1st – Columbus Cardinals
The Cardinals return 9 starters on both offense and defense from last year’s 10-3 Regional Semifinalist team. The Cardinals return two All-State linemen in OL Hunter Mangum and DL Daegan Stevens. Sophomore QB Adam Schobel is a budding star.
2nd – East Bernard Brahmas
The Brahmas return 6 starters on offense and 3 starters on defense from last year’s 9-3 team. The offense will be need to carry the burden early as the inexperienced defense matures. The strength of the team will be the offense line lead by Cannon Goudeau, Korbyn Hudgins, Austin Norton and Cameron Hallman. Reid Morton will need to anchor the defense early.
3rd – Orangefield Bobcats
The Bobcats return 6 starters on offense and 7 starters on defense from last year’s 7-4 that made the playoffs in 4AD2. QB Brayden Parker, RB Cameron Dischler and RB Gavin Perry-Koci will pace the Slot-T offense. Orangefield looks to try to make it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015
4th – Yoakum Bulldogs
The Bulldogs return 6 starters on both offense and defense from last year’s 7-4 team. Jayden Jones (RB/ LB) will need to shoulder the burden as the Bulldogs’ break in a new QB. The Bulldogs’ should be stingy on defense lead by RB/DL TyJuan Graza, DE Drake Deel, LB Will Robbins, DB/WR Qyion Williams and DB/WR Kadarius Price.
5th – Tidehaven Tigers
The Tigers return 7 starters on offense and 6 starters on defense form last year’s 7-5 team that made a run to the Regional Semifinals. Joseph Dodds (RB/DB) and Clyde Griffith (OL/DL) will be keys to anchoring the offense as the Tigers seek a new QB.
6th – Anahuac Panthers
The Panthers return 7 starters on both offense and defense from last year’s 9-3 team that advance to the Area Round of the playoffs for the first time since 2010. 3-year 2-way returning starter Landon Corbitt (RB/LB) and returning district Lineman of the Year Johnathan Cooper (OL/DL) will be keys for Anahuac to match last year’s performance.
7th – East Chambers Buccaneers
The Buccaneers return 8 starters on offense and 2 starters on defense from last year’s 8-4 team. 4-year starter Jacoby Perrault will lead the offense at QB. DBs Darius Green and Payton Anderson are the only returning starters on defense and will need to anchor the defense early and allow to rest of the defense to mature.
8th – Hitchcock Bulldogs
The Bulldogs return 8 starters on offense and 7 starters on defense from last year’s 5-6 team. The Bulldogs will be led by a couple of sophomores who started as freshmen last year in QB/S Lloyd Jones III and OL/DL Albert Ruben. The Bulldogs look to get past the bi-district round for the first time since 2017.
9th – Hallettsville Brahmas
The Brahmas return 5 starters on offense and 4 starters on defense from last year’s 9-3 team. The Brahmas will need a young offensive line to develop quickly.
10th – Boling Bulldogs
The Bulldogs return 11 starters on defensive and 10 starters on offense from last year’s 4-6 team. Experienced depth at RB and LB should lead the Bulldogs back to playoffs.
Which Districts Are Included And Why?
To understand my definition of “Greater Houston Area” I started with all schools located in Harris County and the adjacent counties (Montgomery, Liberty, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Walker and Montgomery).
I then included teams from UIL districts containing one or more of those teams. That translates to the following districts being included in my rankings.
10-3AD1, 12-3AD1, 14-3AD2