District 14 5A D2

By Jake Herman

Coach Brian Herman enters his 3rd season as the head coach at Marble Falls. Last season, the Mustangs finished with a 7-3 record. In every facet, they were one of the most improved teams in the area. Marble Falls will return 8 starters in their slot T offense. Sr. 1st team alldistrict QB Jake Becker will drive the offense with both his feet and his arm. Sr. 1st team all-district RB Robert Adame is an explosive playmaker out of the backfield who averages more than 7 yards per carry. As is the case with a run-heavy offense, Coach Herman says that the offensive line is the heart of the team. Sr. 1st team all-district OL Hudson McBryde is among that unit’s standouts and chief motivators. They’ll also rely on a pair of 2nd team all-district linemen in Matias Fonseca and Geraldo Hernandez.

The Mustangs retain 6 defensive starters. Their secondary figures to be one of the district’s best, led by Sr. 1st team all-district defensive backs Ryan Minor and Chris Whitecotton. 2nd team all-district DB Tim Vidal will also contribute. Sr. LB David Rodgers, who Coach Herman says is a “relentless playmaker,” will serve as a defensive leader in the middle. The guys up front will be young but look out for Jr. DL Devin Trejo and So. DL Xavier Lopez to emerge as the season progresses.

TRAVIS

By Ross Fisher

Coach Joe Frank Martinez heads into his 8th season as the head coach at Travis, where he has been a part of the team’s staff for 18 years. The Rebels finished 1-6 last season, picking up a road win at Navarro before losing an overtime thriller to Northeast at House Park. They’ll return 6 starters on each side of the ball, which Coach Martinez told IHSFAN he’s looking forward to. QB Joel Gonzales will return for his senior season under center on an offense that will look to use the playmaking ability of Sr. ATH Evontey Jackson. Sr. OL 2nd team all-district Fernando Abella leads a veteran offensive line that Coach Martinez expects to be among the team’s strengths. Sr. 2nd team all-district LB Leon Ekanga will take a leadership role on a defensive unit that should improve in 2021. Sr. 2nd team all-district DL Francisco Cazares will make an impact in the trenches while Sr. DB Daniel Vasquez is a key cog in the secondary.

By Jake Herman

Coach Larry Lumbreras is heading into his 3rd season with the Navarro Vikings. As one of the youngest teams in the district, Navarro finished 1-7 in 2020. This season, they will return 7 starters on offense and 9 of their defensive starters. Sr. OL 2nd team all-district Andres Gonzales and Jr. OT Juan Hernandez will be called upon to anchor the offensive line. They’ll be protecting So. QB Deamion Cervantez, a versatile dual-sport athlete who also hauled in a touchdown reception in the Vikings’ season finale. His top targets this season will include La’Face Bryant and Bryan Nieto, a pair of sophomore wideouts.

Sr. DT Rocky Gonzalez returns to make life difficult for opposing centers. He joins a front seven led by So. LBs Alberto Martinez and Brandon Galvan. In the secondary, Sr. CB 2nd team all-district Keillan Moore will cover opponents’ best receivers. “Our focus is to become a tougher football team,” Coach Lumbreras told IHSFAN. “We have a great foundation of young players to build off of. We now have to take it to the next level to start and finish games with a sense of urgency.”

NORTHEAST

By Jake Herman

The Northeast Raiders dealt with two separate pandemic-related interruptions to their 2020 campaign. A delayed 3-1 start turned into a 3-6 finish after another 4-week layoff. “The biggest thing was keeping the kids motivated and together,” 4th year head coach A.J. Mustafa told IHSFAN. “I was trying to instill faith in them to just keep working out and keep their grades up …You never know when that opportunity can disappear.” With all but three players returning, Coach Mustafa is excited for the upcoming year. The team will be led by members of his first full four-year senior class on the job. “We’ll be experienced … we’ll get a lot smarter and more comfortable in our style of play,” Coach Mustafa told IHSFAN. “We’ll try and compete and leave nothing to regret.” 2nd team all-district Sr. QB J.T. Thomas will look to continue his progression as an offensive leader. All-district Sr. RB/DB Kawaski Latham will mostly handle backfield work as opposed to working in his customary slot receiving role. Defensively, a trio of all-district juniors make up a front seven that is full of promise. Expect to hear the names of DL Micah Thomas, DL Niguel Sylvain and LB Noa Flemmings early and often once the Raiders take the field. As for senior leadership, it will be supplied in part by all-district defensive backs Markell Joiner and Nick Hernandez.

By Jake Herman

The Crockett Cougars will look to make positive strides during their second season in District 14-5A. Coach Darrick Norton took over for longtime head coach John Waugh in the midst of the pandemic and will now have his first full offseason to build up his team. The Cougars finished 3-5 last season but were able to develop plenty of talented players that will return in 2021. Sr. 1st team all-district QB Michael Newton threw 11 touchdown passes last year and will once again lead the offense from under center. Sr. all-district WR/DL Xavier Chapa led the way with 3 touchdown receptions last year and will play both ways again in 2021. Sr. all-district RB Josh Early once again heads up the backfield, and all-district linemen Sr. Jerrell Hamilton-Jones and Jr. Alejandro Gallegos will anchor the Cougars up front. The versatile So. DB/ATH Cameron Dickey earned last season’s defensive newcomer award and will be a key two-way player. As a freshman, he made the most of his opportunity by tallying 10 tackles per game. Jr. all-district LB Andrew Phillips has big shoes to fill at the linebacker position but could be primed for a breakout year

LIBERTY HILL

By Jake Herman

In a playoff run dedicated to the late Coach Jeff Walker, the Liberty Hill Panthers and their signature Slot T offense advanced all of the way to the state semifinals in 2020. After defeating Rouse in the third round, they outlasted Pioneer in the quarterfinals. They carried an undefeated 12-0 record into a semifinal matchup with Crosby. In true Walker spirit, the Panthers battled back from a late deficit in order to take the game right down to the wire. They ultimately came up short by a score of 62-61. Coach Kent Walker took over after his brother’s passing and guided the team through the tragedy. Under his leadership, the Panthers embarked on their first 5A playoff run since realignment. With their “JW” helmet stickers as a constant reminder of their inspiration, the Panthers won their first two rounds in back-to-back shutouts. The 2020 Panthers and their unforgettable season will live on, as will the legacy of Coach Jeff Walker. Heading into this season, the Panthers will have to meet the challenge of replacing graduated senior running backs Trey Seward and Blake Simpson. Defensively, they should not miss a beat. District MVP and all-state Sr. LB Andon Thomas is already receiving offers to play at the next level. Sr. LB Aaron Brewer and Sr. DL Lloyd Johnson each earned district MVP honors at their respective positions. Sr. all-district LB Kaden McMahan and Sr. all-district DB Carter Hudson round out a unit that will once again push Liberty Hill to a likely playoff berth.

MCCALLUM

By Jake Herman

In head coach Thomas Gammerdinger’s 4th season, the McCallum Knights have all of the ingredients to take the next step. The Knights were 5-3 last season and suffered a loss in the bidistrict round against East View. After coming up short in the Taco Shack Bowl and then getting trounced by Liberty Hill in Week 2, the Knights rallied back to finish second place in the district. McCallum’s talented senior class has reached the playoffs every year but has yet to win a playoff game. Coach Gammerdinger told IHSFAN that the team’s goal this season is to break through with some playoff victories. This year’s Knights have 9 returning starters on offense and 6 on defense. Sr. QB 2nd team alldistrict Jaxon Rosales is back with his full complement of weapons, including Sr. 1st team all-district WR Nate Davidson and Jr. 2nd team all-district TE JD Jordan. Sr. 1st team all-district RB Brock Fanning will run behind an experienced O-line that includes a pair of all-district seniors in Braeden Price and Johan Holmes. The defense will boast last year’s district newcomer award winner in Jr. DL Miles McCollum. Senior all-district linebackers Tino Rodriguez and Bieke Campos will man the middle. But the strength of the Knights defense may actually lie in the secondary, where all-district defensive backs Ez Guenther and Wyatt Cunningham will make life difficult for opposing receivers. The shifty Sr. all-district DB Jake Hissey is also dangerous in the return game.