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A letter from the sports desk...
The chin straps are being tightened, eye-black re-applied and cleats laced.
It's football time, everybody.
There is nothing quite like that build up to the first games of the season — especially one as exciting as this year figures to be.
Will the top-ranked Randle Lions follow up the program's first-ever state title with a repeat?
Plenty of eyes will be on the Black and Silver, led by superstar junior back Landen Williams-Callis and TCU-bound linebacker Noriel "Pac-Man" Domin-
quez. I mean, who doesn't have that Sept. 25 meeting with Alvin-Iowa Colony at Guy K. Traylor Memorial Stadium circled on their calendar?
Can Stephen Hill take his high-octane offense up to Fulshear and lead the Chargers on another playoff run?
Returning contributors like quarterback Ryland Forks and offensive lineman Righteous Spencer will certainly have a say.
Are the Lamar Consolidated Mustangs ready for a new chapter under head coach Chris Lane?
Sophomore back Larry Clinton has a year of experience, and big expectations, coming into his second campaign.
And, of course, this is the second year under the current UIL alignments, meaning we may be due for some very different district matchups next season.
So as we get ready to dive head-first into the action on the gridiron, feel free to dive into our football preview magazine, with exclusive interviews and insights from the coaches and players that make it all happen.
Stories by Sam Scinta Jr. and Joel Luna.
Herald photos by Rhonda and Troy Taormina and Dave Sanders and Chris McGuire.
On the Cover: Randle’s Landen Williams-Callis and Tyler Skrabanek
Terry
Rangers trying to ring the bell — again
by SAM SCINTA JR. | sscinta@fbherald.com
Rosenberg — It's been nearly nine years since the Terry Rangers last enjoyed a winning season on the gridiron.
That's plenty long for head coach Darnell Jackson.
The Rangers come into the 2025 season after a difficult 2024 season that saw both injury and illness take a toll on a young roster. Still, Jackson said he thinks his program is ready to take a step — even if inside one of the toughest 5A districts in the state — because of the wealth of returning talent it's bringing back.
"This year, I'm actually feeling really good
and really confident because we have a lot of returning guys," Jackson said. "We've got a lot of young kids. We played some freshmen and sophomores, but we were really juniorheavy last year. We only had about nine seniors on the team."
Those returning players sure have plenty of experience winning a game that matters to every Terry alum and supporter —w the Battle of the 'Berg.
Continued on page 29
Running back Brendan Stewart carries the ball during Terry's loss to state-champion Randle last season. Stewart is a key returner for the Rangers offensively in 2025.
Lane takes Mustangs' reins Lamar Consolidated
by JOEL LUNA | jluna@fbherald.com
Rosenberg —
Three months into his new, and first, head coaching position, Chris Lane seems comfortable and at ease at Lamar Consolidated High School.
Chris Lane is taking over at Lamar Consolidated after 21 seasons as an assistant coach, most recently at Alief-Hastings. He replaces Kiah Johnson, who was named the first head football coach and campus athletic coordinator at Gene Tomas High School, which starts varsity play on the gridiron in 2026.
“It’s been a big learning curve because when one gets to this side of the seat it isn’t about the football Xs and Os anymore, because now it is the managerial aspect of it,” Lane said. “It’s about hiring coaches, dealing with personnel, and trying to figure out the process that has been going on here — how it all fits together. So the big task when I got here was filling the spots of not just on the football staff, but also the other coaches who are in charge of other sports. The deal was that they cut teaching fields, and we are trying to hire coaches but we don’t have any where to put them. So it is that kind of thing to manage and be creative with hiring coaches and figuring out ways to get them in.
“That’s been a challenge, but outside of that, coming in and working with the kids and trying to establish our culture has been fun. What I’ve learned right away is that the cupboard is not bare. There is talent here, but we don’t have lots of numbers, because we lost kids to Tomas and Foster. We are just trying to harness that talent, and get the kids to buy in to what we are selling and the change that is coming. It has been a lot of work, because now we are getting some football work done, but by late April-early May, I (still) didn’t have coaches because it was myself and two coordinators only.”
In 21 seasons of assistant coaching, Lane has always been on the offensive side of the ball. So
if he does get an opportunity to work with some players, it will be the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Lane’s used two places he’s coached before to bring Lamar Consolidated to the forefront of how he wants to run a team.
“In my coaching journey at Fort Bend-Travis with coach (Trey) Sissom, I had the most success in my coaching career, with playoffs and a district championship,” he said. “I’ve taken a lot of the things and successes that we had there and brought it here. The organizational stuff and managerial side of things has been good to structure our practices on how we organize everything. At Alief-Hastings, I learned about culture change, and how to take a program that hasn’t been very successful recently and flip it to change the mindset of the kids. I’ve been able to take a lot of things with what we did at Hastings and bring it here and mesh it with what we are trying to do. All of the stops I’ve been have prepared me for this moment. I've taken a little bit from each one to utilize here. I’ve been blessed to work with some
good coaches and good programs.”
At one point during his coaching career, Lane never saw himself in this kind of position, but with time, and talking with his family, that changed.
“Knowing I am the guy and waking up every morning now has been pretty cool, but I don’t think I’ve fully adjusted because I haven’t been able to take it all in yet,” Lane said. “When I got here, I hit the ground running, because there was so much to do and so little time that I haven’t processed it to say that I am finally here. I was enjoying coaching football so much by being a coordinator and running an offense that having the big chair was never a thought. But now that I’ve sat in it, it's very cool. Then reality checks back in with what is next to do and how do we get this program in the right direction. It is a new level of stress for me, but also a new level of excitement as well.”
Lane said meeting the new, and returning, players was interesting and a way to attack the challenge from the jump.
“For them, we have a certain expectation on what this program will be, and I have the pillars which are the things we will believe in and stand on like discipline, commitment, humility and pursuit of excellence which are our four things for mantra,” Lane said. “Then we will attack each day to win the day, taking it one day at a time and everything that we do, we go by did we win today. Some of our kids for them just to show up is big.
Continued on page 11
Clinton to carry load at The Stable
by JOEL LUNA | jluna@fbherald.com
Asecond-year running back for the Lamar Consolidated Mustangs, sophomore Larry Clinton is looking for bigger, and better, things for himself and his teammates.
The 5-foot-11, 205 pound tailback started as a freshman, and it wasn’t easy.
“It was scary for the first two weeks, but then I realized that it really wasn’t scary, so I got comfortable to it,” Clinton said. “For me, playing with high schoolers was the scary part. Since those players on varsity didn’t know me, they didn’t know what I could do on the field. But with my reps in practice, it showed them what I could do, especially going 100%.”
“Training camp last year was hard because I had to push myself knowing that I didn’t have the starting position yet. But I knew that if there was something that was going to stand out for me, it was my work ethic. I am constantly working trying to get better. I was going 100 percent every rep, but also helping others in front of me, or behind me by being a leader.”
Even as a freshman, Clinton was absorbing varsity leadership skills.
“I knew I wasn’t the captain, but I did consider myself as the second captain by being the main running back,” he said. “With me showing that type of leadership, I think it went a long way because I only wanted to help as much as I could last year. Helping others for me was a plus.”
Many noticed him on and off the field, including current head coach Chris Lane.
“He is a kid that I was told about when I first got here, and someone that I needed to get to know because he could be a focal point for the program,” Lane said. “He played varsity last year as a freshman, and this year as a sophomore he will be featured a lot. He is a hard-working kid and is on some schools radars, because he’s been at camps and will be a huge asset for us. Larry is one who comes here every day and works out, and hasn’t missed a day so far. As a coach, he is a coach’s dream, a yes sir-no sir kid who is talented and wants to be successful. We can do all kinds of things with Larry, because we can move him out wide, and he is a smart kid as well. He’s
every bit a player and will be a part of what we do offensively.”
At his size, Clinton can be a powerful runner as long as he continues the regimen to get better. Last year, he ran for 370 yards on the ground on 109 carries, averaging 3.4 yards a touch without much help from up front. His only touchdown came off a reception as he caught 21 passes for 91 yards out of the backfield.
“Last year, some said my running style reflected Derrick Henry from the Baltimore Ravens,” Clinton said. “But this season, I want to see if I can match Marshawn Lynch. Last year, I ran over a few defenders, along with breaking some tackles with a stiff arm, but I was still learning our system. So I didn’t get to crazy out there.”
It hasn't been long since Clinton had a growth spurt, going from his 5-5, 180 stature to his current 5-11, 200 lbs.
“I’ve been a running back for a while, along with playing center, punter, kicker and the offensive and defensive lines through my youth,” he said. “I started playing when I was 5-years old with the Lamar Hornets, and when I was going into fifth or sixth grade I started carrying the ball. But it was that growth spurt which brought me my
speed, height and strength.”
Even Clinton has noticed the change in the field house just with the addition of Lane and his assistants.
“It feels like they are on top of us more, in trying to make us get in the work to get better,” he said. “We feel that new culture in the building, where things can be different this year. For me, I just want to learn new stuff from these coaches, because they have some good ideas on how we can do things better.”
In his first offseason as a freshman through this summer and training camp, Clinton has been concentrating on doing different things better.
“I am working on my foot work and my hips which are things I need to get better so I can be more elusive out there on the field,” Clinton said.
“This coaching staff wants to see me as the athlete that I can be by fighting for more yards and just go harder than last year. I know this is just about me, it takes a team to win, I am only a small part to it.”
Sophomore running back Larry Clinton was one of the lone offensive bright spots for the Mustangs in 2024. This year, he figures to remain a key cog in the Lamar Consolidated ground game.
Final Drinkard ready to lead Horns George Ranch
by SAM SCINTA JR. | sscinta@fbherald.com
Drinkards have made up a big chunk of the roster for years, and now the George Ranch Longhorns are turning to senior back Hayden Drinkard for one more crack at the postseason.
Standing at 5-8, the smaller back and youngest of four brothers lacks nothing in explosiveness out of the backfield, running for 1,545 yards and 14 touchdowns a season ago.
This year, he and his teammates have their sights set on extending their season beyond just the 10 regular-season games on the schedule.
"I'm very confident in our team this year, because I know I've been putting in a lot," Drinkard said. "Our seniors have been putting in a lot to step up this year. We're putting so much towards the younger players and rebuilding the team. I'm trying to be an older brother to our younger guys just like the older classes were older brothers for us."
For Drinkard, that "older brother" feeling is quite literal, as siblings Desmond, Deion and Hymond Drinkard also donned the George Ranch maroon during their high-school playing days.
In fact, Hayden used to play baseball, like Hymond, but switched to football fulltime to follow his brothers.
"I always wanted to try playing baseball for longer," Hayden said. "My brother Hymond stopped playing, so I did too, but then I got older and I sort of felt like I should have played it, be-
cause I know I liked it. I liked playing in the outfield, with my speed."
Drinkard said he feels like a playoff spot in District 20-6A is ripe for the taking for the Longhorns this season.
"Every time we're doing a workout, we're yelling all the time about what we're trying to do," Drinkard said. "There's a standard here at GR, and we aren't trying to be the class that disrupts that. We just keep looking at what's in front of us, because we know we have to get this on track."
Drinkard added that, while a lot of last year's team did not have a lot of varsity experience, there were moments that showed the roster was close to turning some of those seven losses to wins.
"Our guys last year, they were new, so a lot of them didn't know how the GR varsity tradition goes," Drinkard said. "They're all trying to get into the groove of it, and that happened towards the middle of last season. Some people were stepping up, some people were doubting.
"This season, we're not going to have any negative energy. If we lose, we lose and we come back the next day doing that work."
Despite rushing for more than 1,500 yards last season, Drinkard comes into this year without the top billing at the position in 20-6A, thanks in part to the state's leading rusher in Strake Jesuit senior, and Houston commit, John Hebert.
Still, the Longhorn says he See DRINKARD page 20
The fourth and final Drinkard brother to play for George Ranch, senior back Hayden Drinkard has his eyes set on one more big year with the Horns.
The Ranch ready for title anniversary
by SAM SCINTA JR. | sscinta@fbherald.com
Hello by Adele was the top song on the charts. The Kansas City Royals were fresh off their first World Series title in 30 years and Peyton Manning was playing in his final season before retiring with a Super Bowl win with the Broncos.
And the George Ranch Longhorns were winning a state championship at NRG Stadium.
Now 10 years later, the Horns are set to mark the occasion this season when they welcome the Bryan Vikings, and title-winning former head coach Ricky Tullos, back to The Ranch to celebrate the accomplishment again.
Here is a look at what some key players from the Horns' championship run have been up to in the decade since defeating MansfieldLake Ridge 56-0 to bring home Lamar CISD's second-ever state title on the gridiron.
Darius Anderson
A star back for the Longhorns, "Jet" ran for 2,274 yards and 30 scores as a senior, following up a District 24-5A Most Valuable Player season as a junior. Anderson also caught 13
passes for two touchdowns during the 16-0 season, where he was named MVP of the championship game, along various Player of the Year honors.
He was a three-star recruit, eventually picking Texas Christian over offers from Texas, Alabama and Texas A&M.
In Fort Worth, Anderson appeared in 11 games as a freshman, rushing 27 times for 229 yards, including a 103-yard day against the Longhorns that was highlighted by a 70yard score.
His sophomore season saw an uptick in usage as he led the team in carries with 128, gaining 768 yards and scoring eight times on the ground. Anderson ran for 598 yards on 124 carries as a junior, missing the last two games of that season with an injury.
As a senior, Anderson led the Horned Frogs with 823 rushing yards and six touchdowns, running for 179 yards and two scores against Purdue, 161 yards against Southern Methodist and 115 yards against Kansas.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Anderson initially signed with the Dallas
Cowboys before being waived in September of that year. Four days later, he signed to the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad, where he was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the AFC Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY.
Anderson signed a reserve/futures contract with the Colts in January 2021 but was waived that following August.
He then signed on to the practice squad with the Houston Texans that December, eventually signing a reserve/futures contract in January 2022. He was placed on injured reserve in August 2022
Quintin Morris
Perhaps the former Longhorn with the most lucrative career post-2015, pass catcher Quintin Morris is still making a go of it in the NFL.
See TITLE page 20
Morris dealt with multiple injuries during his high school career, where he was a multisport star for the Horns at The Ranch. Still, he was a two-star recruit who committed to play in the MAC at Bowling Green State out of Running back Darius Anderson put together a legendary high school career at George Ranch, capped with a state championship in 2015 and a solid college stint at TCU. George Ranch will honor Anderson and his 2015 teammates in September when the Longhorns take
Foster Defensive duo hoping to fuel Falcons
by JOEL LUNA | jluna@fbherald.com
Threats at their positions, combined Foster’s Eli Smith and Shaun Edward McDowell are a force as captains for the Falcons entering the 2025 football season.
As a five year old, Shaun started hanging around dad, Shaun McDowell former Foster Falcon head coach from 2013-2022.
“Being the son of a head coach has been a great experience, because I was able to see older guys like CeeDee Lamb go through here,” Shaun Edward said. “For me he became an inspiration because I want to play in college and hopefully the NFL.”
His first wish will come true after this season, when he heads to the University of Texas El Paso.
“That is a life-long dream, because I’ve grown up with the game, and now will be able to thrive at a place where I can play nose tackle there,” he said.
Shaun Edward started being a ball boy for the Falcons since that young age of five.
“I thought it was awesome being in that atmosphere, and being on the sidelines for all those years with some great Foster teams from the past,” he said. “For me it was real cool growing up that way, thinking how cool the game was, and getting to see it as such a close range as a youngster until high school.
“What I learned from those years was leadership, by just seeing past guys being those role models for others on and off the field. It made me want to grow up that way as a person.”
As a freshman, Shaun Edward played mostly on the freshman team, until the seventh varsity game when he was moved up.
“My time there I played tight end because of the way their offense was set up, but also was more of a fullback or a blocker,” he said. “What I learned from that short experience was that it takes a lot of heart and skill to play on varsity.”
Transitioning his skills to defense, Shaun Edward started gaining weight and got a personal trainer. He continued that growth until junior season.
“That was a big move for me because I went from 230 pounds to 285, and I thought I had a
Foster linebacker
Eli Smith (left) and defensive lineman Shaun "Bubba" McDowell (right) are hoping to be the next from The Nest to make must-see highlights in the postseason for the Falcons. McDowell has already committed to play NCAA Division I football at UTEP, while Smith is still weighing college offers before his senior year.
great season playing the defensive line,” he said. “That was crazy because my body was changing super fast. I got a lot stronger and I was eating about two meals more than what I use to eat. But it felt real good to be putting all of that to work on the field.”
His goals as a senior, are to be a first team all
district honoree, play both sides of the line and get 60 or more tackles with double-digit sacks. Oh, and All State honors.
SMITH
In three seasons of varsity football, the last
Continued on page 25
So let's stack wins and find things we can be successful at and let’s win the day every day.”
When Lane looks at Lamar Consolidated, he envisions so much from a school that has been to the top.
“The tradition is here, and in my sense it’s like a historical place, because they got their first state title in 2007 and the talent is still here, so it hasn’t left,” he said. “Now let’s try to get back to the glory days of old, and try to brand it that way. Plus, the district bears our name and we are Lamar. We have to take that identity and ownership and realize the stock that we come from. We have state championship pedigree here and we just have to pull it all together. That has been a surprise to me, which is exciting to know there is talent here. There isn’t much of them, but the core kids that are showing up every day and putting in the work is here to be successful. So just changing the culture and mindset and putting the right coaches in place and kids in right spots if we can do that I think we might see some success early.”
"The tradition is here, and in my sense it's like a historical place, because they got their first state title in 2007 and the talent is still here, so it hasn't left. Now, let's try to get back to the glory days of old, and try to brand it that way,"
there is a bar that we want to reach, with Randle just winning a state title, but also good teams like Fort Bend-Marshall and Iowa Colony,” Lane said. “But also George Ranch has won a state championship here in the area, so there is a bar that has been set and it is a standard. I look at that and think there is no reason why we can’t attain that. It is a tough district, but I believe there are opportu nities to be successful.
—LCHS Head Coach Chris Lane
Since his arrival in the Spring, Lane has been thinking of those who surround the program from the players, coaches, families and the fans.
“Be ready, because it will be something different from what they’ve seen in a while,” he said. “I just want them to come out and be a part of what we are doing and support us. The kids have been working their butts off, but they are excited, and we want the fans and everybody in the community to be excited about them.”
In the past 10 seasons of Mustang football at Guy K. Traylor Memorial Stadium, there have been only two seasons of playoffs. Last season, they were out-scored 511162. And since 2013, the Mustangs are just 5-9 against Terry.
“It will be a challenge because
I’ve told par ents that we want to get into the play offs, change the mindset and the cul ture and take it step by step, yearby-year. I’ve told the kids that I believe we can win now, and it doesn’t have to take two or three years, but I need them to believe it and buy into it, and they are. There is work to be done because we haven’t cracked the code yet, but kids are slowly buying into what we are telling them. They are showing up and want to be here by show ing up on the week when we don’t have to lift weights or workout. That is encouraging to me, because they are hungry which excites me and propels me. We are also pushing as a staff to give them everything we can. We are in a district where it is demanding, and we need to put our best foot forward every week.”
Lamar Consolidated will open the season at home against Fort Bend-Willowridge. For Lane and the Stangs, it will be a start for something new.
“It will be exciting, with it being my first game in this position, but more so it will be about seeing the product that we have and see what we’ve managed to put together,” he said. “How the kids will respond is what we are most looking forward to, win or lose, because we want to see where the kids are. That first scrimmage taught us a lot about our kids, and where we are. I am not a guy who gets nervous, but there will be nerves that first game for me.”
Fulshear
Hill Charged Up for new era
by SAM SCINTA JR. | sscinta@fbherald.com
First came the initial rise to prominence, marked by a diverse rushing game and a bend-but-don't-break defense led by an innovative head coach. Now, Stephen Hill is ready to lead the Fulshear follow-up.
Last year's co-Offensive Coordinator for the 5A-DII statechampion Randle Lions, Hill is taking his brand of offense north to the Purple Track, where he replaces Nick Codutti after five seasons and a 39-10 record. Codutti left for Klein after the end of the season.
Hill, whose daughters Kennedy and Campbell both played for the 2023 state-semifinalist Lady Chargers basketball team, brings a wealth of experience, both at public and private schools, to Fulshear.
From 2014-17, Hill coached St. Pius X to a 39-9 record in his most recent stop as a head coach. He also went 29-3 from 2010-12 at Kinkaid after going 7-5 at Houston-Westbury during the 2009 season.
He also held analyst roles at both Texas State and Rice, playing a role in the Owls' Conference USA-winning run in 2013.
Before his stop at Randle, Hill led at Houston-Westfield offense that torched opposing defenses to the tune of 57 points per game, the best mark across the UIL in 6A for the 2021 season. That Mustang team eventually fell 34-17 to DeSoto in the playoffs.
Hill said his path has him uniquely prepared for his first
Less than a year after helping guide the Randle Lions to the program's first-ever UIL state championship in 5ADII, Stephen Hill is ready to lead Fulshear back into the postseason in 2025 — and beyond.
steps at Fulshear — especially now that he's closer to home.
"When I was at Randle, I was commuting 30 minutes each way," Hill said. "Now I'm just a mile away from work. I've lived in Fulshear the whole time I've lived in the Houston area, so being able to coach at the school my two oldest daughters gradu-
ated from, and that my youngest is a freshman at, is just a special opportunity."
On the field, the Chargers lost much more than Codutti to Klein.
Leading rusher Patrick Broadway II graduated and is playing for Wyoming, while a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball wound up in the Third Ward at
Houston in Zane Smith, Caleb Augustus, Chance Bryant and Sheldon Rice.
Despite the departure of these program-defining stars, the roster for Hill's first season has plenty of players with bright futures in the game.
Junior quarterback Ryland Forks completed 65.2% of his passes as a sophomore, throwing for 20 touchdowns and 1,783 yards against seven interceptions. He also carried the ball 30 times for 258 yards and a pair of scores.
Forks has had NCAA DI programs such as UTEP checking in on him during the early stages of his recruitment.
Protecting the quarterback will be an offensive line headlined by junior Righteous Spencer.
Spencer, a versatile lineman who plays both guard and tackle, has Division I offers from North Texas, New Mexico State, Texas-San Antonio, San Diego State, New Mexico and Arkansas State. He is the son of Charles Spencer Jr., who played collegiately at Pittsburgh before NFL stops with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Those dynamic players at key positions in the passing game, added with returning receivers like Michael Chipman and Jaylen Walker, have Hill plenty optimistic about what his offense will look like in year number one — and it's much different than last year.
See FULSHEAR page 20
Randle
Solidifying a legacy
How Skrabanek, Williams-Callis plan to follow up perfection
Senior quarterback Tyler Skrabanek shared signal-caller duties a season ago with Keilan Sweeny. This year, it's his turn to run the Randle offense that some are expecting to make a return trip to Arlington and the state
Both third season players on varsity with the Randle Lions, Tyler Skrabanek and Landen Williams-Callis have one thing on their minds — repeat.
After taking the long road to AT&T Stadium last season, and coming away with the Class 5A-DII championship, there is nothing that could be sweeter but another ring.
“We have to go back to back and that is all that has been on my mind,” junior running back Williams-Callis said. “I know we lost many of our team-
Regarded by many as the top running back in America for the Class of 2027, Randle junior Landen Williams-Callis has his eyes set on history as he aims for his second-straight 2,000-yard campaign.
mates to graduation, but our defense is still rated up there and if I can help our offense again, it could once again be awesome.”
At quarterback since his sophomore year, Skrabanek has come a ways since first stepping onto the Randle campus as a transfer from Katy Tompkins High School.
“It was a surreal feeling to be AT&T Stadium, because it felt cool being
Continued on page 18
The Hunted and the quest for a repeat
Randle feels target on back, and hunger for more, after underdog championship
by SAM SCINTA JR. | sscinta@fbherald.com
RICHMOND —The confetti has long since been cleaned up, the trophy long since awarded and the rings long since handed out.
Now, it's time for the encore.
Both Randle coaches and players talked all season long last year about the underdog label they donned themselves.
Sure, a dominant regular season put some of those claims under a microscope, but make no mistake, the Lions were heavy, heavy underdogs against Dallas-South Oak Cliff in the 5A-DII state championship game in Arlington back in December, a game they won 38-35.
But this year, nobody will be taking the Lions lightly.
In fact, Randle comes into the season as the top-ranked squad in 5A-DII, with some, including Dave Campbell's Texas Football, picking the Lions to run through the regular season undefeated.
But this year's players aren't focused on what they did last December — they're trying to make plans to head to the Metroplex again this year.
"We work hard for the simple fact that we are state champions, and we get to hold that, but that's in the past," senior quarterback Tyler Skrabanek said. "I'm looking forward to what's going to happen this year."
Others on the team have clear goals for what this year's Randle squad can accomplish.
"We've got to bring a second one home," safety Jalyn Burton said. "I feel like we have to keep that same mind set and even have a better mind set, really. I feel like we have to get it more.
"The work ethic we had last year was good, but I feel like we're going to have to bring it, because we've got to have more players. We have to bring
it this year, and I think we are going to do good, I'm not going to lie. Back-to-back is God's plan."
For head coach Brian Randle, turning the page to 2025 is one of his biggest responsibilities.
Samuel Theirgood and the Randle Lions aren't going to catch anyone by surprise as the reigning champs and preseason No. 1 team in 5A-DII this season.
"There's a saying called so what, now what?" Randle said. "We won in 2024, well now what? What do we do?
"Right now, we're focused on going back-to-back. We've got to go back-to-back, that's our war cry, that's what we're looking for and that's what we need. The hardest thing that we've had to do is try to keep these kids hungry, because they can't help it, you go 16-0 and you feel perfect. Well you know and I know you're never perfect. Nothing's ever perfect, there's always room to grow. So we've got to grow these kids, keep them focused and keep them humble. They're going to hear a lot of negativity out of my mouth because I have to pop that bubble. That head comes in too big, I've got to pop it. They have to understand that (Dallas-South Oak Cliff) is hungry and they're going to be back."
To get back, Randle will have to get out of a loaded Region III in 5A-DII that includes eight of the top 18 teams in the division.
Two of those teams, fifthranked Alvin-Iowa Colony and seventh-ranked Fort BendMarshall, play in District 9-5A and will see the Lions in the regular season.
Another, third-ranked Brenham, played and lost to Randle in the regional semifinal.
That's a lot of talent gunning for the reigning champs, something those on the Randle sideline are well aware of.
"Everybody's sleeping on
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there,” Skrabanek said. “For me it felt good to go there and get that victory, because it was something we’d been working on all season, offseason and summer. By playing all 16 weeks and taking it to each team along the way was a wild ride. But I knew I was playing for something bigger than myself. But this is going to be our final show, so once again we just want to put everything together and keep it going.”
A lighting bolt from the backfield, Callis-Williams has been a highly sought after player for the next level from quite a few high level universities.
“I’ve been getting offers since I was in eighth grade, coming into freshman year,” he said. “But I’ve tried staying humble and continued to give all glory to God.”
Coming off a 2,108 yard season with 226 carries, a 9.3 per yard average and 43 touchdowns is what Callis-Williams is made of. He also caught 20 passes for 290 yards and another two scores.
“I just want to keep it going, but my first goal is to win state again,” Callis-Williams said. “But the team is and has always been first for me, and if I can rush for 2,000 yards again along with 50 touchdowns and 500 receiving yards to get there, I will.
“The 2,000 yards that I gained felt good, but I really don’t look or care much about stats,
because I want to make sure that everyone is working as hard as they can to make this happen for all of us. It was a team effort and everyone had to be bought in for us to go that far and get the ring.”
From being a state champion, to being a freshman starting on varsity, it has been a wild ride so far for the 5-foot-7, 195 pound bundle of energy.
“My freshman year the first two games it was hard because I was just getting use to high school because of how fast it is,” he said. “For me it wasn’t that fast in junior high, but then after that everything has been green for me. I’ve been doing what I need to do to help my team win and that is all I need.
“I’d say about the third game was when I started feeling comfortable with my surroundings and on the field my freshman year. In that third game I started scoring and every time I was touching the ball I was getting long yardage. Things just started to become easier for me as we kept going in practice and playing games.”
In his freshman year he ran for 1,944 yards with 23 scores.
“For me it wasn’t surprising what I did, but the one thing I started doing more this past season was stop looking to the outside too much, and started hitting those holes in the middle, and just followed my blocks,” Callis-Williams said.
After his transfer from Katy to Randle, Skrabanek was suppose to be coming off the bench under center, but an injury to the starter propelled him into a wild ride that sophomore year.
“It was a surreal feeling to be put in there because of an injury, but I felt ready for it because I had game planned for it,” Skrabanek said. “Also by having the backing of my teammates with me just made me feel better about playing football. I remember my first snap against Pasadena Memorial, which to me was a cool feeling because I was representing Randle.”
The 6-foot-3, 215 pounder also has considered Randle a special place in his heart since arriving.
“It is a special place for me because I found my faith here, so this is a special, special place for me,” he said. “From being born in Christ and being around the game it has been special to me.
“I know my sophomore year was great because of the way I played on the field, but playing for God and getting myself out there meant so much to me. For me to be able to spread the word was a high highlight for me. But I also knew that I have this game inside of me, and I was born to be playing this game.”
During the championship run last year, at times sharing it with Keilan Sweeny, Skrabanek threw for 2,115 yards on 139 completions with
0.632% completion percentage and 25 touchdowns. He averaged 1,32.2 yards a game finishing with a 121.3 quarterback rating by the time the season ended.
“I didn’t consider Keilan a challenger, because over time, him and I became close,” Skrabanek said. “We both knew that in order for this team to win, things had to be in place for us to continue winning. To me it was more of a combined effort by both that we could take care of this.”
In his sophomore year, Skrabanek threw for 2,337 yards on 144 completions with 27 touchdowns and a 0.605% completion.
Continuing to develop by working harder on his craft, Skrabanek wants to make his final season a memorable one, just like last year.
“I’ve been working on my gray areas, along with my confidence,” he said. “Last year when my confidence took over, all I could describe myself like was a rock star under pressure. So I didn’t feel the pressure.”
Senior quarterback Tyler Skrabanek (left) and junior running back Landen Williams-Callis (right) make up one of the best backfield duos in Texas
FULSHEAR:
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"It's a big change from last year," Hill said. "The way Coach Codutti did things, obviously they worked, but they ran the ball most of the time. We're going to be more vertical and throw the ball more.
"The other thing that's going to be different is our defense. When I first got out here, I wanted to go find a defensive coordinator, Jacob Huckaby, who was at Victoria West and broke records with his defense. So we're going to mix things up and bring a lot of pressure."
Joining Hill on his year-one staff on the Purple Track are assistant head coach and offensive line coach Jamoul Mason, associate head coach and recruiting coor-
dinator Derek Jones, cornerbacks coach Kalieb Granger, linebackers coach Austin Lancaster, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Sean Anderson, Huckabay, special teams coordinator William Hardee, offensive line coach Jake Mills, quarterbacks coach Algernon Smith, safeties coach Logan Williams, safeties coach Cory Sterling, freshman head coach Sebastian Prince, freshman coach Kevin Tinnin and athletic trainer Amber Jones.
Hill was not the only former Randle assistant to get a new head coaching job in the offseason. Fellow co-offensive coordinator Brooks Haack was named head coach at Spring Branch-Memorial.
Receiver Jonathan Chipman provides an experienced returning target for quarterback Ryland Forks in Stephen Hill's new offense at Fulshear.
DRINKARD:
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has all of the tools his team needs to get back over the postseason hump.
"My elusiveness, my quick bursts coming off the line of scrimmage and they say my break-away speed and vision (set me apart)," Drinkard said of what he brings to the table. "That's what makes me different from the other running backs in this district."
Drinkard did note that competing with the likes of Hebert is something that will fuel him this season.
"It most definitely motivates me," Drinkard said. "It's like, OK, he's doing that? He's doing that to
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high school, choosing northwest Ohio over offers from Army, New Mexico and Navy, as well as FCS opportunities at Abilene Christian and The Citadel.
With the Falcons, Morris initially started as a wide receiver before switching to tight end during his junior season. That year, he caught a career-high 10 passes for 92 yards against Notre Dame.
He finished that season with a team-high 55 receptions for 649 yards and four touchdowns, earning second-team All-MAC recognition.
As a senior, Morris played in all five games of the COVID-shortened season and earned firstteam All-MAC honors, becoming the first BGSU tight end named to the list since 1991 in the process. In total, Morris caught 125 passes in college for 1,529 yards and 13 scores across 40 games.
Morris went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, eventually landing with the Bills in Buffalo after signing that May. He was waived by the team during the final roster cuts the following August, but returned to the team's practice squad the next day.
He was elevated to the active roster against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9 of that season but did not appear.
of the top-two at the position in Jacksonville.
Morris has made an estimated $3.2 million throughout his playing career.
Toby Ndukwe
The Defensive MVP of the Longhorns' title-game win also had a toe in the pro-football pool.
Defensive End Toby Ndukwe, who recorded two sacks in the gold-medal performance, finished with 71 tackles and 12 sacks in the 2015 season as a junior.
Ndukwe, a three-star recruit, eventually committed to Southern Methodist, where he redshirted in 2017 before registering 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 11 games in 2018.
He again appeared in 11 games during the 2019 season, notching three sacks, one fumble recovery and four tackles for the Mustangs. During the 2020 season, the edge rusher made five starts in 10 games, earning 11 tackles, which included five solo tackles and one tackle for loss.
The former Horn played primarily special teams in 11 games in the 2021 season before transferring to Sam Houston State for the 2022 season.
my brothers? OK, I've got to mess up his brothers so we can go headto-head."
He added that, when he does end up having a tough day, he turns to his teammates to lift him up.
"My teammates, they always tell me move on, move on from that play," Drinkard said. "The next play always matters, and if I'm feeling down, and I give energy to them, that gives energy to me. It makes us feel connected and united. If I say something to them, they say something to me and I know we've got this. Now they know that it's a team effort."
After signing a reserve/futures contract following the season, he made the 53-man roster for 2022 as the backup behind starter Dawson Knox. Morris made his appearance in an NFL game against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football, earned his first career start in Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and caught his first career touchdown in Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins.
A third-string tight end in 2023, Morris caught a game-winning touchdown against the New York Giants, despite playing on an injured ankle. The following March, he signed a one-year deal with the Bills and spent the 2024 season as the third-string tight end, again behind Knox and Dalton Kincaid.
In May, Morris signed a oneyear contract with the Jaguars, where he figures to factor as one
In one season with the Bearkats, Ndukwe earned first-team All-WAC honors with 34 tackles and 2 deflected passes. He also recorded an interception.
In 2023, Ndukwe got a taste of pro ball, appearing in one game with the Calgary Stampede of the Canadian Football League, where he recorded one tackle against Winnipeg.
That year, he also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, although he did not see any game action for the Black and Yellow.
Most recently, Ndukwe appeared in two games with the San Antonio Brahmas out of the United Football League, recording a sack in a loss to the Battlehawks in St. Louis.
George Ranch plays Bryan Sept. 20 at Guy K. Traylor Memorial Stadium, the team's final non-district game before opening 20-6A action. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m., with festivities planned throughout the evening.
TERRY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE »
DISTRICT 9-5A DII SCHEDULE
RANDLE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
2025 DISTRICT 9-5A DII SCHEDULE
FULSHEAR FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
2025 DISTRICT 20-6A SCHEDULE
GEORGE RANCH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
2025 DISTRICT 20-6A SCHEDULE
FOSTER FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
2024 Record: 4-2 District 20-6A, 4-7 overall
Head coach: Shane Hanks
Coach Record at Foster: 5-16 (3rd year) Career Record: 8-41 (5 years)
2025 DISTRICT 20-6A SCHEDULE
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have been heart breaking for Smith, suffering back-to-back injuries where he played three games last season and two as a sophomore.
“But I am really excited for this year because I’ve been putting in a lot of work, with my rehab in and I am ready to play some ball,” Smith said. “Because of what’s happened on the field I am not doing anything differently, because I am a super aggressive player so the bumps and bruises I can’t change. So I am just putting it in God’s hands, because he has a plan for me and I am ready to go.”
But Smith also has a gift of leading the way.
“I like being a leader, and when people are down and tired during workouts I like to hype them up so I will get in their face and get loud,” he said. “But it isn’t because I am mad at them, but because I want them to do better. I want to see everyone of my teammates do better and give their full potential. That is the kind of guy I am — one to lift everyone up.”
A linebacker for the Falcons, he will be counted on that side of the ball to make things happen.
“I do have some goals like staying healthy, and playing the whole season. For the team I want us to get many wins, to make the playoffs and go past the first round,” Smith said. “Plus, I want to play my heart out and have fun. It is my last season and my last ride, I am ready to go.
“For me it’s been tough losing games, but it is something that one has to get through and focus on the future not the past. We’ve had a great offseason, a great summer because we got bigger, faster and stronger so I am ready to win some ball games this year.”
Smith has a Division III offer from Mislay College to play football.
“I am talking to a bunch of coaches, but they don’t want to pull the trigger because I don’t have too much varsity film by being hurt the last two seasons,” he said. "But that is OK, because I want to show them this year. I am willing to go JUCO if I have to. Everything for me is football because I bleed, sweat and breathe the game. I will do anything just to play more football.”
Blue Jay duo rises to the challenge Needville
by JOEL LUNA | jluna@fbherald.com
NEEDVILLE — Football teammates since the eighth grade, Cameron David Hall and Kobie Micah Campbell have seen and accomplished a lot playing the game together.
But nothing like what happened during the 2024 year.
Unbeknownst to many, Needville starting quarterback Keilan Sweeny and starting tailback Da’Shawn Burton transferred to Randle High School in the spring.
Both sophomores when all of this went down, it affected both Hall, a running back, and Campbell, a quarterback, in a big way.
“I was surprised when Keilan moved, but when Da’Shawn joined him I was even more surprised about that move,” Campbell said. “I knew right after Da’Shawn left, my time was coming, because I was going to be the running back to fill those shoes.”
Toward the end of their freshmen season, both Hall and Campbell were moved to varsity.
Campbell’s first varsity touchdown happened in the playoffs that season.
“I scored on my second play in that first round game, and it was a moment to remember,” Campbell said. “When I scored I felt like I was on top of the world. It was too good to be true.”
Moved up the chart immediately after Sweeny and Burton’s move, both were
nearly made starters.
“I wouldn’t say that it was a lot of pressure, because to me football is just a game, so I just took everything in,” Hall said. “What I did was take as much as I could home and studied and did as many things as I could to prepare for the season.”
Both were bumped up on the Needville depth chart.
“I set goals for my sophomore season by gaining 1,000 yards — be the top back in district, get on academic honor role, be the leading scorer and go to
playoffs,” Campbell said.
“But in the offseason my freshman year I got faster so I could dominate every play, because I knew I was going to be a key factor on our offense. So every day I went in knowing I had to get better.”
Understanding he was going to be on varsity as a sophomore, even Hall had to make some adjustments leading up to that season.
“For me the hardest part about being on varsity was the speed of the game,” Hall said. “I started as a freshman on the freshman team,
but jumping to that level was quite drastic. It was a completely different athmosphere on varsity, so it took me a while to get use to playing with them on a dayto-day basis.”
Even though both prepared well for what lie ahead, both still had to go through things to really understand what varsity is all about.
“My intensity and my work ethic changed because I was going to be that man, and I had to be that leader on and off the field,” Campbell said. “I knew I had
to step up more because our former running back went to another school, and I had to fill those shoes.”
By becoming the main signal caller, Hall also had to change some things in his repertoire.
“Besides learning the new plays along with all of the reads that come with it, I had to learn how to run an offense correctly and efficiently,” Hall said. “Mentally I studied defenses and studied our plays, but it got to a point where I was reading out the plays and the way they should be run. Doing that helped a lot.
“By the fourth game of that sophomore year I was 100% ready to go. I remember the first game was just nerves and that went on for the first half of that game. I couldn’t get over them, but I just didn’t want to make a mistake. It got easier in the second game but was still unsure about a lot of things, especially me being in that position. But I still felt like I played well in that second game. As for the third game I felt like it was a good game for me, and I thought it was the turning point in my growth into varsity. I was really into the game and on that first drive we came out and I threw a touchdown pass, and from that point I just had that confidence. I realized that I could play on this level and could hang with that kind of speed.”
Both came away from
Needville running back Kobe Campbell (left) and quarterback Cameron Hall (right) gained valuable experience last season that the Blue Jays hope translates to more success on the field in 2025.
NEEDVILLE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE »
2024 Record: 4-1 District 12-4A DI, 7-5 overall
Head coach: Mike Giles
Coach Record at Needville: 69-54 (12th year) Career Record: 69-54 (11 years)
2025 DISTRICT 12-4A DI SCHEDULE
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Oct. 31
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last season with flying colors, with Hall throwing for 1,402 yards on 80 completions with a 0.556 completion rate, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Campbell went off for 1,350 yards on 228 carries with a 5.9 per carry ratio and 16 scores. The running back also caught four receptions for 95 yards and two more touchdowns.
“At first it was a lot on my body being on varsity, and I had never carried the ball 30 times,” Campbell said. “But I knew there was more at stake on varsity, but noth-
ing was overwhelming for me, so I tried taking it in the moment and dealt with it. Yes, the hitting was a lot harder than what freshman was, but most of the guys on varsity knew the game.
“For me and Cameron it was about filling the shoes of two good players that left. Cameron and I knew we could do it, because we didn’t know that was going to happen. So we just took it and ran with it basically. But it was unexpected and we took it well.”
Both made first-team all district and All District Academic as well.
Needville's offensive duo of Campbell and Hall will have the benefit of playing behind offensive lineman Kameran Krejci this season
Eben's leadership key for Terry
by SAM SCINTA JR. | sscinta@fbherald.com
Already a star on the baseball diamond for the Terry Rangers, senior receiver Matthew Eben is ready for his final go with the Red Track on the gridiron.
He, along with all but the nine seniors on the Rangers' roster from a year ago, helps make up a core of players that hope to right the ship at Terry High School.
"This offseason has been focusing on bigger, faster, stronger," Eben said. "It's been a lot of weights, a lot of sprints and a lot of track workouts for everyone to get faster. We started off with higher reps, lower weights in the weight room to get back into it. We started upping the weight with less reps later on. It's just all about getting bigger, stronger and faster so that we can just work football."
Eben, who was an all-state outfielder for the Rangers' baseball program, said a lot of work he does on the football field helps him on the diamond, and vice versa.
"A lot of the outfield workouts are very similar to football workouts, so it really just goes handin-hand," Eben said.
The wideout said that, despite playing in arguably the toughest district in the state, this Rangers group believes that they can play well enough to win on any given night.
"Everyone plays," Eben said.
"Everybody can win or lose, so it's just who shows up that day. You've just got to try and make the most of anything you've got and take any momentum you can get.
"As long as we compete, (I'm happy). If we compete, and we lose in a dogfight, it is what it is."
Last year's team played in a couple such dogfights, coming up just short against teams like Baytown-Lee and Fort BendWillowridge. Those missed opportunities to earn wins have stuck with Eben during the offseason.
"It's just fuel," Eben said. "Even some of the bigger losses, you just don't want that feeling again, so it's all extra motivation."
Another fuel for Eben's fire is the knowledge that their rivals are also hard at work figuring out ways to earn more wins on the field.
"I drive by (Lamar Consolidated) and see those guys on the field, it makes me want to get out here, too," Eben said. "It'd be great (to beat LCHS), because I remember we lost my sophomore year to them. That's never fun. We experienced winning too, so to know we won our last one would be great."
For his coach, Eben is exactly the kind of player he wants on his roster.
26.
Terry has won four of the last five matchups against crosstown rival Lamar Consolidated, including a 37-21 victory over the Mustangs last season.
And while last year's team may have been young and largely inexperienced, this year's group is a little more seasoned for another crack at their arch rivals.
"Nothing beats experience," Jackson said. "That's what I've learned as a player and as a coach. The experienced players don't have as many nerves, and that's how you grow leaders as well. You've got a kid that's been in the fire for three, four years by the time he's a senior, he's been there before, and typically those are the guys who lead the charge.
"That experience is valuable and is so important to the camaraderie of the team. I tell these guys all the time that the best teams are player-led. We can lead them as coaches all day, but if the kids aren't leading, that's when we have a problem. That's what we've taught these kids over the years, and I think they definitely have gravitated to that."
That experience is going to be crucial for the Rangers in District 9-5A DII, which has three preseason top-10 teams in Randle (No. 1), Alvin-Iowa Colony (No. 5) and Fort Bend-Marshall (No. 7).
"When you're in the Houston area, no matter what division you're in, you're going to play in a tough district," Jackson said.
"We just happen to play in the toughest. Honestly, I think our kids here at Terry are getting used to it and how we as coaches motivate them. If we can be in a topfour spot in this district, and we get to the playoffs, we've already seen the best of the best."
For Jackson, a playoff spot this season would mean everything.
"That would mean the world, I'll be honest with you," Jackson said. "I really want it for our kids and our community more than I want it for myself. Of course I want it for myself, but these boys deserve it. I want it for our community, especially being an alumni. We used to be that team that everybody circled on their schedules, and I want us to get back to that. People know they have to play when they play Terry."
Terry head coach Darnell Jackson (center) celebrates with his team after the Rangers' 37-21 win in the Battle of the 'Berg against Lamar Consolidated at Guy K. Traylor Memorial Stadium. Jackson and the Rangers will try to make it five wins in six years against the Mustangs when the teams meet again Sept.
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me," linebacker Noriel "Pac-Man" Dominguez said. "I'm trying to get my name back on the top of that food chain. We've got some good teams that are trying to beat us, but I'm not about to let them do that.
"They're going to see it all. We're going back-to-back and I'm going to lead the state in tackles, lead the state in picks, forced fumbles, all of that."
The Lions' signal-caller is ready to turn the page on the celebration and focus on what's in front of him with a new roster.
"We're a new team and we're working for something else," Skrabanek said. "Last year's goal was accomplished, and now we're looking to a new goal, and we're trying to keep the same standard.
"I feel good. I think we have a lot of good players on our team and a good foundation. Hopefully we can go get it done."
The Lions are trying to become the first UIL program in 5A to repeat as champions since South Oak Cliff went back-to-back in 2021-22. The Golden Bears have since lost
consecutive title games, having advanced to the state championship contest each of the last four years. The team is projected as the favorite in Region II.
A second championship would give Randle two in the first four years of varsity action, which would match the total football titles Lamar CISD programs have won since Lamar Consolidated High School opened in 1949.
Lamar Consolidated won the 4A championship in 2007, while George Ranch was victorious in 5A in 2015.
Senior tight end Mason Mixon, who holds several NCAA DI offers, figures to be a big weapon for the Lions' passing attack in 2025 as Randle goes for the repeat in 5A-DII. Above, Mixon brings in a catch during the Lions' bi-district playoff win against Belton at Guy K. Traylor
