Wagner reached the state tourney in 2019
By Bradley Collier
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Judson won state in 2019
Wayne Shanks Jr., of Kinkaid
By Bradley Collier
It's the eve of the 2026 high school football season.
Right on que, the Houston Touchdown Club hosts its Private High School Kickoff Dinner tonight at the Omni Galleria.
The event will recognize the top players entering the season who include...
Chase Kuebler, Bay Area Christian
Jackson Coleman, Concordia Lutheran
Michael Turner, Cypress Christian
Brooks Allen, Deacon Morgan and Dillard Jennings, Episcopal
Bayden Tibbetts, Fort Bend Christian
Cameron Piefer, Frassati Catholic
Paul Hill, Houston Christian
Jake Sneed, Collin Weaks and Colson Collins, John Cooper School
Wayne Shanks, Thomas Smith, Ross Wynne and Eli Ferber, Kinkaid
Antonio Castillo, Lutheran South Academy
Caleb Davil, Rosehill Christian
Jamar Thompson, St. Francis
Carson Murray, William Hellinger, Hanley Sayers and Tony Thomas, St. John’s
Amir Parks Brooks and Andrew Kirklin, St. Pius X
Pierce Jacobson, Myles Stewart, Logan Debose, Khairan McQueen and Rylan Kimpson, St. Thomas
Payton Jones, Dillan Whitfield, Griffin Lewis and Will Newhouse, Second Baptist
Ben Lopez, Westbury Christian
Blake Hollas, The Woodlands Christian Academy
...
To attend or check out the event, go to https://touchdownclub.org/events/
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antonio castillo lutheran south academy caleb davil rosehill christian jamar thompson st. francis carson murray william hellinger hanley sayers tony thomas st. john’s amir parks brooks andrew kirklin st. pius x pierce jacobson myles stewart logan debose khairan mcqueen rylan kimpson st. thomas payton jones dillan whitfield griffin lewis will newhouse second baptist ben lopez westbury christian blake hollas the woodlands christian academy texas high school football houston high school sports houston high school volleyball texas high school volleyball chase kuebler
Senior Julian Caldwell is a Texas Tech pledge and gives the Eagles an established target on the outside
by Jeff Rayome
The Argyle Eagles welcome the Oak Ridge Trojans from El Dorado Hills, California, in a matchup that pits two successful programs against one another after impressive 2025 campaigns.
Oak Ridge went 9-4 last season, while Argyle finished 12-2 and enters the 2026 season with plenty of firepower on both sides of the football.
Argyle: The Offense Has Plenty of Juice
Argyle doesn't have the many questions surrounding its offense.
The Eagles return one of the most productive quarterbacks in Texas in junior Hayes Hackney.
Hackney transferred from Prosper Walnut Grove and is one of the state's most intriguing players after putting together a monster 2025 campaign. He threw for 3,329 yards and 37 touchdowns last season and has offers from UTSA and Stephen F. Austin.
Hackney was also the Texas District 4-5A-II Overall MVP as a freshman, giving him an impressive résumé despite still being a junior.
And he has plenty of weapons.
Senior Julian Caldwell is a Texas Tech pledge and gives the Eagles an established target on the outside.
Then there's Ake O'Neal, ranked No. 1, who is committed to Oklahoma State. O'Neal caught 21 passes for 335 yards and a touchdown last season and gives Argyle another explosive option in the passing game.
The combination of Hackney, Caldwell and O'Neal gives Argyle a trio capable of putting pressure on Oak Ridge's secondary from the opening snap.
...
The Defensive Difference
While Argyle's offense may get the headlines, Brody Bomar gives the Eagles a defensive centerpiece.
The No. 33 prospect and Georgetown commit was an all-state selection last season after piling up 146 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Bomar's ability to control the middle of the field could be critical against an Oak Ridge offense looking to establish a new identity after losing its top two running backs.
...
Oak Ridge: New Faces, Same Expectations
Oak Ridge has some holes to fill after losing its top two running backs and its leading receiver in receiving yards from a year ago.
That puts added pressure on senior quarterback Nick Johnson, who returns after throwing for 1,197 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025.
Johnson will have a pair of proven targets to work with.
Braxton Martinez returns after catching 26 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns. The senior already has offers from Nevada and Texas Tech.
Fellow wide receiver Isaac Pierce also returns after producing 15 receptions for 325 yards and four touchdowns. Pierce holds offers from New Mexico and UNLV.
The Trojans' biggest question may be whether they can replace the production lost from last year's roster while maintaining the offensive balance that helped them win nine games.
Defensively, Oak Ridge also lost its top player to transfer, with that standout moving to St. John Bosco.
One player who returns is linebacker/defensive end Ben Rivas, who was a force in 2025. Rivas recorded 85 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and four fumble recoveries.
If Oak Ridge is going to slow Argyle's offense, Rivas will likely have to be at the center of the effort.
...
The X-Factors
Oak Ridge — Ben Rivas: If the Trojans are going to pull the upset, Rivas has to be a problem. His 10 sacks last season show that he can change a game from the defensive front.
Argyle — Hayes Hackney: The junior quarterback has already demonstrated that he can put up enormous numbers. The question now is whether he can lead Argyle through another deep postseason-type season.
...
The Bottom Line
This is more than another non-district game.
It's a meeting between two programs that won a combined 21 games last season, with Oak Ridge traveling from California to Texas for its first Texas opponent since 2004, according to MaxPreps.
Oak Ridge has the defensive playmaker in Rivas and enough returning production at receiver to make things interesting.
But Argyle enters with fewer questions offensively and one of the state's most productive quarterbacks in Hackney, surrounded by Power Four talent in Caldwell and O'Neal.
...
The matchup to watch: Argyle's explosive passing attack vs. an Oak Ridge defense trying to replace its biggest star.
The question: Can the California Trojans slow down the Texas Eagles long enough to make this a fourth-quarter game?
That should tell us a lot about both teams heading into the heart of the 2026 season.
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dfw high school sports texas high school sports dfw high school football txhsfb california high school sports argyle football oak ridge trojans football california high school football julian caldwell ake o'neal brody bomar nick johnson isaac pierce braxton martinez ben rivas hayes hackney texas high school football
Texas high school football is officially back! Week one of the 2026 season kicks off this week with a number of huge non-district matchups happening across the DFW Metroplex.
The VYPE On My Whistle Podcast returns as Matt Malatesta and Jackson DiPasquale preview the top games in week one and more!
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