PRESEASON RANKING
Dickinson Gators
Clear Falls Knights
Clear Springs Chargers
Clear Lake Falcons
Clear Creek Wildcats
Brazoswood Buccaneers
Clear Brook Wolverines
VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: David Smith, Clear Falls
OFFENSIVE MVP:Xai’Shaun Edwards, Clear Springs
DEFENSIVE MVP:VJ Glover, Dickinson
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR:John Solomon Jr., Dickinson
SLEEPER TEAM:Clear Creek
DICKINSON GATORS
The Gators look primed to repeat as district champs, returning 10 starters (6 defense) from a 9-3 Area finalist. Coach John Snelson said defense will be the strength of his bunch, and for good reason. Dickinson is loaded in the secondary with senior three-year starter and TCU-commit DB VJ Glover, senior DB Jabari Ellison (81 tackles) and junior DB Diego Sanchez (60 tackles, 2 INTs). Up front, senior DL Tre Ford and junior DL Ja’Marcus Anderson will handle business, while the linebacking corps is solid with senior Layden Roque, junior Jontue Fears and senior Kaleb Walker. Offensively, the Gators are potent on the perimeter with senior WR and Missouri-commit Marquis Johnson (220 yards, 3 TDs receiving; 125 yards, TD rushing) and senior DeRion Crooms (364 yards, 4 TDs). The question is who is going to get them the ball? Keep an eye on junior ATH John Solomon Jr. (487 yards, 9 TDs rushing; 266 yards, TD passing) to possibly take the reins at QB. Sophomore 6-foot-3, 200-pound TE Jeremiah Scoby and sophomore OL Tyler Thomas figure into plans, as well as junior RB Malachi McNair and junior FB Izaak Arias. Snelson said youth is a concern.
CLEAR FALLS KNIGHTS
The Knights return 10 starters (6 offense) from a 9-2 Bi-District playoff finalist. Coach Zach Head said the strengths will be the O-line, RBs, CBs, LBs and QB. Inexperience at safety and depth, or a lack thereof, in the trenches on both sides of the ball are concerns. Leading the way for Clear Falls will be senior 6-foot-2, 180-pound CB/WR Max Williams (7 pass breakups, INT), who will see extensive time on both sides of the ball; senior 6-foot-4, 215-pound OLB/TE Corey Kelly (71 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 7 pass breakups); senior RB David Smith (1,569 yards, 18 TDs), who is already the Knights’ all-time leading rusher; senior 6-foot, 180-pound DB/QB Cam Roberson (870 yards, 7 TDs passing; 239 yards, 3 TDs rushing), who will play both ways; junior 6-foot-2, 185-pound QB Landon Vessel (947 yards, 7 TDs); junior OL Jude Edwards, who has started every game since freshman year; senior CB/ WR Josh Moore; junior 6-foot-4, 215-pound DE Le’Kell McGowan; junior RB/WR Payton Greer (650 yards, 8 TDs rushing); sophomore 6-foot-3, 275-pound OL Jacob Lockstein; and junior OL Skylar Luzader. Clear Falls is going to be a problem this season.
CLEAR SPRINGS CHARGERS
Fourteen starters return from a 7-5 Area finalist, so keep an eye on Clear Springs (2020 district champs) to make a run at its second district title in three years. The Chargers have a slew of difference-makers in senior 6-foot-3, 240-pound DL Serigne Tounkara, senior 6-foot-4, 275-pound OL Nick Fattig (57 pancakes, 0 sacks allowed), senior 6-foot-6, 230-pound TE Hayden Davis (28 pancakes), senior 6-foot-3, 185-pound WR Ashton Schumann (558 yards, 4 TDs), junior 6-foot-5, 280-pound OL Blake Ivy (31 pancakes), junior RB Xai’Shaun Edwards (1,621 yards, 15 TDs), senior DB Keelan Morgan (49 tackles, 5 fumbles caused, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 INTs, 9 pass breakups), junior 6-foot-3, 210-pound OLB Michael Sylvalie (39 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 fumbles caused, 2 fumble recoveries) and senior DL Branson Winter (37 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks). That’s a lot of talent. It’d also be wise to keep an eye on sophomore 6-foot-3, 185-pound WR Muizz Tounkara and senior 6-foot-3, 215-pound Jackson Ehlers.
CLEAR LAKE FALCONS
The Falcons went through a serious youth movement last season as 14 sophomores started at one point or another. They hope the pains of 2021 grows into pleasure in 2022. Fifteen starters (8 defense) return from that 4-6 team, led by junior 6-foot-3, 220-pound QB Devin Lippold (354 yards, 4 TDs) and junior RB Elijah Harris (826 yards, 6 TDs) on offense, and junior 6-foot, 185-pound DB Damani Maxson and junior LBs 6-foot-1, 210-pound Cecil Dressendorfer (85 tackles) and Tyler Best (88 tackles). Keep an eye on dynamic 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior two-way talent Hunter Moddon and senior WR Rodney Searles.
CLEAR CREEK WILDCATS
The Wildcats are hoping to make it four consecutive years as playoff participants. They’ll certainly have the experience. Clear Creek returns 15 starters (9 defense) from a 3-8 team. Senior RB Rocky Ketchum (981 yards, 6 TDs) will be the rock on the offense, running behind senior 6-foot-3, 260-pound OL Campbell Melcher en route to many, many touchdowns. The Wildcats will have to figure out who will be handing him the ball, however. Junior Bryson Drake and senior 6-foot-3, 170-pound Dante Frederick are expected to compete for the job in fall camp. Defensively, Creek could be a monster. Junior S Cah’lil Ward and senior DB Landen Gunter are the anchors of a talented secondary. Also look out for senior CB Stephen Jurbala, senior LB Dylan Russo, junior CB Quinton Gray, senior LB Isaiah Thomas and senior DB Denis Anderson. That’s a lot of talented depth in the secondary. If Clear Creek can find a consistent pass-rush, it’ll be in business.
BRAZOSWOOD BUCCANEERS
Joe Dale Cary is the new man in charge of the Bucs. His mission? Revive a program that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2012. Should not be a problem for Cary, who comes over after leading Hondo to the postseason each of the last two seasons. He’ll also have plenty to work with as 15 starters return from a 4-6 team. Senior 6-foot-2, 185-pound WR Kade Bengston and senior QB Isaac Ponce (1,105 yards, 11 TDs) give the Bucs some athletic, dynamic playmaking. Senior 6-foot-3, 270-pound OL Dawson Scott is a rock up front. Defensively, Brazoswood is not as experienced as the offense but still has some tools. Senior LBs Croix Rivera and Ronnie Jones will anchor the unit. The 6-foot-1 Rivera bringing length and size and the 215-pound Jones adding physical toughness and strength.
CLEAR BROOK WOLVERINES
Clear Brook is under new leadership after Deer Park defensive coordinator Patrick Sanders was named head coach in late June. Sanders takes over a program that returns 11 starters (6 defense) from a 3-6 team and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018. Sanders doesn’t have long to exert his ways but he will have some talented pieces to build around, starting with gifted senior WR Michael Lewis (859 yards, 8 TDs) and senior DB Jaylen Price (42 tackles, 5 INTs). The Wolverines are steady on the offensive front with junior 6-foot, 242-pound Jude Effinger and junior 6-foot-4, 250-pound Charles Holt. The QB spot is an unknown. In all, there is a substantial amount of youth and inexperience dotting the roster
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