By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
After losing a large senior class from a team that finished as the runner-up in District 7-6A, Jesuit Dallas doesn’t plan on going into rebuilding mode.
Instead, the Rangers aim to carry that momentum forward with a young but talented roster that will include several new starters on both sides of scrimmage.
“We’ll have a lot of new faces on offense, but our defense will be more experienced,” said Jesuit head coach Brandon Hickman. “We’ve got guys who played a lot of snaps last year.”
The defense should be quick at linebacker, where Grayson Wombacher and Entonyo Jones will be joined by Logan Thompson, who is shifting from a safety spot.
Cade Gill is the top returnee on
a powerful defensive line that also will feature Fred Lucky and Christopher Simington. Sean Watson is back in the secondary.
That defensive unit might have to shoulder the load as the up-tempo offense finds its footing behind new quarterback Charlie Peters, who moves up from junior varsity.
“He’s becoming a vocal leader for our team,” Hickman said. “He has good size and good speed. He makes good throws with a quick release, and he’s a tough kid.”
The Rangers lost almost all their production at the skill positions from 2022 except for receivers Cooper Cutler and Jaeger Krauss.
Zane Williams and Ryan Engelhardt might split the bulk of the carries in the backfield. Key contributors on the offensive line include Ben Petroff, Matthew Toker, and Michael Martin. The kicking game should also be a strength.
2022 RECORD: 9-3 (7-1 in district)
NOTABLE: Jesuit has made the playoffs in 12 of the past 13 campaigns. And the Rangers have a solid track record in postseason play, with 12 victories since 2012.
August
25 at Hebron 7 p.m.
September
1 Rockwall 7 p.m.
7 at Richardson Pearce* 7 p.m.
15 Lake Highlands* 7 p.m.
22 at Irving* 7 p.m.
29 Highland Park*^ 7 p.m.
October
13 at Richardson Berkner* 7 p.m.
20 Irving Nimitz* 7 p.m.
26 at Irving MacArthur* 7 p.m.
November
3 Richardson* 7 p.m.
*—District7-6Agame ^—atFordStadium(SMU)
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
St. Mark’s is making progress, even if upward mobility in the standings is challenging in the SPC’s daunting largeschool classification.
The Lions won four of their six non-division games last season but were outscored by their quartet of 4A conference rivals by a combined margin of 190-48.
“We took some major steps forward,” said third-year St. Mark’s head coach Harry Flaherty. “Our schedule was a little tougher, but our players really invested a lot and improved the program.”
More depth and experience could help St. Mark’s close the gap this season, with several starters returning on both sides of scrimmage.
Noah Williams has played five positions for the Lions, while Henry Estes has been a force on
the offensive and defensive line. Both are juniors with two years of starting experience.
Jimmy Francis and Lawrence Gardner are battling for the starting quarterback job. Both could see action early in the season.
“We’ve got two guys who can play the position,” Flaherty said. “We feel confident that either of them could get the job done.”
Top receiver Lucas Blumenthal returns after a terrific debut season in which he caught 11 touchdown passes. Fellow receiver Mateu Parker is also back.
Other key returnees include linebacker Nolan Marcus, tight end Baker Long, and linemen Thomas Clancy, Ben Erwin, and Charlie Hill.
“Our goal internally is just to be tougher in terms of our physicality, our effort, and our fundamentals,” Flaherty said. “If we focus on those things, we can continue to be more and more competitive.”
2022 RECORD: 4-6
NOTABLE: St. Mark’s has 17 SPC titles in football, most recently in 2008. Houston-area schools have dominated the large-school classification since then. August 25 at FW Country Day 7 p.m. September 1 Cistercian 7 p.m. 8 The Woodlands Cooper 7 p.m.
at Frisco Legacy 7 p.m.
at OKC Casady 7 p.m.
Houston St. John’s*
at Houston Episcopal*
p.m.
2022 RECORD: 7-2
NOTABLE: ESD narrowly missed a return trip to the SPC title game last season after suffering an overtime loss against defending champion Houston Kinkaid.
August 25
By Todd Jorgenson People NewspapersTwo years removed from an appearance in the SPC 4A championship game, Episcopal School of Dallas is not ready to start over.
Sure, many faces will be new this fall for the Eagles, especially on offense, but the expectations will be as high as ever.
“The culture has been fairly consistent, and it’s really strong with this group. They expect to compete for a championship once again,” said ESD head coach Richard Williams. “The guys that we’re returning are completely bought in. The learning curve will be short and quick.”
Many starters from ESD’s high-powered offense have graduated, including standout quarterback Patrick Burke, who led the Eagles in passing and rushing last year.
The candidates to replace him
are Johnny Willingham, the back up in 2022, or Frisco Memorial transfer Jake Gierkey. Willingham is more of a pocket passer, while Gierkey is a dual threat. Both could see action early in the sea son, Williams said.
Three-year starter Collin Nich olson will play multiple positions on both sides of scrimmage. Oth er two-way returnees include Nick Wheeler and Jackson Pennington.
Hutch Chipman will take over as the starter at tight end, while transfer Dario Benaglia will be a lanky target at receiver. Meanwhile, experience will be more plentiful on the ESD de fense, with eight starters back. Owen Bellson and Landen Ca petillo will anchor the line.
“Our depth is probably stronger than it has been in previous years,” Williams said. “We have a lot of other talented guys who can spell them when we need to.”
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Sawyer Anderson knew what he was getting into. But was he ready?
He had never played above the middle-school level in Highland Park and was thrust into the starting quarterback role for a two-time defending TAPPS state champion. He was replacing Parish Episcopal legend Preston Stone, one of the state’s most decorated signal-callers, who’s now at SMU.
Anderson handled the pressure and responded to the challenge as a Parish freshman, leading the Panthers to a third straight crown. Last season, they earned a fourth.
Anderson and Parish will aim for a fifth consecutive title this fall, which would put the Panthers among the most prolific dynasties in Texas high school football history.
“People look at it like it’s some sort of foregone conclusion, like it’s supposed to happen. But it’s not that easy,” said Parish head coach Daniel Novakov. “Once you get to that point, everybody is taking their shots
you off. It’s hard to keep that success going.”
Last year, the Panthers navigated one of the most challenging schedules of any team in the state and finished 12-1. They were especially dominant in TAPPS play, winning every contest by lopsided margins, including a 38-14 drubbing of Plano Prestonwood in the state championship game.
“Not a lot of people see the work that goes into it,” said Anderson, whose grandfather, Donny, won two Super Bowls as a halfback for the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s. “It just puts a bigger target on your back.”
During his freshman campaign — with mentorship from Stone — Anderson started all 13 games and threw for 2,864 yards and 32 touchdowns while playing alongside standout running back Andrew Paul and a stellar defense.
“Stepping into those shoes, people la
said. “The game happened a lot faster in my freshman year. It was like you’re always in panic mode. Year after year, it slows down a little bit.”
That experience paid off in 2022, when Anderson improved his numbers across the board, accounting for 41 scores. And he was elected as a team captain despite being only a sophomore.
Those leadership qualities have been evident since Novakov coached him during the summers in third through sixth grade.
“Even then, you could see his special ability and talent,” Novakov said. “Back in youth football, he was probably better with his feet than he was with his arm.”
Not surprisingly, college recruiters have noticed, too. Anderson had his first scholarship offer before he even played a high school game. Two days after the 2021 title tilt, Missouri of
programs from around the country have joined the parade.
“It’s pretty hard to play better than he’s played over the last two years,” Novakov said. “He will be bigger and stronger. You’ll see some more athleticism out of him.”
This season, Anderson will pilot an experienced and high-powered offensive unit that averaged 43.8 points in its last eight games.
Thousand-yard rusher Maddux Reid is back, as are top receivers Bryson Fields and Hutch Crow. Four of the five offensive linemen return, as well. Purdue commit Caleb Mitchell Irving will anchor the defensive line again, while D.C. Crane is a standout in the secondary.
Key transfers include receiver Carson Darby (Frisco Lone Star), linebacker Caleb Bowers (Prestonwood), and defensive end Hurley Wiker (Keller Timber Creek).
“These kids are on a mission to take on anybody who wants to play us. We want to differentiate ourselves from any other program,” Novakov said. “These kids want to win, and they want to keep making history.”
2022 RECORD: 12-1 (4-0 in district)
NOTABLE: Parish’s four publicschool opponents on the schedule combined for a 51-9 record last year, and three won UIL state titles.
August 25 at Aledo 7:30 p.m.
September
1 Houston Episcopal 7 p.m.
8 Austin LBJ 7 p.m.
15 at South Oak Cliff 7:30 p.m.
22 at China Spring 7 p.m.
October
6 at Bishop Lynch* 7 p.m.
13 San Antonio Cornerstone 7 p.m.
20 at Fort Worth Nolan* 7 p.m.
27 Trinity Christian* 7 p.m.
November
3 Plano Prestonwood* 7 p.m. *—TAPPSdistrictgame
These kids want to win, and they want to keep making history.
Daniel Novakov
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
Three straight playoff appearances have resulted in three lopsided first-round losses for W.T. White. But the key to changing that postseason trend comes in the regular season.
With a mix of youth and experience, the Longhorns look to move up the standings in the nine-team District 5-5A Div. I and clinch a better seed. That’s the next step for a program that has boosted expectations in recent years.
“We’re just trying to continue to elevate our program,” said second-year WTW head coach Kenchee Ross. “We want to make the playoffs yearly, but we don’t want to be content with that.”
Up front, all five starters return on the offensive line. Tyler Norris and Eric Davis are the standouts.
“That’s the strength of the team, is having those guys back up front with some depth behind them,” Ross said. “We’ll be more focused on running the ball.”
That should ease the transition into a new starting quarterback, as dual-threat junior Jimmy Mowles leads an offense that might be more deliberate but still has firepower.
“He can make all the throws. We want him to make good decisions,” Ross said. “He’ll be able to make some plays with his feet, also.”
WTW will feature several players likely to contribute on both sides of scrimmage, led by linebacker Markavious Justice, who had three interceptions and 69 tackles a year ago.
Other two-way players should include Anthony Chibli, Keyshawn Sinfort, and twins Demetrius and Demarkis Troupe. Evan Williams is back at receiver, as is Cooper Whitson at linebacker.
2022 RECORD: 5-6 (5-3 in district)
NOTABLE: The Longhorns have not won a playoff game since 2000, but they have posted their most overall victories in any three-year span since 1996.
August
24 at Frisco Heritage 7 p.m.
September 1 Waco 7:30 p.m.
8 Mans. Timberview* 7:30 p.m. 15 at Molina* 7:30 p.m. 21 Sunset* 7 p.m. 29 at Richland* 7 p.m.
October
5 Bryan Adams* 7 p.m. 19 at Carr. R.L. Turner* 7 p.m. 26 Newman Smith* 7 p.m.
November
3 at Birdville* 7:30 p.m.
*—District5-5A,DivisionIgame
2022 RECORD: 7-3 (4-2 in district)
NOTABLE: District 6-5A Division II is split into two five-team divisions, necessitating two crossover games to determine likely playoff seeds.
August
25 at Frisco Emerson 7 p.m.
31 at Carrollton Ranchview 7 p.m.
September
7 Gainesville 7 p.m.
14 Wilmer-Hutchins 7 p.m.
22 at Thomas Jefferson* 7:30 p.m.
29 Seagoville* 7:30 p.m.
October
12 at Woodrow Wilson* 7 p.m.
20 Conrad* 7 p.m.
27 District seeding game* 7:30 p.m.
November
3 District seeding game* 7:30 p.m.
*—District6-5A,DivisionIIgame
By Todd Jorgenson People NewspapersTwenty-six seconds. That’s how long it took Seagoville to drive for a game-tying touchdown against Hillcrest during a pivotal midseason game last year.
The Dragons won the game in overtime and wound up claiming the final postseason berth in District 6-5A Div. II away from the Panthers.
The importance of those 26 seconds, plus a narrow defeat against Woodrow Wilson the following week in which a late lead also slipped away, has fueled Hillcrest’s quest for a fourth consecutive winning season — and a playoff return.
“Instead of finding ways to lose those close games, we need to find ways to win them,” said Hillcrest head coach Jacob Ramon. “We need to be more
mentally and physically tough.”
Top offensive threats Reggie Williams and Jaden Hodge have graduated, leaving the leadership responsibilities to linebacker Ford Morris and lineman Prophet Hishaw. Morris was the team’s leading tackler, Hishaw anchored the offensive line, and
both are expected to play multiple roles.
The starting quarterback should be either returning senior Luke Monter or sophomore Asher Randall, a transfer from Episcopal School of Dallas.
Among the other top offensive returnees for the Panthers
are Zion Anguiano, Aidan Hernandez, Aidan Lewis, and Luis Lopez. Defensive standouts include Quinn Burno, Romeo Jackson, and Anderson Hewitt. Speedy siblings Isaiah and Isaac Dorn also should make an impact.
“We’re going to have some growing pains since we have a lot of kids who don’t have varsity experience,” Ramon said. “There’s a lot of kids who people are going to find out about.”
Instead of finding ways to lose those close games, we need to find ways to win them. Jacob RamonHillcrest’s Ford Morris had more than 100 tackles last season in addition to playing multiple positions on offense. CHRIS MCGATHEY
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
Despite playing in a more challenging district in 2022, Covenant rolled through the regular season with a program-record eight wins.
Then came the TAPPS Division III playoffs and a surprising firstround exit against Arlington Grace Prep that provided a sour ending.
“That was not what we were expecting,” said Covenant fifth-year head coach Jacob Zinn. “We’re at the point where we expect to win every game. When you get bounced in the first round, that’s not good enough.”
That defeat fueled the offseason mindset of a team that lost significant firepower to graduation but also returns a handful of key starters. Hard-hitting linebacker James Predtechenskis and defensive lineman Dobson Beaird each hold multiple school records. They will also likely
see significant snaps on offense.
“It’s nice having those two catalysts on the defensive side coming back,” Zinn said. “We’ve got a ton of experience. We’ve got a really good core group of guys coming back, especially up front.”
The Knights have struggled in the past with size in the trenches, but that could change this season with four returnees along the offensive line.
Other third-year starters returning include Bennett Sands, who rushed for 11 touchdowns a year ago, and speedster Benjamin Golik. Improved depth at the skill positions should help new quarterback Brady Shahan, the team’s top receiver last season.
“We’re excited about what our offense will look like around him,” Zinn said. “Our offense will probably look a lot different. We’ll probably be more traditional, but I’m excited about that.”
2022 RECORD: 8-2 (3-1 in district)
NOTABLE: In its eight wins last season, Covenant scored an average of 45.6 points while allowing only 7.9 points — including three shutouts.
August
25 at Lewisville Founders 7:30 p.m.
September
October
November
3 at Tyler All Saints* 7 p.m. *—TAPPSdistrictgame
2022 RECORD: 0-9
NOTABLE: The Hornets have not beaten a Texas opponent since topping The Woodlands Cooper in the 2017 regular-season finale.
September
1 Coram Deo 7 p.m.
8 at Covenant 7 p.m.
15 at The Woodlands Cooper* 7 p.m.
22 FW Country Day* 7 p.m.
29 at Houston Christian* 7 p.m.
October
6 FW Trinity Valley* 7 p.m.
13 Arlington Oakridge* 7 p.m.
20 at St. Mark’s 7 p.m.
27 at Cistercian* 7 p.m.
*—SPCClass3Agame
By Todd Jorgenson People NewspapersAlthough the win-loss record in recent years is unsightly, K.J. Williams sees a unique opportunity at Greenhill.
That’s why he left the sidelines at Fort Worth Nolan to take the head coaching role with the Hornets, who have endured three consecutive winless seasons.
“As a coach, you obviously want to challenge yourself,” Williams said. “Greenhill always stuck out to me. When the opportunity presented itself, it was intriguing.”
Williams is realistic about the hurdles and what it takes to overcome them. The Hornets have dropped 29 straight games and were outscored by about 39 points per game in 2022. He’s started by instilling a culture of focus and hard work.
“I was able to come in early and
build some trust with the players. In order for us to get going in the right direction, the players have to trust the process and trust themselves. We want to build confidence,” Williams said. “The buy-in is real ly good. These guys are high-energy, and they want to work.”
Williams will look to a handful of returnees to fill leadership roles, such as Zane Crumedy, Bryson Watt, Laird Burke, Oliver Hill, Cole Feldman, and Brandon Polk.
Will Black will move from re ceiver to quarterback. Newcomers to watch include lacrosse player Mateo Lanzilotta, freshman Zac chaeus Crumedy, and Nolan trans fer Caden Castillo.
“There’s secondary depth be hind every position. Our program has gone through a lot, but I just want to build a good experience for the kids and develop them,” Williams said. “The wins are going to come.”
