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VYPE 2022 Countdown to Kickoff: District 23-6A Preview
Shadow Creek has owned District 23-6A since it started up its varsity football program four years ago. It’ll be hard for anyone to take down the Sharks this year but there will be plenty of suitors.
It starts with Pearland and new coach B.J. Gotte, fresh off leading Katy Paetow to the Class 5A-DI State Title.
It continues with Pearland Dawson, which returns a lot of firepower to also take its shot at the crown. District 23-6A football figures to be a fun ride this year, with fresh blood on the sidelines and plenty of talent to go around.
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PREVIOUS DISTRICT PREVIEWS (2022)
- 13-6A Preview
- 14-6A Preview
- 15-6A Preview
- 16-6A Previe
- 17-6A Preview
- 18-6A Preview
- 19-6A Preview
- 20-6A Preview
- 21-6A Preview
- 22-6A Preview
PRESEASON RANKING
Shadow Creek Sharks
Pearland Oilers
Pearland Dawson Eagles
Strake Jesuit Crusaders
Alvin Yellowjackets
Alief Taylor Lions
Elsik Rams
Hastings Bears
VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Duke Butler, Shadow Creek
OFFENSIVE MVP:Bryce Fucik, Strake Jesuit
DEFENSIVE MVP:Maurice Williams, Shadow Creek
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR:Jackson Hamilton, Pearland
SLEEPER TEAM:Alief Taylor
SHADOW CREEK SHARKS
In its four years as a varsity football program, Shadow Creek has been district champion three times. This year likely won’t prove any different, as the Sharks return 13 starters (7 defense) from a 9-3 Area finalist. The offense is high-powered thanks to senior 6-foot-1, 170-pound QB Duke Butler (1,891 yards, 29 TDs), junior RB Tylik Burton (760 yards, 8 TDs), senior RB Felix Buchanan (401 yards, 6 TDs) and senior ATH Jacob Washington (162 yards, TD). Sophomore WR Jacorey Watson could make an immediate impact for a thin receiving corp. But it’s defense where Shadow Creek will shine, led by senior DE and Washington State-commit Theorin Randle (11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks), junior 6-foot-2 DE Zion Taylor (8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks), senior LB Robert Edmonson Jr. (77 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 INTs) and junior 6-foot-2, 185-pound DE Maurice Williams (47 tackles, INT), an LSU-commit. Coach Brad Butler said senior leadership is a strength this year while he will need new starters at key positions to mature quickly.
PEARLAND OILERS
The Oilers are under new leadership in B.J. Gotte, who led Katy Paetow to the Class 5A-DI State Title last year. Gotte, a Katy native, came to Pearland for its tradition and homey, small-town feel, where the Oilers are the big game in town every Friday night. He has a chore on his hands in Pearland, which has not made it past the Area playoffs since 2013. But Gotte does have talent as nine starters (6 offense) return from last year’s 7-4 Bi-District finalist. Leading the way is sophomore 5-11, 170-pound QB Jackson Hamilton (232 yards, 3 TDs), son of Houston Texans OC Pep Hamilton. Hamilton is ideal for Gotte’s multiple pro-style attack, and he will have weapons in senior RB Kennedy Lewis (552 yards, 7 TDs), senior WR Christian Pitts (331 yards, 3 TDs) and senior WR Aiden Glasper (223 yards, 3 TDs). The defense is led by senior 6-foot-2, 200-pound LB Zander Winter (65 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 5 sacks), junior DB Ashton Hampton (25 tackles, 2 INTs) and senior DL Abraham Diaz (11 tackles, sack). Keep an eye on newcomers like sophomore RB LaDamion McDowell, junior DL Wesley Willingham, junior DL Jaden Wincher and senior LB Andre Duke. Gotte said concerns are both lines and safety play. The strengths are the offensive skill positions, cornerbacks and linebackers.
PEARLAND DAWSON EAGLES
After a dominant 10-1 2020 season, Dawson finished 8-4 last year with a team that returned five starters (one on defense). Not too shabby for what was supposed to be a reloading year. Now 13 starters (7 defense) return and the Eagles could be a darkhorse to make some serious noise in 2022. Dawson has some serious firepower in the dynamic duo of senior 6-foot-3, 185-pound QB Colin Johnson (1,955 yards, 17 TDs) and junior RB Bryce Burgess (1,423 yards 16 TDs). They combined for 33 of the Eagles’ 42 offensive TDs last season. Defensively, an experienced unit is anchored by senior 6-foot-1, 220-pound LB Jackson Cody (15 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, INT) and aided by the playmaking of senior 6-foot-1, 305-pound DL Chris Herpin and junior 6-foot-6, 220-pound DL Edward Smith (8 tackles for loss, 6 sacks), each of whom has no problem getting to the quarterback.
STRAKE JESUIT CRUSADERS
After missing the playoffs, the last two seasons, this could be the year Strake Jesuit, which returns 10 starters (6 offense) from a 4-6 team, gets back in. The Crusaders have one of the more prolific performers in the district in senior 6-foot, 175-pound QB Bryce Fucik (2,548 yards, 29 TDs passing: 211 yards, 4 TDs rushing). He makes the Crusaders go. But Fucik will need help to make the final four of a rough and rugged district. So, keep an eye on senior 6-foot-4, 220-pound TE Chico Holt (213 yards, 4 TDs in 8 games), a Northwestern-commit, and senior WR Bryce Lanier (316 yards, 16 yards per catch, 3 TDs). Defensively, Strake Jesuit will be paced by senior 6-foot, 185-pound LB Jake Jongebloed (59 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks) and junior 6-foot, 230-pound DL Jackson Priesmeyer (49 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks).
ALVIN YELLOW JACKETS
Coach James Gage expects the offense to be a strength this year as it enters year No. 4 in his flex-bone system. The Yellow Jackets averaged 13 more points per game last year compared to 2020 (23.3 to 10.2), and Gage expects to see more considerable progress this season. Senior 6-foot-2, 200-pound FB DayShawn Peterson (1,200 yards, 12 TDs) and senior 6-foot-1, 175-pound RB Cole Erndt (450 yards, 4 TDs) are entering their third year as starters and are the rocks behind the running attack. The line will be steadied by RT Finn Madding. Defensively, Alvin will be led by senior CB Gio Gutierrez (25 tackles, 3 pass breakups) and senior DL Eddie Parker (30 tackles, 3 sacks). Keep an eye on senior S Sear Lomeli, junior K Austin Hill and junior RB Ezaiah Vaughans to make some noise as well. Gage said depth and special teams are concerns for a team that returns 13 starters (7 offense) from a 4-6 team.
ALIEF TAYLOR LIONS
Taylor returns 10 starters (7 defense) from a 6-5 Bi-District finalist. It will be a bit of a reloading year for the Lions. The offense will be built around senior QB Chase Jenkins (1,800 yards, 17 TDs-1 INT) - a Rice-commit - and senior 6-foot-2, 165-pound WR Bricen Brantley (539 yards, 7 TDs). Jenkins is also the team’s top returning rusher, having gained 695 yards for seven TDs on the ground last season. Defense will have to carry Taylor, at least early in the season. The front is formidable with 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior DE Collins Simpson (37 tackles, 3 sacks) and 6-foot-1, 245-pound senior NT Samuel Robles (26 tackles, 3 tackles for loss) running around. Robles is versatile enough to play any position on the line, and he figures to play some tight end as well. Watch for sophomore LB Collin Germany, senior WR Terrence Naulings, junior WR Brandon Barrera and senior DB Aaron McCardell to have opportunities to make their names known this year.
ELSIK RAMS
Elsik has not made the playoffs since 2015 and has only eight wins over the last six seasons. But it’s a fresh start for the Rams as alum Shea Rodriguez takes over a program that returns 17 starters (9 offense) from a 1-9 team. Junior ATH Eric Dadzie Jr. is the centerpiece of an experienced offense. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder rushed for 807 yards and 7 TDs last year while throwing for 407 yards and 2 TDs. He could find himself at QB this year after playing all over the field last season. The O-line is in good shape behind senior Oke Akpoborie and Amara Sylla. Junior 6-foot-3, 200-pound DL Adeyini Adewola and sophomore LB Sam Marcelin headline the defense. Keep an eye on senior two-way dynamo Arik Dennis, senior DE Richard Alvarado, senior ATH Anthony Calderon and junior TE Tony Pretzantzin.
HASTINGS BEARS
Hastings is hoping to avoid a fourth consecutive year of not making the playoffs. The Bears have only made the playoffs twice since 2014. Eleven starters (8 offense) return from a 1-9 team. The offense is in good shape with junior RB Jae’Don Webster and a tough, physical and big OL of junior 6-foot-2, 325-pound Tristan Shandy, junior 6-foot-4, 255-pound Darian Snell and junior 6-foot-3, 260-pound Pablo Membreno. Keep an eye on senior 6-foot-3, 200-pound QB Victor Mbajiofor and sophomore 6-foot-2, 147-pound WR Triston Brooks to make some noise on offense. Both are physical, athletic talents. The defense is young and inexperienced and will need more time to gel early on. Senior LB Deundre Willis (89 tackles), junior LB Reece Bender (43 tackles, 2 sacks) and senior CB Kingsley Okafor are the anchors. The Bears are hoping having their first full offseason in two years leads to immediate results
VYPE U: The Sharks Survive and Advance
On Friday, May 7, the battle for a spot in the Area Championship ensued between Clear Springs and Shadow Creek.
The 20-6 Sharks placed second in District 23-6A and the 14-5-1 Chargers placed third in District 24-6A. The best out of three series for Bi-District was held at Baytown Lee this past weekend.
Springs came out swinging, scoring three runs in the top of the first with RBIs from Jordan Boothe and Hayden See. Despite several base hits from both teams, the next five innings remained scoreless thanks to the pitching of Jacob Wingard for the Chargers and Sebastian Soliz for the Sharks, as well as the defensive efforts of all players. The action picked up again in the top of the seventh when Parker Lee hit a two-run homer to secure Springs's lead at 5-0 before Shadow Creek's last at-bat.
Even with a triple from Dejuan Lewis and an RBI from Juan Guzman, the Sharks were unable to close the gap, and Clear Springs clinched the first victory of the series 5-1.
After the game, Coach Scalise, who is in his first season as Shadow Creek's head coach, said, "We're playing a good team. It's one of those things where they're good, we know it, Springs is always good. Playing them is always a battle—it's one where the kids come out and play. For us, we had a bad inning in the first inning. Not even a bad one, they just hit the ball a little bit and we just didn't respond offensively. When we don't respond offensively, we don't have a chance. I'm proud of them though. They hit the ball hard, they hit pretty much right at people the entire game, and they made great plays. The team that makes the plays and pitches wins."
Coach Scalise's plan to bounce back? Wash off the first one. Scalise believed his players were mentally tough enough to erase the first loss and give Springs a run for their money on Saturday.
They certainly washed off Friday night's game.
Saturday's game was another slow start, the score resting at 0-0 until the bottom of the third where Clear Springs busted out two runs. However, the Sharks stayed persistent and disciplined, scoring eight total runs in the fifth and sixth innings with the help of a home run from Aidan Griggsby. Springs refused to let them get away with their 8-2 lead, answering in the bottom of the sixth with six runs to tie the score 8-8.
With a scoreless seventh inning, Game 2 came down to extra innings. Both teams battled hard, but an unanswered 2-RBI double from Shadow Creek's Sabian Hernandez in the top of the ninth ended the game with a final score of 10-8.
In a do-or-die Game 3 thirty minutes later, Shadow Creek started with an early lead 5-0 by the end of the second. Despite the success of Clear Springs at the plate in the fifth and sixth innings as they brought the score to 5-4, another run in the bottom of the sixth for the Sharks increased the lead to 6-4. The Chargers were unable to close the gap in the seventh, ending the game and securing Shadow Creek's spot in the Area Finals.
Post-game, VYPE caught up with Coach Scalise:
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VYPE: How did you adjust in the second game to pull out the win in extra innings?
Scalise: The kid's just played. They fought. We went up 8-2, gave up six runs in one inning to make it 8-8, then brought in our Game 3 starter just to try and get a win to get to Game 3, and he threw really well. I think at that point, our kids just wanted it more than them.
VYPE: What was the main difference you saw in your team's mindset and performance from the start of the series to the end?
Scalise: Experience. There's no doubt about it. I talked to the kids about the game being too big for them in the moment, and there were some times where the game was just [very] overwhelming. I talked to the guys, and I think we had about six that had playoff experience. Some of them had never even been in a playoff game, much less a 6A playoff game. I've said it since the beginning of the year, 6A baseball is completely different from 5A baseball, and that was a really big series for our kids. I think being in the moment, understanding what a playoff atmosphere is really like, knowing that they can get it done because we've done it all year, and the mindset of 'they're better than them.'
VYPE: How do you plan to take the energy from this win into Round 2?
Scalise: I told the kids, enjoy the win tonight and Sunday, start thinking about Round 2. Round 2's going to be just as tough, maybe even tougher. We're playing a really good team. Energy for us is not doing anything more than we've done all year. Our playing is the same, our practice playing is the same, our mindset is the same. The only difference at this point is if you win you advance, if you lose you go home. I'm a big believer in having our kids loose, having them relax, me being relaxed, and my coaching staff being relaxed. If we can do that, then our kids can do that.
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Shadow Creek will face off against Summer Creek, who swept Deer Park in Bi-District, on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14 for a spot in the Regional Quarterfinals.