GAMES
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RANKINGS
The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Cypress Ranch Mustangs football team.
VYPE Houston 2026 Football Preview | District 23-6A: Cy Ranch Tops an Underrated District Gauntlet
Bridgeland Bears
Fulshear Chargers
Waller Bulldogs
Cypress Springs Panthers
Foster Falcons
George Ranch Longhorns
Cypress Park Tigers
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Braden Baker, Cypress Ranch
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tristin "TK" Gaines, Waller
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Amari Vickerson, Cypress Ranch
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Taylon Villanueva, Bridgeland
ON THE CUSP: Cypress Springs Panthers
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Bridgeland Bears
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Last fall provided only a glimpse of the threat Cypress Ranch poses to the state’s power structure. The scary part? The Mustangs barely scratched the surface of their potential during a 10-3 campaign that ended in a 38-31 overtime thriller against Waxahachie in the Regional Semifinals. The move to Region III in the UIL realignment adds an intriguing wrinkle. Though the road to Arlington may become more daunting come November, this roster is built to chase the program’s second trip to the State Final Four—and its first since 2014. District MVP Braden Baker reprises his role as the signal-caller for head coach William Blaylock’s offense. Committed to Houston since April, Baker was the picture of efficiency last fall, completing 66 percent of his passes for nearly 2,800 yards and 32 touchdowns against just one interception. Four-star junior tackle R’Monie Edwards will buy Baker time to find WR1 Manny Leyja, a first-team all-district selection who erupted for 885 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior running back Khristian White is quickly emerging as one of the state’s rising stars, already holding offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, and LSU. SMU commit Amari Vickerson is the catalyst on defense, supplying the interior with the same power and pedigree that earned him unanimous first-team all-district recognition a year ago. Sophomore edge Cameron Bledsoe adds juice to the pass rush, while athlete Jacob Lee (Rice) locks down the corner.
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Bridgeland was narrowly denied a fourth consecutive district title, then saw its 2025 run end in the postseason opener with a 37-27 loss to Klein Collins, finishing the year 7-4 overall. Suffice it to say, motivation won’t be in short supply for head coach Lonnie Madison and his staff; the players will bring plenty of their own fuel into August. Senior Kash Schwab remains the centerpiece of the Bears’ playbook, as the UNLV-bound tailback piled up more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns en route to unanimous first-team all-district honors. His production should ease some of the pressure on quarterback Taylon Villanueva, a senior expected to manage the flow of the game behind a formidable front led by Baylor commit Chase Allen (first-team all-district) and senior Austin Holcomb. Wideouts Jackson Ewing and Jackson Gruber give Villanueva dependable targets to keep the chains moving. Defensively, Bridgeland boasts two accomplished safeties in Braiden Graves and Camden Buchanan. Graves filled the stat sheet with 97 tackles, seven sacks, and eight passes defended before committing to Kansas, while Buchanan added 58 tackles, five interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns. Edge rushers Regan Fodje and Jordyn Sims round out the squad with their knack for disrupting opposing QBs.
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Now entering the second season of Stephen Hill’s tenure, Fulshear aims to reassert itself within a revamped district landscape while erasing the sting of a first-round playoff exit that capped a 7-4 season. A wealth of talent gives the Chargers plenty of ways to attack, and few embody that multidimensional skill set better than athlete Ryland Forks. Coming off a first-team all-district showing, Forks totaled nearly 1,100 all-purpose yards and 20 combined scores as a receiver. In 2026, he’ll bring that same game-changing ability to the fold as a premier weapon for sophomore quarterback Mason West. Junior wideout Tre Clewis, another first-team all-district pick, is poised to build on a standout year of 884 yards and 14 touchdowns while continuing to establish himself as a Division I prospect. Second-team all-district lineman Righteous Spencer gives West and running back Jayelen Collins (second-team) a reliable presence in the trenches. Flipping the field, Fulshear’s secondary leans on safeties David Obanor (second-team) and Liam Clay (first-team), plus junior defensive back Dashaud Froe, allowing linebacker Tyrese Brown to play downhill while seniors Dieko Ojajuni (first-team), Matthew Nwaboh, and Tife Taiwo collapse the pocket.
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Patience finally paid off for Waller in 2025, culminating with the Bulldogs breaking through for a 7-4 finish and the program’s first playoff berth in over a decade, ending a drought that stretched back to 2014. With expectations now elevated, what will fifth-year head coach Marcus Mendoza and company do for an encore? Putting points on the board shouldn’t be an issue for the Bulldogs, whose offense still revolves around one of Texas’ hottest commodities in quarterback Tristin “TK” Gaines. A spectacular sophomore campaign earned Gaines District 16-6A Offensive MVP honors after he threw for more than 2,200 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding just under 700 rushing yards and 12 more scores. Senior Elias Hall, a first-team all-district selection, headlines a stalwart offensive line protecting Gaines as he looks toward top targets Glowin Mbobile (first-team) and Michael Tshitenge, both seniors. Meanwhile, linebacker Trace Geigley returns as a pillar of Waller’s defense after totaling 80 tackles and an interception en route to first-team recognition. Fellow first-teamer Weston Hubertus, who hauled in seven picks a year ago, strengthens Waller’s pass coverage with senior corner Deshune McGary.
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Cypress Springs navigated its share of highs and lows last fall, narrowly missing the postseason despite piecing together a commendable 6-4 record. Spearheading the Panthers’ response will be an athletically gifted defense, sparked by senior cornerback Kameron Roberson. The 6-foot-1 Houston commit pairs rare size with the instincts that earned him first-team all-district honors in 2025. Hybrid safety Joseph Batiste, linebacker Keylan Caldwell, and lineman Quaron White round out a unit expected to take another step forward. Head coach Oji Fagan’s playbook welcomes back signal-caller Jared Hagger, an Augustana-bound senior whose dual-threat ability should provide a boost for a group that also includes second-team all-district running back Yogi Martin Jr. (Lafayette), Connor Patrick (Sr. WR), Tristan Cross (Jr. WR), Myles Hamilton (Jr. ATH), and Jedidiah Martinez (Sr. OL).
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Enduring a brutal non-district schedule—one that featured heavyweights like Randle, Angleton, and Barbers Hill—may have contributed to Foster’s 3-8 record a year ago. Still, the district race is what matters most, and head coach Shane Hanks and the Falcons have already shown they can withstand that challenge. Second-team all-district quarterback Cannon Volf returns to orchestrate Foster’s attack behind senior Holden Holchak (first-team). Tailback Jordan Williams, another first-team pick, adds explosiveness to the backfield, while senior wideout Jaylen Walker gives Volf a dangerous weapon on the perimeter. The X-factor could very well be KJ Keller, a second-team all-district safety poised for a much larger role at wide receiver. Defensively, Tyson Denman (Sr. DE) and Caden Bateman (Sr. S)—both second-team all-district honorees—offer a strong foundation alongside Josh Odom (Sr. CB).
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A new era begins at George Ranch, as former Fulshear assistant Jomaul Mason takes the reins of the Longhorns, who enter the season fresh off a 5-6 campaign that ended in the Bi-District round against Katy. Texas State commit Ellison “EC” Collins IV (Sr. CB/WR) brings versatility and game-breaking potential to both sides of the ball. He’ll be building on a 2025 run that resulted in 20-6A Utility Player of the Year recognition with 23 tackles, eight PBUs, 557 receiving yards, and seven scores. Senior QB Tony Morrison follows with first-team all-district pedigree, complemented by Brandon Jefferson (Sr. RB), Daniel Johnson III (Sr. WR), and Trevor Bielitz (Sr. WR). On defense, Branson Masculine (Sr. LB), Colton Marion (Sr. S), Garrison Riggs (Jr. S), and Jackson Linebarger (Sr. CB) set the tone.
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Cypress Park remains in the midst of an uphill climb, searching for more wins under second-year head coach Donald Lawrence. Even so, the Tigers should show flashes of promise thanks in large part to running back Ja’Harvey Johnson, an all-district honorable mention who churned out 905 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Basheel Ware is a breakout candidate at quarterback, while Forkum Chesami (Sr. S), Jashaud Fontenot (Sr. DB), and Lovell Iverson (Sr. DB) headline the Cy Park defense.
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Cypress Ranch's Braden Baker (Houston commit)
HOMETOWN HERO: Cy Ranch’s Baker Looking to Put On for the City
“It’s something I’ve been waiting for,” Baker said of his upcoming senior season. “I’m really excited for my senior year and I think it’s going to be a big season.”
In 2025, Cy Ranch reached the Regional Semifinals for the first time since 2014, the year the Mustangs advanced to the State Championship game. For Baker, the upcoming campaign is about ushering Cypress Ranch back toward those heights.
“I want to lead my team to State,” he said. “From a recognition standpoint, I want to earn all-district honors or even District MVP and really solidify my legacy at Cy Ranch.”
Baker’s commitment to the local Houston Cougars this offseason added another layer of motivation heading into the 2026 campaign — the opportunity to represent his hometown on an even bigger stage.
Matt Powell (VYPE)
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“It means the world to me being able to show out in front of my city,” Baker said. “I’m definitely going to show Houston fans what they’re getting next year.”
While Baker’s motivation heading into his senior season stems from several different factors, perhaps the biggest driving force is his desire to prove consistency. He understands the spotlight that comes with his success and knows the question surrounding him: was last season a breakthrough, or the beginning of something bigger?
“I’m trying to prove that I’m supposed to be where I am right now,” he said. “I want to show people that last year wasn’t just a one-time deal and that I’m going to keep improving my senior year.”
With a championship pursuit ahead and a new chapter waiting at Houston, Baker enters 2026 determined to show that his rise was only the beginning.
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