KBTX 11-5A Division I Outlook

11-5A DIVISION I OUTLOOK

It is a new look in 2022 for District 11-5A Division I as A&M Consolidated, College Sation, East View, and Glenn are the new additions to the league while cornerstones Cedar Park, Georgetown, Hendrickson and Leander remain. Of the eight teams, five made the playoffs a year ago. According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the district champion will be decided on October 28th when A&M Consolidated travels the 3.2 miles to Cougar Field to battle rival College Station in the “Same Town Showdown.”

A&M CONSOLIDATED TIGERS

10-3 IN 2021

The Tigers are moving up to Division I and enter their sixth season under head coach Lee Fedora. Last season A&M Consolidated extended its playoff streak to 18 years in a row after finishing second in the District 10-5A Division II race in 2021.

Fedora and his staff will replace four starters on both sides of the ball this season and build their offense around some talented specialist - starting with quarterback Will Hargett, who threw for over 1,000 yards a year ago as a freshman. This year he will be targeting a quartet of receivers in Trace Meadows, Mo Foketi, Ellis Meyers and Wesley Watson. Running backs Keshun Thomas and Trey Taylor are solid coming out of the backfield having combined for nearly 2,000 yards in 2021. Thomas led the way after rushing for 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago. Making the holes and buying time for Hargett to find his target will be experienced offensive linemen Daniel Sill, Cody Clough, Joey Lightfoot, and Hudson House.

Consol’s defense was solid a year ago allowing less than 20 points per game. Returning from that unit is linebacker Brock Slaydon, defensive lineman Kaizhe Qiu and Lightfoot, who registered 52 tackles last season. The Tiger secondary appears to be the strength of the defensive unit. Defensive backs Josh Gooden (defensive newcomer of the year in 2021), Meadows, who had 5 interceptions a year ago, Watson (first-team all-district in 2021), and Foketi, who logged 88 tackles and 5 INTs last year, will provide a lot of experience against both the pass and run.

CEDAR PARK TIMBERWOLVES

7-6 IN 2021

The Timberwolves have some rebuilding to do this season after losing eight offensive and eight defensive starters off last year’s regional semifinalist team. But 2021 was expected to be a transitional season under head coach Michael Quintero, and the T-Wolves went three rounds deep. Cedar Park seemed to get better once the playoffs began. When it comes to running the football this year, they will lean on running back Tyree Nicholson. Clearing the way for him will be veterans Aaron Nambo and Isaac Barksdale up front and look for Wyatt Valiente to find a spot in the O-line. One big question to be decided during fall camp and during the non-district schedule is who will be under center? It’s expected to be a two-horse race between Blake Pidanny and Aiden Arp. Whoever drops back, they are expected to have some talented receivers to throw to in Carter Woehl, Josh Pecci, Gavin Chapa and David Duplantier. Cedar Park’s defense is referred to as “Black Rain.” It will lean on linebackers Reid Vines and Brady Elford to lay the foundation, while Henry Wicker, Dylan Tam and Nambo will provide a solid defensive front for the Timberwolves.

COLLEGE STATION COUGARS

15-1 IN 2021

The Cougars will see some new names in different place in 2022 but are expected to be a title contender again. Stoney Pryor has been given the reins of the Cougar program, replacing longtime friend Steve Huff. One of Pryor’s big challenges will be replacing three-year starting quarterback Jett Huff. The battle will be between Paul Padron, who was Huff’s backup last season, Jackson Ingram, a senior move-in from Katy Taylor, and Arrington Maiden, who quarterbacked the JV last season. With a huge offensive line anchored by Jake Utley, Tate Vela, Logan Bradshaw, and Noah Sherman, look for C-Stat to lean on the run early, lead by Marquise Collins, considered one of the best running backs in the state. A year ago, the Duke commit rushed for 2,826 yards and 39 rushing touchdowns. College Station only allowed 12.4 points per game last season and while they have some big shoes to fill, Pryor is hopeful that last year’s 16-game season will have the youngsters ready to contribute. Defensive back Harrison Robinson brings some impressive numbers into his senior season with 138 tackles and 6 sacks. Meanwhile, linebackers Jaxxon Edwards (101 tackles) and Chantz Johnson (71 tackles), and defensive linemen Kolton Griswold (73 tackles) and Korbin Johnson (71 tackles), will provide a solid foundation to build the defense around.

11-5A DIVISION I OUTLOOK

EASTVIEW PATRIOTS

4-6 IN 2021

The Patriots have a new head coach in Mike Wall who came from Willis. He inherits a 4-6 team that returns the entire offensive line in Vance Herd, Santiago Amato, Austin Cain, Niky Moura, and Davis Jones. Eastview is hoping the big boys up front can open some holes for Jae’Lin Edmondson, who rushed for 580 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns a year ago, along with Assdriel Dianas-Elizalde, who added 367 yards and three TDs a year ago. The biggest question on the offensive side of the ball is who will be the quarterback - Ryan Pullen or Ty Blair? Wide receiver Grover Moore will provide a solid set of hands when the Patriots put the ball in the air. The Eastview defense will look to two-time district defensive lineman D.J. Perez for leadership along with defensive back Elder Isokpunwu.

GEORGETOWN EAGLES

6-6 IN 2021

Chuck Griffin’s Eagles tasted success a year ago, getting to the area round of the playoffs, and return a lot of talent from that team. The question is how will they replace three-year starting quarterback Darson Herman? Griffin is hoping that his son, Tucker Griffin, can do exactly that. The Eagles will be looking for dual threat running back Andrew Petter to add to his impressive numbers from a year ago when he had 537 yards rushing and 651 yards receiving resulting in 11 touchdowns. Griffin will also benefit from Marquis Dominquez and Drayden Dickmann’s return. Dominquez had 960 yards receiving a year ago, while Dickmann had 863 yards. The pair accounted for 14 receiving touchdowns. Georgetown will look to all-district defensive lineman Michael Valenta, along with Daniel Obinna and Ian Lewis, to anchor the Eagle front. Linebackers Landry Leggett, Jacob Faltesek and Seth Warren will add experience along with defensive backs Thomas Shoales and Leo Diaz.

GLENN GRIZZLIES

5-6 IN 2021

Head coach Brandon Krauskopf has more experience back than any other team in the district, with 15 returning lettermen, and did play postseason football a year ago. The question is - can they build on it and challenge for a playoff spot. Glenn utilizes the Slot-T and will look to running back D.J. Dugar who is coming off an impressive freshman year where he rushed for 900 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns. Sky Mendez is a true dual threat signal caller. A year ago, he threw for 400 yards while rushing for another 300. While Dugar will be the back most teams will look to contain, Jamarlyn Wilks can also tote the rock. The Glenn offensive line has some big building blocks returning in all district selections Cameron Morrison and Pablo Jaimes Mendoza, who bring both size and strength up front. Jaelin Hines is one of three Grizzly linebackers that will lead an experienced defense that only allowed 18 points per game. Last season Hines had 78 tackles including 5 sacks, meanwhile Nehemiah Carter had 65 tackles and 4 sacks a year ago and Martin Hester will look to better his tackle total of 58.

HENDRICKSON HAWKS

4-6 IN 2021

If the preseason predictions come true, than Hendrickson will unfortunately be on the outside looking in on the playoff picture in the district race. Certainly, head coach Chip Killian is hoping his Hawks can prove the predictions wrong and finish in the top four when the smoke clears on November 4th. He has 12 starters back from last year’s team including seven on offense with quarterback Joseph Rodriguez leading the way. Last season Rodriguez threw for over 1,100 yards and had 10 passing touchdowns. Experienced wide receivers D.J. Pinkerton, Spencer Distefano and Bryan Ray return as well. If the offensive line can develop, there is hope they can improve their 2021 average of 18 points per game. Defensively Tony Brown and Brayden Durocher return at linebacker. A year ago, the duo combined for 116 tackles. Distefano will be on the field a lot. When he is not catching passes, he’s defending them. Last season the defensive back had three interceptions.

LEANDER LIONS

2-8 IN 2021

The Lions didn’t have a lot to roar about last season having lost sevenstraight district games. Leander’s last district win was back in October 2020, a 32-29 win over Austin Anderson. Head coach Kris Price is hoping a better defense this season can help the Lions turn things around. A year ago, Leander allowed 30 points or more in seven games, including four games where opponents scored 50 or more. Six defensive starters return including linebacker Tony Klaer, who is the top returning tackler after logging 70 stops in 2021. Defensive lineman Daniel Cedillo had 60 tackles, along with three sacks, and linebacker Gavin Brzezinski had 51 stops in 2021. Offensively, quarterback Cameron Burkman will step into the starting role after throwing for 425 yards a year ago. He will have a big target in Aidan Parker to throw to, while running back Damien Stout has breakaway speed. Leander is counting on linemen Bryan Romero and Ryan Gambino to build on their experience a year ago and open some holes while providing protection for Burkman.