GAMES
RANKINGS
The stars of 2024-25 Houston Lamar Football
Lamar, Heights in contention for DISTRICT 18-6A; Bellaire, Sam Houston within reach
Heights Bulldogs
Bellaire Cardinals
Sam Houston Tigers
Westside Wolves
Wisdom Generals
Chavez Lobos
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
...
VYPE's PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Trevan Williams, Sam Houston
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Zaylen Cormier, Heights
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Chance Bloodsaw, Lamar
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cole McLean, Bellaire
ON THE CUSP: Sam Houston Tigers
...
The Lamar Texans went an impressive 12-1 a year ago and reached the Regional Quarterfinals before bowing out of the playoffs. Four starters return for seventh-year coach Michael Lindsey (48-18) in 2024. The group will be led by SMU-commit Dramodd Odoms, who will anchor the offensive line. Odoms is ranked in the Top 10 among offensive tackles in the nation. Danny Stein will also help up front at center. Wide receiver Enrico Moore earned District 18-6A Newcomer of the Year honors a year ago after racking up 372 yards and five scores on 18 grabs. Trey Douglas (8 rec. 121 yards, 2 TDs) will be another one to watch at wideout. In the backfield, Chaseston Guidry will tote the rock after averaging nearly 10-yards per carry a year ago. Guidry finished with 620 yards and 10 touchdowns on 64 carries. Others to watch include Chance Bloodsaw (DT - 35 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 TFL) and Erik Peters(K/P - 7 for 8 field goal, 41 PAT, 19 touchbacks). Peters is ranked in the Top 10 amongst kickers in the nation. Lamar has some pieces, but Lindsey will have to decide on a QB1 come fall camp.
Every year except for one that Stephen Dixon has been the head coach at Heights High School, the Bulldogs have been a playoff-caliber team. This year marks the 21st year and 16th as a head coach at Dixon has led this program. Heights has been a playoff team for the past 15 of those. Coming off an 8-4 campaign, the Bulldogs return 15 starters, including University of Houston-commit Zaylen Cormier and SMU-commit Devinn Farris. At receiver Cormier was first-team, all-district after racking up 763 yards and 12 scores on just 34 catches. Farris earned first-team, all-district honors on the offensive line. Other players to watch include Dylan Ray (LB - 65 tackles, 4 sacks), Jordan Clavelle (DL/LB - 43 tackles, 11.5 sacks) and Broderick Brown (CB - 26 tackles, 2 INTs). All three players – Ray, Clavelle and Brown – earned first-team, all-district nods. This Heights team has talent and plenty of it to try and get back atop of the district for the first time since 2020.
The Bellaire Cardinals are coming off their best season since 2020. Last year, Bellaire went 4-7 and reached the playoffs. Quarterback Will Hazen is coming off a year where he passed for 688 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 304 yards and four scores on the way to earning second-team, all-district honors. Bellaire kicker Cole McLean earned a nod as the District 18-6A Special Teams MVP along with being a first-team, all-district pick. Other key returners include second-teamers Chris Wilson (LB/TE/HB) and Chance Diebner (All-Purpose Back). Wilson plays on both sides of the ball and led the Cardinals in tackles with 69. This Bellaire squad was young last year but found success. Look for them to build on that.
Sam Houston is coming off a 3-7 season in 2023. The Tigers haven’t made the playoffs since 2003 and enter year four of Charles Brown III at the helm as they look to build off of last year. First-team, all-district quarterback Trevan Williams is set to return as the signal-caller for the Tigers. Rodrick Scott, who was second-team, all-district a year ago, returns at running back for Sam Houston. Other key returners include Johnny Lazcano (OL) and Steven Warren (OLB), who were first and second-team, all-district picks, respectively.
Westside will look to bounce back from a 2-8 campaign in 2024 that caused them to miss the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. The Wolves enter year two under Cedric Allen at the helm of the program. Westside returns second-team, all-district picks Ethan Barbosa (OL) and Justin Nwoko (safety).
The 2024 season brings some new things to Wisdom High School. First, the Generals make the jump from Class 5A Division I to now competing with the big boys in Class 6A football. Welcome to District 18-6A. The second thing is Jamarkus Branch takes over as the head coach of the Generals, which was announced in July. Branch served as the assistant coach for the Generals. Wisdom is coming off a 7-3 season, which is the program’s best record since 1983. A key returner for Wisdom is junior receiver Ajani Mayeux, who was named the District 9-5A-DI Offensive Newcomer of the Year. Mayeux finished last year with 517 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. Now, can Wisdom build off their season and make the playoffs in 2024?
Louie Rodriguez enters his second season leading Chavez. This is a nice sign for the Lobos as after last season, Rodriguez was the third different coach in three years. Now, the players don’t have to learn a new system or coach as they head into 2024. The Lobos went winless a year ago and bring back a lot of young pieces who gained invaluable experience a year ago. First-team, all-district receiver Johntta Thomas is back for second-team, all-district signal-caller Chris Cabrero to hit with his passes. Another weapon for Cabrero will be second-team tight end Carlos Santos. Defensively, Maniel Miller Jr (DT) and Jaden Glass (LB) are back after a second-team, all-district pick. Chavez hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018 and looks to get back to some winning in 2024.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2024 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 VYPE HOU FOOTBALL DIGITAL MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE CITYWIDE FOOTBALL SHOOT
The stars of 2024-25 Heights FootballDoug Brown (VYPE)
VYPE Football 2020 Preview: District 18-6A
Preseason Rankings
Lamar
Heights
Bellaire
Chavez
Westside
Westbury
Sam Houston
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
...
VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Jalen Morrison, Heights
Offensive MVP: Dashawn Daniels, Chavez
Defensive MVP: Rodney Dansby, Bellaire
Breakout Player of the Year: DeMone Green, Heights
Sleeper Team: Chavez
...
There are a pair of new coaches within District 18-6A as Westbury and Sam Houston have high hopes of getting out of the district basement. Lamar is still the cream of the district with the Heights still trying to close the gap. The COVID 19 Pandemic has hurt the largest district in the state of Texas more than anyone in the city as uncertainty.
...
LAMAR TEXANS
The Lamar Texans went undefeated in district play but were doubled-up by Cy Falls in the first-round of the postseason. Coach Michael Lindsey hands over the offense to sophomore Kenneth Rosenthal. Offensive linemen Michael Liggins and Devin Williams will be his bodyguards. WR Roshane Cruickshank and TE Kaleb Randle were first-teamers in 2019 and will help provide an offensive spark. The defense is loaded. Linebackers Oliver Jack and Cameron Bradley also earned first-team honors and will be complemented by DL Max Shilstone and DBs Khai'mon Samuel and Lamont Landry. Blake Bernhard is a weapon as the district's best kicker.
...
HEIGHTS BULLDOGS
The Big Man on Campus at the Heights is Kendric Rhymes, who combined for nearly 1,400 yards rushing and receiving in 2019. The Bulldog's QB1 isn't bad either as junior Jalen Morrison was named the District Newcomer of the Year. Morrison lit up offenses, throwing for over 2,700 yards and 25 scores. Billy Thursland, Tadderick Mathis and Kenyae Wilson will lead the way up front. Defensively, DeMone Green has a high-ceiling as a DI defensive tackle recruit. Jonovan Foreman will run the LB corps and Brian Mayes is the fastest of the Bulldog DBs.
...
BELLAIRE CARDINALS
The Cards take a hit offense as first-teamers QB Darius Reed and WR Willie McCoy have graduated and RB Davion Ford transferred to North Shore. Coach Herb Kunz will lean on Jonathan McCoy for much on the offense on the ground behind Abdi Ziyad and Terius Dugas up front. Bellaire does return Defensive MVP Rodney Dansby, a prototypical inside linebacker. Keeping offensive linemen off of Dansby will be Da'Lyn Mouton, Dominic Lane and Korben Cook on the line. Mouton is a mountain at 6-foot-3, 300-pounds. A QB and a dynamic WR is what needs to emerge for the Cardinals.
...
CHAVEZ LOBOS
Coach Cory Jiles and his Lobos should challenge for the fourth playoff spot with an explosive offense. The district's Offensive MVP Dashawn Daniels will carry the mail as the district's top RB. Daniels rushed for over 1,100 yards and will be running for scholarships in 2020. QB LaMarcus Simmons will find his favorite WR David Jernigan, who was a first- teamer last year. The OL is inexperienced, but have a base in Jonathan McClellan, Chadvonta Martin and Austin James. The skills in the secondary are on point led by Clay Lewis and Dalton Green at corner. The front seven is going to need some youngsters to emerge.
...
WESTSIDE WOLVES
The Westside Wolves will have to manufacture points this season as District MVP Akeem Benjamin has graduated.
It's tough to replace a veteran QB, who led you to the postseason. But the show must go on as coach Jamoul Mason knows all too well. The offensive line has some pieces in second-teamer Donovan Davis, Nonso Omezi and Alex Arceo. Dorian Washington is a talented playmaker as a returning first-team receiver. He will play an even bigger role as a junior. This year's installment of the Wolves will be defensive with LaRonte Lewis (6-foot-2, 285-pounds) getting a push up front. Nick Norman will patrol the middle of the field at LB while Messiah Farinas anchors the secondary.
...
WESTBURY HUSKIES
One of the most recognized names in HISD football is taking over the Westbury Husky program – Darrell Colbert. Colbert played his college ball at TSU and then in the NFL for a few seasons. His son, Darrell Colbert Jr., led Lamar High School to the state title game in 2013 for the first time in 60 years. Can the Colbert name translate to wins at Westbury – a team that went 1-8 in 2019? It starts with the QB Ettiene Ntakirutiman, will be "the man" to lead the Huskies. He's a dual-threat athlete with playmaking ability. Josh Randolph is a TE/DE hybrid who should draw college attention along with Bright Ofoh in the trenches.
...
SAM HOUSTON TIGERS
Michael Sinclair hopes his NFL experience rubs off on his Sam Houston Tigers. Sam Houston is a tough project, but Sinclair has some pieces to work with. QB Ernesto Martinez will be looked on to lead an inexperienced offense. The defense will be the strength as some players will have to go both ways. Isaiah Castillo, Anthony Rice and Barre'on Shuler will patrol the secondary, while Isaiah Arriago and Miguel Galindo will anchor the LBs.