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Shadow Creek's Xavier Muhammad (Michigan commit)
NEW HOME, SAME HUNGER: Muhammad’s disruptive edge remains unchanged at Shadow Creek
While changing schools presented a new challenge, Muhammad’s adjustment has been anything but difficult — quickly finding his footing with the Sharks.
“I love it there,” Muhammad said. “The guys welcomed me right away when I moved over, and I’m excited to keep building with them, make plays, win games and chase a State championship. I’m just trying to have fun and enjoy my final journey through high school.”
Muhammad’s path to becoming a standout defensive presence began long before the Friday night spotlight. It started in little league, where his size introduced him to a higher level of competition at an early age.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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“My football journey started when I was in little league,” he said. “I actually always had to play up because I was bigger than everybody else in my grade, so I had to play with the 2026 class growing up.”
That early adjustment helped shape the athletic foundation Muhammad continues to rely on today — one that extends beyond football. Basketball has also played a significant role in developing the coordination and footwork that separate him on the edge.
“Basketball definitely helps translate to the football field with my coordination and my footwork, especially for my size,” Muhammad said. “A lot of people with my size aren’t always coordinated, so basketball really helps with that and most definitely translates to football.”
As Muhammad enters his final season, he understands the viewership that comes with being one of Shadow Creek’s standout defenders — and he plans to turn it into an advantage.
“I plan on just being disruptive on the field and using that target on my back,” he said. “If people are focused on me, it lets other people get free and make big plays, and I think that’s going to be the main factor for us to make a deeper playoff run.”
That selfless mentality shows the mark Muhammad hopes to leave with the Sharks before beginning his next chapter at Michigan. More than individual honors, he wants his time at Shadow Creek to be remembered through the culture he helped strengthen.
“I want to leave a legacy where people never forget about me,” he said. “Every year they bring me up or compare future players to me and talk about how I impacted the team.”
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Some of the featured standouts of the 2026–27 La Porte Bulldogs football team.
VYPE Houston 2026 Football Preview | District 9-5A DI: Balanced District Makes Every Game Count
Lufkin Panthers
Port Arthur Memorial Titans
Beaumont West Brook Bruins
Beaumont United Timberwolves
Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
Baytown Sterling Rangers
New Caney Eagles
Galveston Ball Golden Tornadoes
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Sean Simon, La Porte
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Amari Alexander, Lufkin
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ja’Marquis Hudson, Port Arthur Memorial
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Payton Lopez, New Caney
ON THE CUSP: Baytown Sterling Rangers
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Doug Brown (VYPE)
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The La Porte Bulldogs come into the season moving into a new district after finishing as the undefeated district champions in District 11-5A DI a season ago, finishing with a 9-2 record overall and making the playoffs before falling in the Bi-District round. District Offensive MVP junior running back Sean Simon is back to lead the Bulldogs offense after rushing for 2,191 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025. Junior quarterback Joshua Wells will step in as the starter after appearing in eight games last fall and he will look to get the ball to some big-time playmakers in junior wide receiver Peyton Smith (first-team) and senior tight end Ryker Reynolds (first-team). Anchoring the offensive line will be senior Timothy Giddens and senior Fransico Guzman, who was a first-team all-district selection. On the defensive side of the ball, senior lineman Jacob Berneathy (second-team) will look to shut down opponents’ run game while defensive backs Jim Gonzales (sophomore) and Kylen Carter (junior) control the airways. Coach Kevin Berneathy has another promising team and with 12 starters returning for the Bulldogs this fall, they look to be a team primed for a deeper playoff run in 2026.
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Lufkin entered a new era in 2025 as coach Carl Absek took over, leading the Panthers to a 8-4 overall record and Area Round playoff appearance in his first season. Going into 2026, Coach Absek returns 10 starters from a year ago as the Panthers look for a deeper playoff run this fall. Offensively, the Panthers will have a new signal-caller in junior Sam Fitzgerald who will lead the passing attack, getting the ball to sophomore athlete Mason Mark out on the perimeter. Junior running backs Robert Taylor and Amari Alexander will help open up the passing game on the ground with both players seeing playing time a year ago. While the offense will look for underclassmen to step into bigger roles, the strength of this Panthers team will be the defense, more specifically the defensive line. Returning up front for Lufkin is Defensive Newcomer of the Year JaRyen Whitaker along with senior Jamariea Davis (second-team) and junior Antonio Porter, who all will look to cause havoc in the trenches. Junior linebacker Czarion Turner (first-team) is back to man the middle of the defense while senior Chance Horace (first-team) controls the secondary.
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Port Arthur Memorial made history in 2025 reaching the State Semifinals for the first time in school history before falling to eventual state champion Smithson Valley. The Titans return nine starters from a team who went 14-1 a year ago and coach Brian Morgan will look for some underclassmen to step up, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Starting on the defense, the Titans will be led by senior linebacker and first-team all-district selection Ja’Marquis Hudson (Kansas commit) who recorded 105 tackles, 12 sacks and 17 tackles-for-loss as a junior. In the secondary, first-team all-district safety Darrod Jacobs (Utah commit) will help shut down opponents’ passing attacks while senior defensive lineman Ty'vion Hayes (second-team) disrupts up front in the trenches. On offense, sophomore quarterback Came’Ran Roberts will step in to replace last year's District MVP Amante Martin and has experienced wide receivers to get the ball to in seniors Brandon Richards and Bryan Turner. Senior running back Piere Gray leads the rushing attack. Can the Titans repeat last year's success and go even further in 2026? Time will tell.
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Beaumont West Brook had a successful season in 2025 finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2019, going 6-4 overall and just missing out on the playoffs. As the Bruins head into the 2026 season, the expectation is to get back into the playoffs and with 12 starters returning, they have more than enough fire power to do so. Senior quarterback Tammeron Anderson (ULL commit) returns to lead the Bruins’ passing attack, getting the ball to his playmakers in junior wide receiver Brandon Jackson and sophomore athlete Brock Anderson, who will also star on the defensive side of the ball. Up front, juniors Miguel Rubio and Braylon Hadnot (second-team) will look to pave the way for the Bruins’ explosive offense. Defensively, West Brook returns only four starters and will need underclassmen to step up this fall. Luckily for the Bruins, senior defensive lineman Kailon Walker (second-team) returns and will look to lead the defense as well as set the tone up front. Senior linebacker Joe Bowser shuts down the opponents’ run game.
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Beaumont United, like others in this district, saw success under a first-year head coach. Coach Drenard Williams took over the Timberwolves’ program and helped lead them to their best season since 2016 going 7-5 overall and advancing to the Area Round of the playoffs. To repeat the success the Timberwolves had a season ago in 2026, they will rely on the strength of their team, the defense. Senior linebacker Miles Andrews (first-team) is the alpha on the team as he recorded over 150 tackles last fall. In the trenches, senior defensive lineman Collen Woolridge will set the tone up front and disrupt opponents' passing game. On the offensive side of the ball, junior quarterback Christopher Johnson Jr. will step in as the starter and will look to lean on fellow junior Da’Shawn Moore as he leads the Timberwolves on the ground. A player to watch out for this fall will be junior wide receiver Ontario Williams Jr., a physical presence standing at 6-foot-8. While the Timberwolves will need players to step up offensively in 2026, they look to be a team on the rise and in playoff contention this fall.
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Goose Creek Memorial is making the move back down to 5A after spending the past two years in arguably the toughest district in all of Texas high school football. The Patriots, under the direction of first year head coach JayMond Cleveland, saw improvement in 2025 going 4-6 overall which matched their win total for the past four seasons prior to his arrival. The Patriots will return seven starters offensively which includes the leader of the offense, senior quarterback Ricco Richards Jr., who threw for 1,988 yards and 23 touchdowns while also rushing for 710 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. Richards Jr. will look to get the ball to seniors Preston Yawn (second-team) and athlete Anthony Short, who will also see playing time defensively. The ground game will be led by sophomore Timothy Barnett, who will step into a bigger role after seeing limited playing time a year ago. Defensively for the Patriots it starts up front with defensive lineman Robert Rollins, who was a first-team all-district selection in 2025. With a battle-tested team coming from the 6A ranks, look for the Patriots to get back in the playoff conversation this fall.
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Under the direction of first-year head coach Spencer Anthony, Baytown Sterling posted their best season since 2016 going 5-5 overall and just missing the playoffs. As the Rangers enter Year Two of the Anthony-era, they return 14 starters and look to be on the cusp of a playoff berth for the first time since 2008. Offensively for the Rangers is senior quarterback Noah Benitez who has weapons at his disposal in junior athlete Amonte Phipps and senior tight end Ja’Ron Sylvester, while senior offensive lineman Caiden Rainey (first-team) protects up front. Defensively, they are led by senior defensive lineman Justus Broussard, who was a second-team all-district selection after finishing with 76 tackles, six tackles-for-loss and three sacks. In the secondary, Defensive Newcomer of the Year Amari Kegler returns and will also see playing time for the Rangers’ offense. Momentum is trending upwards for the Rangers’ football program and look out for them to have a historic year in 2026.
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The New Caney Eagles, like Goose Creek Memorial, made the move back down to 5A after four years in 6A. The Eagles struggled under first-year head coach Sheldon Bennight in 2025, going 2-8 overall and missing the playoffs. Though the Eagles took their lumps a year ago, they return 10 starters and will look to get back in the playoff conversation in 2026. Sophomore Payton Lopez will take over as the Eagles quarterback, and will have his two top targets from a season ago to get the ball to in senior Brayden Logan (second-team) and junior Kameron Clay. Senior Corey Johnson leads the rushing attack. The defense will be the strength of this year’s New Caney team with senior linebacker Ousmane Faye manning the middle of the defense, while senior Emon Brown (second-team) leads the secondary along with senior Daniel Allen.
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Galveston Ball had a tough season under first-year head coach Omasha Brantley as the Golden Tornadoes went 2-8 overall in 2025. Brantley and staff will look to rebuild in Year Two as they return 11 total starters from a season ago. Senior athlete Corieon Sanders returns to lead the Golden Tornadoes offense after throwing for more than 1,200 yards last fall. Sanders will try to find his playmaker, senior wide receiver Herbert Robinson, in the passing game while the duo of sophomore Rodney Tipps and junior Wyatt Ashcraft look to establish the ground game. Defensively, Galveston Ball will look for players to step into bigger roles but junior Isaiah Washington will be the leader on the defense after having an impressive sophomore year.
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