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VYPE Football 2020 Preview: District 11-5A-DII
Sep 18, 2020
Welcome to the 2020 football season. What a weird offseason it was for everyone. There was not a summer camp circuit for players to go showcase their talents at. In-person recruiting came to a screeching halt and the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected everyone.
But VYPE has still done what we have always done when it comes to previewing Texas high school football here in Houston. With that said - here is the District 11-5A-DII Preview!
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<h3></h3><p><strong>PRESEASON RANKINGS<br></strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Fort+Bend+Marshall" target="_blank">Fort Bend Marshall</a><br></strong><strong><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Fort+Bend+Willowridge" target="_blank">Fort Bend Willowridge</a><br></strong><strong><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Houston+Sterling" target="_blank">Houston Sterling</a><br></strong><strong><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Galena+Park" target="_blank">Galena Park</a><br></strong><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Houston+Northside" target="_blank">Houston Northside</a><br><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Houston+Madison" target="_blank">Houston Madison</a><br><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Houston+Austin" target="_blank">Houston Austin</a><br><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Houston+Waltrip" target="_blank">Houston Waltrip</a><br><a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Houston+Sharpstown+" target="_blank">Houston Sharpstown </a></p><p><em><strong>(Bold Denotes Playoffs)</strong></em></p><p>...</p><p><strong>VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS</strong></p><p><strong>Most Valuable Player: </strong>RB <a data-linked-post="2639805960" href="https://www.vype.com/the-marshall-buffs-will-stampede-through-district-11-5a-dii" target="_blank">Jamarcus Buckner</a>, <em>Willowridge</em></p><p><em></em><strong>Offensive MVP: </strong>QB <a data-linked-post="2641561531" href="https://www.vype.com/northside-high--recruit-ronald-holmes" target="_blank">Ronald Holmes</a>, <em>Northside</em></p><p><strong>Defensive MVP: </strong>DB <a data-linked-post="2641661089" href="https://www.vype.com/fort-bend-marshall-athlete-of-the-week-presented-by-t-mobile-christian-jackson" target="_blank">Christian Jackson</a>, <em>Marshall</em></p><p><em><em></em></em><strong>Breakout Player of the Year: </strong>QB <a data-linked-post="2640047213" href="https://www.vype.com/the-crystal-ball-breaking-down-predicting-goose-creek-isds-week-1-matchups" target="_blank">Roland Harvey</a>, <em>Marshall</em></p><p><strong>Sleeper Team: </strong>Northside</p>
<p><br></p><p>THE MARSHALL BUFFS WOULD NEVER ADMIT THIS, BUT WITHOUT MANVEL TO SCRAP<br> WITH IN THE NEW DISTRICT 11-5A-DII, THE ABSENCE OF A REGULAR SEASON NEMESIS PRESENTS A MENTAL CHALLENGE. FELLOW DISTRICT-MATE WILLOWRIDGE, GALENA PARK AND A HOST OF HOUSTON ISD PROGRAMS MAKE UP THE REST OF THIS DISTRICT. </p><p><strong>...</strong></p><p><strong>FORT BEND MARSHALL BUFFS</strong> </p><p>Coach <a data-linked-post="2639449568" href="https://www.vype.com/fort-bend-marshall-football" target="_blank">James Williams</a>' amazing teams lost to an eventual state champ the last three seasons (College Station in<br> 2017, and Aledo in the last two state title games at AT&T Stadium). They've said goodbye to their two biggest superstars – touchdown-maker extraordinaire Devon Achane (Texas A&M), perhaps the fastest football player in the state and super QB Malik Hornsby, who is now at Arkansas. Inside Marshall's attendance boundary, there are more gifted sprinters per capita than in Jamaica. But there are strong, silent O-line sentinels who open the holes. Four starters (Kameron Square, LaMont Vaz, Christian Williams and Jared Baylor) are back, who blew open holes to the tune of 400+ yards/game and 50+ points per game in 2019. Hornsby worked out well as a transfer QB, and the Buffs have another move-in with junior <a data-linked-post="2639842220" href="https://www.vype.com/district-18-6a-up-for-grabs-looking-for-postseason-success" target="_blank">Roland Harvey</a> from Sharpstown. WRs Ja'Vion Matthews and Lawrence Armstrong will compete to be Harvey's favorite target. Jy'Adrian Wortham tops the depth chart at RB. The defense is loaded with DI quality guys to include DBs Christian Jackson, Daryius Brown and Jakobe Chester; LB Kenneth Seymour (Rice-commit); and DL Tristin Drones-Mouton (HBU-commit). </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p><strong>...<br></strong></p><p><strong>FORT BEND WILLOWRIDGE EAGLES</strong> </p><p>The Eagles will make the race for the top two spots a <a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Fort+Bend+ISD" target="_blank">Fort Bend ISD</a> sweep under new coach Ramon Chin-Young. He succeeds Rich Lazarou, who always got the absolute most out of what he had at 'Ridge. Chin-Young has 38 players on last year's varsity returning to the nest. QB Rufus Scott (2,235 yards passing, 26 TDs, 569 rush yards) and RB Jamarcus Buckner (1,143 rush yards) give Willowridge a one-two offensive punch. Stud senior Jeremiah Strickland anchors the offensive line. Chin-Young concedes that the defense needs work. He'll count on Joshua Edwards, Steven Olvera and Raymond Olvera to be the cogs. That trio was in on a total of 241 tackles in 11 games. </p><p><strong>...</strong></p><p><strong>HOUSTON STERLING RAIDERS</strong> </p><p>Coach Kanavis McGhee, a five-year NFL veteran, has a star in QB Anthony Brown (1,981 passing yards., 26 pass TDs in 2019). RB Vernon Mosley (286 yards) is poised for a breakout year, along with versatile talent John Foster (472 rush yards, 7 TDs, 5 INTs). Finding where to play Foster will be the only challenge. Pick your poison. </p><p><strong>...</strong></p><p><strong>GALENA PARK YELLOWJACKETS</strong> </p><p>One more win in 2019 would've meant a break-even season for coach <a data-linked-post="2639826054" href="https://www.vype.com/new-caney-porter-the-kingpins-of-district-9-5a-di" target="_blank">Spiro Amarantos</a> and his Yellowjackets. Galena Park hasn't reached the playoffs since 2010, so the Jackets will playing different district foes after UIL realignment provide better odds of reaching the postseason. Amarion Kelly and his 4.5 speed are as important to the Jackets' chances as Brown is to Sterling's. Playing QB and RB in 2019, he ran for 1,418 yards and scored 15 TDs. He'll play both ways and the Jackets' defense goes as edge-rushing DE Brice Hernandez (3-year starter) goes. </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p><strong>...</strong></p><p><strong>HOUSTON NORTHSIDE PANTHERS</strong> </p><p>Coach Michael Porter's Panthers are another HISD team in this district who'd just like to experience a winning season. They might. QB Ronald Holmes is a flat-out stud who can dominate a game himself. It would be fun to see him in a playoff game. At 6-foot-2, 210-pounds with 4.5 speed, Holmes produced 4,061 yards running and passing and threw for 28 TDs and ran for 15 more. In 10 games, he was the Offensive Player of the Year in a district that included Devon Achane. Holmes won the award legitimately. Other names to take note of on this team include OL Russell Doggett, WR/CB Devondre Moore and G/DT Jontae Winn.<br></p><p><strong>...</strong></p><p><strong>HOUSTON MADISON MARLINS</strong> </p><p>The 2019 finale hurt coach Shawn Narcisse and his Marlins, falling 68-0 to FB Marshall. Prior to the game, Narcisse talked about new buildings on Madison's campus as a metaphor for restoring the football program to its former glory – and who could forget Vince Young in the Madison powder blue and red? With <a href="https://www.vype.com/search/?q=Houston+ISD" target="_blank">Houston ISD's</a> open enrollment and fresh infrastructure to attract more students, Narcisse foresees a rebirth. He's got 10 starters back, and the bell-cow is RB Avant Porter. WR Chris Palmer is as fast as Porter and caught five touchdowns. As a freshman last year, Chase Devaughn displayed huge talent. If Narcisse's renaissance dreams come true, a developing Devaughn might be one of the reasons why. </p><p><strong>...</strong></p><p><strong>HOUSTON AUSTIN MUSTANGS</strong> </p><p>The Austin Mustangs led by coach Kody Brinson are also newcomers to this district. The last three seasons they've missed the playoffs. Half the starters are back from a 2-8 team and they'll load up for 2020 with determined leaders. Speedy, 5-foot-9 RB Michael Mata racked up 1,050 all-purpose yards and scored six touchdowns, while DE Walter Ward also played big in 2019 – logging five tackles-for-loss and three sacks.</p><p><strong><span></span><span></span>...</strong></p><p><strong>HOUSTON WALTRIP RAMS</strong> </p><p>For Waltrip, the bulk of the experienced players coming back are the big boys. The offensive and defensive fronts are units coach Jeremy Kirt can count on as known quantities. DL Jacob Escobedo, LBs Joseph Amaya and Adam Granado, and offensive linemen Dalton Lang and Matthew Pico (both three-year starters) have something in common -- they weren't blessed with great size, but they can play. Many of the Rams' most important players in 2020 will be sophomores, like their talented QB Jared Sutton.</p><p><strong>...</strong></p><p><strong>HOUSTON SHARPSTOWN APOLLOS</strong> </p><p>None of 11-5A-DII's HISD teams had a winning overall record in 2019. It was the second straight "failure to launch" year for the winless Apollos. In his first year, there's nowhere for new coach Cirilo Ojeda's club to go but up. He worked toward his first head job in a quality program at Clear Springs. Sharpstown's a one-platoon team due to lack of depth. Two-way players Ojeda will count on the most are Kashala Kapyamba (WR/CB), Kenyon Watts (OL/DL) and Fechal Koudiati (TE/DE). We'll name one more for good fortune's sake -- Luckyboy Collins (RB/LB). </p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQyNDE5MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMzAyMTE2OH0.2XpD64Kxp4HWHMYaYYpUW___r-huE6-cghQKYjVrMcE/img.jpg?width=980" id="b927d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="625981d3b22ae7b422449005f25cd1b7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
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Houston ISD to start year online; Athletics will "tentatively" schedule games awaiting UIL guidance
Jul 15, 2020
Houston ISD will begin the 2020 school year exclusively online for the first six weeks.
According to the Houston ISD re-opening plan, the school year will begin September 8 and be only online for the first six weeks until October 16. The plan then states students would return to in-person learning on October 19.
As far as athletics goes the following is what the plan states. This covers playing games, screening protocols and fan attendance.
"HISD Athletics will tentatively schedule games for the fall, while awaiting detailed state guidance about high school sports from the University Interscholastic League. Plans will be adjusted as COVID-19 conditions change.Coaches and student athletes will undergo entry screening in alignment with district screening protocols at all practices, sub-varsity games, and games played in district facilities. Fan attendance may be limited or prohibited at campus and district sporting events depending on conditions.If fans are allowed, they will be encouraged to purchase tickets online and screened upon arrival in accordance with district screening protocols. Stadiums will be cleaned before, during, and after games. Fans also must self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, check their temperatures before coming to campus, and stay home when sick."
Here is the full 26-page plan.
<p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="embedly-card"><h4><a href="https://www.houstonisd.org//cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/52139/HISD-Reopening-Plan-for-the-2020-2021-Academic-Year.pdf">null</a></h4>null</blockquote><script async="" charset="UTF-8" src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.js"></script></div><p>Just two hours after the plan was made public, Interim HISD Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan held a news conference to discuss the plan. </p><p>At the end of the nearly hour-long news conference, Lathan was directly asked about athletics. </p><p>"If the UIL sends down rules that says 'Yes, you can condition and practice' but if we are still a Level 1 as a city, we will not be allowing those practices," she said. "Because if we are still in a virtual format and we still have the same health challenges, believe me as a former athlete, I understand it, I get it, but we all have to be careful." </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>A follow-up question to that was asked - as long as schools are virtual only, you will not have practices, you will not have games?</p><p>"Unless something changes, that is correct," Lathan said. "But whenever it is time to start sports again, I will support us doing whatever we need to do. If we need to play football in January, we can. NFL does it, what's the difference." </p><p>Houston ISD is just the most recent ISD to release its reopening plan. Fort Bend ISD released there's on Monday night, which including not playing athletics during the first three weeks of school, while they are online only. <a data-linked-post="2646404889" href="https://www.vype.com/Texas/Houston/fort-bend-isd" target="_blank">Read more about that - CLICK HERE.</a> Humble ISD voted on Tuesday night to return to in-person class and offer an online option, while athletics will resume on schedule. </p><script src="/path-to-your-javascript-file/pdfobject.js"></script><script></script><script>PDFObject.embed("<a href="https://www.houstonisd.org//cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/52139/HISD-Reopening-Plan-for-the-2020-2021-Academic-Year.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.houstonisd.org//cms/lib2/TX01001591/Ce...</a>");
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