVP honors and carried the Eagles to a 12-2 finish, with their season ending in a fourth-round playoff loss to district rival North Shore.
But even in defeat, there’s perspective – and motivation.
“We won’t forget how it’s felt the past few years,” Mack said. “But I think a distinction we might have this season is the fact that we’ve already integrated the underclassmen into our gameplan. Our younger guys are going to be more developed and experienced. That could become one of our biggest advantages moving forward.”
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Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Mack’s leadership is grounded not just in talent, but in intention. It’s visible in the way he talks about his family’s influence, especially the work ethic he’s seen modeled by his parents.
“Someday, I intend to put them and myself in a good position, so they’ll never have to work again,” he said.
That same maturity showed up in his decision to commit to Arizona State in April, where he felt both seen and strategically valued.
“Coach [Kenny] Dillingham is an offensive genius, and Coach [Marcus] Arroyo is completely bought-in,” said Mack. “There’s already a plan in place of how they intend to utilize me in their schemes. That really compelled me to invest myself in that process.”
When it comes to who he emulates, Mack doesn’t hesitate: LeSean McCoy. It’s a fitting match for a back known for his shiftiness, vision, and creativity in the open field.
“He was my favorite back to watch growing up… even to this day I’ll still watch his highlights – sometimes before games,” Mack said. “The elusive running style he had is something that I see in myself.”
In a program that’s come close year after year, Mack enters his final season as the type of player who can tip the balance. He might have started in the middle, but now, all eyes are on him to lead.
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THE DISTRICT OF DOOM: North Shore looks to continue dominance; Atascocita, Summer Creek, Kingwood in the hunt
Summer Creek Bulldogs
Atascocita Eagles
Kingwood Mustangs
C.E. King Panthers
Humble Wildcats
Channelview Falcons
Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Cardae Mack, Atascocita
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kaleb Maryland, North Shore
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cade Haug, Kingwood
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Braylen Lane, CE King
ON THE CUSP: CE King Panthers
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The North Shore Mustangs reached the State Semifinals last season, only to fall to Austin Westlake in a lopsided matchup. With that loss came the end of an era, as head coach Willie Gaston bids farewell to one of the most decorated senior classes in recent memory. So, should the Mustangs be down in 2025? Not a chance. Quarterback Kaleb Maryland (Utah State-commit) has waited in the wings for three years and is finally getting his shot. The dynamic dual-threat playmaker is ready to carry the torch and lead the offense with explosiveness and poise. Maryland will benefit from a rebuilt but powerful offensive line, anchored by Isaac Aranda, Chase Brown, Abdus Kone, and Brandon Hebert, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound transfer from Port Arthur Memorial. With that kind of size up front, the run game should flourish, and Maryland will have time to make plays. At receiver, it's a new crew of rising stars: La’Damian Defreeze, Aubrey Johnson, Jaylen Bocard, and Dorian Barnes—all hungry to make a name for themselves. Guiding the offense is new offensive coordinator Ben Barkema, who joins the program from Deer Park. Defensively, North Shore will continue to bring the heat. In the trenches, Xavier Waters, Jaylen Fields, Zaqwaun Nunn (a Louisiana Tech commit from Clear Springs), and sophomore standout Jayden Johnson (already holding five D1 offers) form a fearsome front. Jayden Curry is poised for a breakout at defensive end. Dezmon Christian leads an inexperienced linebacker unit, while the secondary is bolstered by Tony Guillory at corner, and Juan Hernandez III, giving the defense both depth and playmaking potential. The names may change, but at North Shore, the standard remains the same: State title or bust.
Summer Creek High made a thunderous run to the State Semifinals last season, falling to eventual state champion Vandegrift—but not before establishing itself as a powerhouse under head coach Kenny Harrison. Nestled near IAH Airport, the Bulldogs’ rise has been rapid—and it’s no longer a secret: Summer Creek has arrived. With the graduation of standout QB Blake Thomas, Flower Mound transfer Noah Spinks steps in under center with high expectations. He’ll have the benefit of a seasoned offensive front, led by center Jonathan Bermudez, and a versatile backfield featuring Braylin Causey and Keshawn Jackson. At receiver, the Bulldogs are stacked. Holden Miller, Tre Brown, and Benny Easter Jr. form one of the most explosive trios in the region—capable of stretching the field and torching defenses. Defensively, it starts in the trenches with Brinley Tita, who brings power and grit up front, supported by edge rushers Amontre Harris and Van Cormier. At linebacker, Tyson Joiner and Tre Carroll fly to the football with relentless energy. And then there’s the secondary—loaded with talent and swagger. Marrell Davis and Caleb White headline a unit that can cover, hit, and change games in a flash.
The Atascocita Eagles soared to a 12-2 finish last season, with both losses coming at the hands of one familiar foe: North Shore—once in district play and again in the Regional Final. Now, with a seasoned squad and State dreams in sight, head coach Craig Stump and his team are ready to take the next step. Leading the charge is District MVP and Arizona State commit Cardae Mack, one of the most dynamic playmakers in the state. He’s back and hungry to finish the job. At quarterback, Isaiah “Rocket” Rasheed returns after a strong sophomore campaign and is expected to take a major leap in Year 3. His top target will be CJ Toney, a reliable and explosive weapon on the outside. Defensively, Atascocita brings the fire. Andre Jones and Jason Johnson (6-5, 280-pounds) provide the push in the trenches, while Rayvion Sauls—a relentless, sideline-to-sideline linebacker—will be the heart of the unit. In a loaded secondary, Hunter Sowell, Tavon Bolden, Trenton Blaylock are poised to shut down opposing aerial attacks. With star power, depth, and a chip on their shoulder, the Eagles are all in on a return to the Regional Final—and beyond.
The Kingwood Mustangs turned heads in 2024 with a 9-5 finish, making a deep run to the Regional Finals before being stopped by district rival Summer Creek. It was a breakout campaign for Coach Cale Melton and his squad—and the excitement around the program is very real. Leading the charge into 2025 is District Newcomer of the Year Landon Hinson, who returns at quarterback with poise and upside. He’ll be handing off to explosive running back Cam Richardson, who will be running behind one of the best in the business—national recruit Kennedy Brown, the anchor of a formidable offensive line. On the outside, Trysten Laughlin and Kye Wheby give Hinson reliable and athletic targets to stretch the field and make plays downfield. Defensively, Cade Haug is the tone-setter—a tackling machine at linebacker—while Brayden Ferdows will provide key support in the middle of the defense. The biggest challenge for the Mustangs? Replacing a large and talented senior class. Building depth will be critical if Kingwood wants to keep trending upward in a tough district. But with the returning talent and momentum from last year’s playoff run, Kingwood looks like a program built to last.
The Cory Laxen-era begins at C.E. King with excitement and high expectations. Laxen, a four-time state champion during his time at North Shore, now takes the reins of a Panthers program he’s already deeply familiar with as a former assistant. And while it’s the start of a new chapter, the mission remains the same: build a contender—and fast. There’s plenty of young talent to work with. The quarterback battle between Jeffery Randall and Timothy Potts will be one to watch this fall, while the backfield is already loaded with Stephen F. Austin commit Dionne Sims and Antwon Sanders, both capable of breaking off big plays. Then there's sophomore phenom Dillon Mitchell, whose jaw-dropping track speed has quickly made him one of the most exciting athletes in the area. Up front, the offensive line will be powered by Oswald Jacquet III and Xavier Goode, giving the Panthers stability in the trenches. Out wide, the weapons are dangerous—Braylon Lane (a national recruit), Le’Jerric Clark, and Caleb Martin all have the ability to stretch defenses and make plays. Defensively, Dominick Toulon will bring pressure in the trenches, while the linebacker group features James Jordan and Calvin Carter, a nationally ranked Dekaney move-in with sideline-to-sideline range. In the secondary, Enoch Bell will be the enforcer on the back end. It’s a youth movement at C.E. King—but with talent like this, the Panthers could be back in the postseason mix sooner than expected.
In one of the toughest districts in Texas, Humble, Channelview, and Goose Creek Memorial are grinding to make noise and build momentum. At Humble High, head coach Robert Murphy looks to build on a 5-5 campaign (2-5 in district) with a defense-first mindset. The Wildcats return a solid core on that side of the ball and will aim to turn close games into wins in 2025. Over in Channelview, head coach Averion Hurts leans on a pair of proven playmakers: running back Jaydien Johnson and wide receiver Davion Vanderbilt, who both had big seasons in 2024 and bring firepower to the Falcons’ offensive attack. Meanwhile, Goose Creek Memorial welcomes Jay’Mond Cleveland as its new head coach. The Baytown native and former Lee High School star returns home, energized and ready to spark a turnaround. Cleveland inherits a hungry team, eager to get into the win column and rewrite the narrative.
