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THE OFFSEASON: CE King is Houston's next power progam that is here to stay; a must watch
Entering 2025, C.E. King Panthers football was flying under the radar after a 5-5 season and missing the playoffs.
Enter Corey Laxen.
His presence precedes him. He’s got the chops. He sounds like a coach, looks like a coach and commands the room like one.
In Laxen’s first season, the Panthers got their swagger back—and then some—going 13-3 and advancing all the way to the Class 6A Division II State Finals.
Though they fell to DeSoto Eagles football inside AT&T Stadium, one thing is clear:
C.E. King is here to stay.
They’re young. They’re fast. They’re physical and they’re hungry.
So the question becomes—are the Panthers Houston’s next powerhouse?
Laxen has seen the blueprint up close, spending years on staff at perennial state power North Shore Mustangs football.
Now, the pieces are in place.
- The facilities.
- The players.
- The coach.
- The experience on the biggest stage.
Texas high school football… consider yourself on notice.
HIS TIME: New Rouse AD, HFC Mark Hopkins has tremendous coaching pedigree
The Leander Rouse Raiders football got their man.
Mark Hopkins, former offensive coordinator at Katy Tompkins Falcons football, has been named the new athletic director and head football coach at Rouse.
Hopkins played under legendary David Aymond at North Shore Mustangs football and later coached alongside Jon Kay, now the defensive coordinator at Rice Owls football.
During his time at Tompkins, Hopkins played a key role in developing quarterback Jalen Milroe, now an NFL Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks.
Hopkins’ journey through the game has come full circle—and now, it’s his time. This marks his first head coaching opportunity.
VYPE’s Matt Malatesta caught up with Coach Hopkins as he begins building the next chapter of Rouse Raiders football.
Watch here.