Join our VYPE Live crew for this Texas High School Soccer match-up on Saturday, February 27:
VYPE Houston 2026 Football Preview | District 11-3A DI: Columbus Reloads with Big Key, Schobel Back
21 Aug, 2026
The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Columbus Cardinals football team.
Matt Powell (VYPE)
District 11-3A Division I
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Columbus Cardinals
Edna Cowboys
Wharton Tigers
Sweeny Bulldogs
Palacios Sharks
Hempstead Bobcats
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
...
VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Jack Schobel, Columbus
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maverick Robinson, Edna
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Layden Wynn, Wharton
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Austin Martinez, Palacios
ON THE CUSP: Sweeny Bulldogs
...
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2026 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE PHOTOSHOOT
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE
The Columbus Cardinals are coming off a year that saw them go 11-3 overall and reach the Regional Finals of the playoffs. As they enter this season, they will go for a ninth straight trip to the postseason under eighth-year head coach Matt Schobel (83-16). A total of 17 starters return for Schobel including Texas commit Keyon Hemphill-Woods up front on the offensive line. District Offensive MVP Jack Schobel returns to the huddle and will see time as a wide receiver and defensive back. Other key returners include three-year starter on the OL/DL in Christopher Quinn, All-State DB/WR Brennan Hicks and QB David James. Keys to success for Schobel include finding replacements for four starting linebackers and captains on the defense, developing Columbus’ passing game to complement the run game and staying healthy.
...
Edna is coming off a great 2025 campaign. The Cowboys reached the Regional Finals and finished 10-4 overall. Edna won the district championship with a 6-1 mark in league play. This will be a semi-new looking district for Edna as they seek another district crown. Key returners include first-team all-district selections RB Maverick Robinson, OL Mauro Carcamo, UTL Jayron Barnes and OLB Maurice Tilman. Second-teamers include WR Aiden Lugo, OL Michael Martin and DL Mauro Murillo. Additionally, Lugo was named a first-team all-district returner.
...
Wharton Tigers second-year head coach Jason Haddock eyes a second-straight playoff appearance after leading Wharton to a 6-5 mark in 2025 and a trip to the bi-district round. Wharton makes the move down to Class 3A just like Sweeny. A total of 13 starters return to the mix for the Tigers, including wide receiver Ki’sean Kimble, who had 509 yards receiving on 25 grabs. Preston Roberts will anchor the offensive line after producing 10 pancakes, while Layden Wynn and Triston Washington will be a force on the defensive line. Wynn had 61 tackles, 11 QB hurries and three sacks in 2025, while Washington racked up 31 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and one sack. Defensive back Lunden Aldridge will also be a force after registering 28 tackles and four pass break-ups last year. Keys to success for Haddock’s team this year include being consistent and buy-in from the players as they adjust more athletes to playing offense and defensive positions than ever before.
...
Sweeny went 5-6 last year and reached the Bi-District Round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs won their last two games of district play to finish 3-3 in District 10-4A-DII. That was good for a third-place tie and a ticket to the playoffs. Now, Sweeny moves down to Class 3A and returns talent to the field. First-team all-district selections Holden Hopkins (OL) and Vance Smyth (TE) are set to return. Smyth was also named second-team all-district for his defensive line play. The offensive line will be a solid piece for Sweeny as along with Hopkins, second-team all-district picks John Mader and Kasen Gee are set to be back in the trenches. An experienced O-Line will prove beneficial to returning second-team all-district running back Devin Fields. He earned that honor as a sophomore. Other players to watch include second-team all-district defensive picks OLB Parker McCurdy and ILB KJ Woolsey. The Bulldogs returning kicker Edwin Hernandez is another to watch coming off a first-team all-district campaign.
...
The Palacios Sharks are coming off a 2-8 campaign in 2025. They want to build off that in Travis Hoffer’s second year at the helm. A total of 14 starters return, led by running back Austin Martinez, who started as a freshman and rushed for 467 yards and two scores a year ago. Other key returners include seniors Trey Weixelman (QB/WR/DB), Robert Sandoval (WR/QB/DB) and Kaden Brooks (OL/DL) and junior Barrett Botbyl (WR/DB). Keys to success will be relying on the running game behind an experienced offensive line.
...
Hempstead will look to bounce back from the 2025 season. Kris Gordon enters his second season at the helm. The Bobcats went 1-9 overall and winless in district play a year ago. Hempstead brings back 11 starters including first-team all-district RB/DB Ricky Young Jr. and first-team all-district TE/LB Israel Harris. Second-teamers Christian Jimenez (OL/DL) and Dylan Garfield (WR/DB) are also set to return to the huddle in 2026. “Everything starts up front, offensive and defensive line, we have to establish the run game on offense,” Gordon said. “Utilizing our size and strength we must win first downs on defense and stop the run.”
...
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2026 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE PHOTOSHOOT
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Read More... Read Less
texas high school football uil football houston high school sports houston high school football vype football rankings vype football preview vype football magazine vype houston football rankings vype houston high school sports vype houston football preview vype houston football magazine columbus football columbus high school football columbus cardinals football edna football edna high school football edna cowboys football wharton football sweeny football palacios football hempstead football matt schobel jack schobel keyon hemphill-woods maverick robinson
VYPE Houston 2026 Football Preview | District 12-4A DII: Is La Marque Returning to Glory Days?
21 Aug, 2026
The featured standouts of the 2026–27 La Marque Cougars football team.
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
District 12-4A Division II
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
La Marque Cougars
Bellville Brahmas
La Grange Leopards
Hitchcock Bulldogs
Brazosport Explorers
Katy Harmony Wildcats
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
...
VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Aaron Walker, La Marque
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Travis Turner, Bellville
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Anthony James, La Marque
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Eli Gillum, La Grange
ON THE CUSP: Hitchcock Bulldogs
...
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2026 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE PHOTOSHOOT
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE
...
La Marque is coming off a 10-3 campaign, which ended in the Regional Semifinals in 2025. This was the Cougars best season since winning 11 games in 2014. Wade Oliphant enters his fifth season at the helm of the Cougars and returns 11 starters including reigning District Newcomer of the Year in QB Aaron Walker II. Last season, Walker passed for 2,743 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for another 517 yards and 10 scores. Additionally, second-team all-district RB Dameon Smith returns after rushing for 342 yards and six scores and registering 262 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, the Cougars also return first-team all-district inside linebacker and Illinois commit Anthony James, who led the team with 134 tackles, averaging 12.2 tackles per game, and racking up 24 tackles for loss. Other key defensive returners include second-team all-district selections Karter Dozier (Safety — 97 tackles), Kyan Keaton (DL — 39 tackles, 11 TFL), Jah’Quan McAfee (Corner — 21 tackles) and Malcolm McNair (OLB — 2 INTs). McAfee possesses speed after winning the 100 and 200-meter Class 4A State Championship in 2026.
...
The Bellville Brahmas are coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons. Last year, Bellville reached the Bi-District round but it wasn’t that long ago that they were playing for a State Championship (reached title game in 2023). Grady Rowe (146-44) is back at the helm of the program this year, which returns seven starters, four on offense, as they seek a sixth straight district championship. Rowe believes their strength on offense will be the running game, which starts with senior back Travis Turner. Last year, Turner rushed for 1,202 yards and was named second-team all-district. His running mate will be junior running back Rody Luera, who averaged 6.4 yards per carry and 552 total yards in 2025. Other key offensive returners include QB Knox Bauerschlag (889 yards passing, 11 TDs) and OL Jason Guerrero, who will anchor the front as a three-year starter. Leading tackler Carlos Aponte (112 tackles) is back at linebacker and will lead the defensive unit. Other names to remember include DB/WR Don Gillum, FS Wyatt Stallings, DE/TE Layne Grawunder, DT Ryan Nunez, RB/LB Hayden Toole, OL Jack Fleming, OL Wyatt Wilson and RB/LB Gavin Supak.
...
La Grange is coming off a year where they went 5-6 overall and made the playoffs. This marks a fifth straight trip to the playoffs. Unanimous first-team all-district QB Eli Gillum is back for his senior year after passing for 1,388 yards and rushing for another 1,106 yards. Gillum finished with a combined 27 touchdowns for La Grange. Another key returner is Dwodney Thompson, who plays all over the field for the Leopards. Thompson earned first-team all-district honors as a wide receiver and defensive back and a second-team nod as a return specialist. Thompson led the team with 561 yards receiving and three interceptions and two forced fumbles. Running back Dillan Johnson is back for his senior year after earning second-team all-district honors after rushing for 756 yards and 13 scores. Other key returners include second-team all-district linebackers Cason Conrad (67 tackles, 2 INTs) and Chris Supak (62 tackles), defensive back Trey Broussard (3 INTs) and center Jahir Lopez Ocon.
...
Hitchcock is coming off a 7-5 season, which saw them go 2-2 in distinct play and reach the Area Round of the playoffs after beating Little River Academy in the opener. This year Hitchcock makes the jump up from Class 3A Division I to Class 4A Division II. A new classification and a whole new district. The Bulldogs will have some talent to replace but have plenty back for 2026 to make some noise. First-team all-district selections D.J. Turner (ATH), Eli Walker (DB), Jordan Shannon (QB), Elijah Brown (LB), Cedric Brown (RB) and Cam’ron Taylor (RB) are all set to return. Second-teamers Ryan Caldwell (LB), Tedrick Charles (WR), Devyn Evans (DB) and Jaydin Freeman (LB) are also set to be key contributors.
...
Brazosport posted a 2-8 overall record in 2025 and went 1-4 in district play. First-year coach Justin Velasquez takes over the program and he brings back 12 starters. Defensively, first-team all-district inside linebacker Isaiah Calhoun is set to return along with second-team all-district defensive tackle Jason Arrendondo. Calhoun finished last year with a team-leading 110 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks. Calhoun averaged 11 tackles per game for the Exporters. On offense, watch for QB Cameron Hinton – who has four offers, including UTEP – and was a dual-threat QB last season passing for 514 yards and four scores and rushing for another 479 yards and nine touchdowns. Other players to watch include OT/DE Javion Donley, WR/S Caleb Kucera, WR/CB Isaiah Leija, OLB Dieon Jackson and WR/DB La’Marrio Kersee.
...
The Katy Harmony School of Innovation went 1-9 last year with its only victory coming as a forfeit. The Wildcats scored one time against the Harmony School of Innovation out of Sugar Land. The rest of their games were shutout losses in 2025. The 2026 campaign will be the program’s third overall and they hold a 2-18 record.
...
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2026 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE PHOTOSHOOT
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Read More... Read Less
aaron walker anthony james bellville football bellville high school football brazosport football eli gillum grady rowe hitchcock football hitchcock high school football houston high school football houston high school sports katy harmony school of innovation katy harmony school of innovation football la grange football la grange high school football la marque la marque football la marque high school football texas high school football travis turner uil football vype football magazine vype football preview vype football rankings vype houston football magazine vype houston football preview vype houston football rankings vype houston high school sports wade oliphant
TRENDING
GAMES
Join the #VYPETEAM
Get up to date news from all over the country!
FROM THE WEB






























