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Dobie's Cameron Mathews
THE PLAYMAKERS: Phenoms on the Field powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Football Athletes of the 2024 Season, who represented South Houston to the highest degree this Fall.
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Jonah Williams -- Galveston Ball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
It was a safe guess to assume that Galveston Ball super-star Jonah Williams would have another monster campaign to cap off his high school career.
Fans and critics alike could not deny the transparent impact he had on the field, whether that be on the defense -- where he played virtually every position at one time or another -- on offense as a tactical athlete, or in the special teams return game.
Stat-wise, the five-star Texas-commit contributed nearly 700 all-purpose yards, with a team-leading 15 total scores, two interceptions, and a blocked field goal in 2024.
Unfortunately for Williams and the Tornadoes, he suffered a broken collar bone when returning an interception during the second half of the team's Week 8 match-up against Barbers Hill -- a thrilling game in which the Eagles won 62-60 in quadruple overtime.
While this would sideline Ball's most vital asset for the remainder of the season, the Tors still produced a respectable run, as they reached the Area Round of the postseason.
When the time came to dish out the season accolades, Williams was rightfully recognized as the District 9-5A-D1 MVP, marking the second-straight time he received the award.
As Williams heals up and waits to become a Longhorn in the near future, let it be known that this young man gave everything to his team and hometown in his final year with the program.
Landon Kieselhorst -- Deer Park
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The Deer had yet another productive campaign this Fall, under the direction of 24-6A Coach of the Year Austin Flynn.
Although they moved over to a new district (24-6A) in the UIL realignment, Deer Park wasted little time in establishing themselves as contenders -- evidenced by their 8-2 record to enter the postseason as the co-district champs.
Their offense -- which averaged just over 32 points per contest -- was humming for the vast majority of the Fall. This was thanks, in large part, to the leadership of senior signal-caller Landon Kieselhorst, who facilitated the entire process.
The 6-foot-6 QB passed for nearly 2,000 yards with 24 scores, while tacking on 840 more yards and 10 TDs on the ground, which earned him the distinction of being named the District 24-6A Co-MVP.
Kieselhorst had some help, of course.
He was able to function behind a sturdy offensive-line anchored by unanimous first-team, all-district selections Roberto Rodriguez and Rylen Votion. Furthermore, he had reliable targets such as WRs Tre Martinez (first-team) and Aandon Schroeder (second-team) to work with in the passing game.
While Deer Park was eliminated by perennial heavy-weight North Shore in the Bi-District round, the standard that this team embodies on a yearly basis is definitely worth acknowledging.
Malachi Gamble -- Dickinson
Some of the stars of 2024-25 Dickinson Football
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
From one District 24-6A Co-MVP to another, plenty of props should be given to tailback Malachi Gamble.
In his junior year with Dickinson, Gamble became the focal point of coach John Snelson's offense, as he went on to rush for over 1,500 yards (roughly 139 ypg) and found the end zone on 21 separate occasions.
This would form the catalyst that propelled the Gators to a 7-4 record and a trip to the playoffs, where they narrowly fell to Atascocita in hotly contested 50-45 battle.
Several big names on this offense -- such as Jeremiah Scoby (Bowling Green-signee), Mason Peterson (TCU), and Tyler Thomas (Texas A&M) -- will soon moving on to the collegiate level.
So, the torch is now passed on to Gamble to maintain the consistent level of success audiences have come to expect from Dickinson.
Cameron Mathews -- Dobie
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Victories didn't always come easy for the Longhorns in 2024, but they can hang their hat on the fact that they always made games interesting.
While they experienced a slow start in the first half of the regular season, the resilience that Dobie showed in their final four games to secure a playoff berth is nothing short of remarkable.
A key component in the team's come-back relates to their emphasis on the run-game, which revolved around senior Cameron Mathews.
Mathews was, without a doubt, the heart and soul of Longhorns' offense, as he rushed for close to 1,900 yards and 19 touchdowns to secure his second consecutive Distrct 22-6A MVP nod.
While the Dobie stand-out has yet to commit to a college program as of right now, he'll have plenty to choose from -- namely UTSA, Houston Christian, Grambling State, and Utah -- when the time comes.
Chris Stewart -- Shadow Creek
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Shadow Creek's performance throughout the regular season could be described as "near-perfection".
After dropping the season opener against eventual State Semifinalist Summer Creek, the Sharks then proceeded to dominate in their subsequent nine contests to claim an undefeated District 22-6A championship.
However, head coach Tyrone Green and company dealt with their fair share of injuries and misfortune, which led to them enduring a 31-28 upset against Fort Bend Elkins in the first round of the postseason.
As difficult of a pill to swallow that must have been, it can still be argued that Shadow Creek featured one of the state's most complete rosters in 2024, when healthy.
That was certainly recognized in the district superlatives.
Among all the stars in the program, the one who stood out most was junior wideout Chris Stewart.
After tallying combining for 1,332 all-purpose yards and 18 total scores, Stewart (Texas-commit) was named the District 22-6A Offensive MVP for his efforts, both on offense and in the special teams department.
With Stewart returning next Fall, alongside players such as Tommy Baker (Defensive MVP), Tristan Willis (Offenisve Newcomer of the Year), DeMarco Jenkins (Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year), as well as all-district first-teamers Nathan Harris and Deneim Scott, Shadow Creek will still be in good hands.
They'll undoubtedly be eager to avenge their early exit from the playoffs a year from now.
Shadow Creek's Chris Stewart
THE PLAYMAKERS: On the offensive, powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as the Fall season continues to heat up.
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Tate Chisolm -- Pearland Football
Some of the stars of 2024-25 Pearland Football
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Following a narrow 19-12 defeat at the hands of Fulshear in the season opener, Pearland responded by claiming victories in each of their subsequent six matches -- in dominating fashion.
Now, the Oilers (6-1) are poised atop the District 22-6A standings, tied only with Shadow Creek (6-1).
The defense has been playing lights out (10.4 points allowed/game), which is what we've come to expect. However, the offense is just as critical -- contributing roughly 40 points per contest.
While the connection between Jake Westmoreland (Jr. QB) and Jordan Hernandez (Jr. WR) can give any opposing defensive coordinator a headache, the catalyst behind the team's barrage comes from their ground game -- led by Tate Chisolm.
The senior running back was a first-team, all-district selection a year ago, and now we know why.
In the absence of the, now, graduated LaDamion McDowell, Chisolm has accumulated 785 all-purpose yards and 10 scores entering the eighth week of the regular season.
As mentioned earlier, the Oilers are currently tied with Shadow Creek for the top spot in the district. The true test for them will be when the two face off next Friday on the Sharks' home turf.
Mycah Whittemore -- Deer Park Volleyball
Alex Hinson (VYPE)
It hasn't always been easy-sledding for the Deer in 2024.
However, given the quality of opponents they've competed with throughout the first half of the year -- namely Stratford, Seven Lakes, The Woodlands, Friendswood, College Park, etc. -- you can't fault them too much.
Despite that, coach Cortni Cox's squad now maintains a 19-18 record, which includes a 7-3 start in district to put them 3rd overall.
Offense certainly hasn't been an issue, with senior OH Mycah Whittemore headlining the relatively young group.
As it stands, Whittemore has tallied well over 400 kills, averaging 4 per set.
Paired with the talents of Erin Goodson (Jr. DS), Abi Woodson (Jr. S), and Alixandra Klein (So. OH), a trip to the playoffs should be well within the reach of Deer Park.
Chris Stewart -- Shadow Creek Football
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Similar to their district counterpart Pearland, Shadow Creek dropped the first game of the season -- although it was against 2023 State Finalist Summer Creek -- before taking home the W in their next six contests.
This roster is clearly loaded with skill on both sides of the ball.
However, the brightest star for the Sharks this campaign has unquestionably been that of Chris Stewart (Jr. WR).
Stewart was named a unanimous first-teamer in 2023, before committing to Texas in July.
Throughout this season, though, he's already brought in 34 receptions for nearly 600 yards (85 ypg) and 10 touchdowns. If that wasn't enough, Stewart is also a force in the return game, adding on 332 extra yards, which includes two more scores off punts.
After resting up this week during their bye, Stewart and company will look to potentially seal a District 22-6A title when facing Pearland next Friday.
Taylor Ranney -- Dawson Volleyball
Some of the stars of 2024-25 Dawson Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
It wasn't a huge secret that Dawson was going to be among the top clubs in H-Town, entering this Fall.
While they've had their fair share of close battles, the Eagles are rapidly picking up speed at the perfect time, having won each of their last 10 games to bring their record to 28-10.
In the second round of district-play, they are coming off instrumental wins against Shadow Creek (3-2) and Pearland (3-0), which has ascended them into the top-10 of our weekly city-wide rankings.
We've talked about Kennedy Jones (Sr. MH). We've talked about Jenna Thedford (Jr. L). But one name that has flown quietly under the radar is none other than Taylor Ranney.
Dawson's junior setter recently surpassed the 1,000-assist mark on the year, which is a remarkable achievement, in and of itself.
Furthermore, Ranney has contributed 245 digs and 83 kills, making her a key weapon in each phase of the game.
One thing has been made abundantly clear: these Eagles are going to be a feared opponent entering the the postseason.
Julian Salazar -- Clear Springs Football
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The Chargers have proven to be one of the most consistent teams in Houston as we approach the final stages of the 2024 season.
Under the direction of coach Anthony Renfro, Clear Springs improved to 5-1 with their most recent 50-21 thrashing of Brazoswood.
It was mentioned, not too long ago, that the connection between senior signal-caller Julian Salazar and Arizona-commit Muizz Tounkara (Sr. WR) would pay dividends for the offense, and that notion still stands today.
Salazar received District 24-6A Offensive MVP honors last Fall, and appears to be in the running for a full-on District MVP nod come November.
Before he moves on to Lamar next year, however, there is still a task at hand, with critical matchups against Clear Falls (10/18), Dickinson (10/25) and Deer Park (11/1) on the horizon, and a likely playoff appearance to follow.