DISTRICT 22-6A
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS (Playoff teams in bold)
Deer Park Deer
Channelview Falcons
Dobie Longhorns
South Houston Trojans
Pasadena Memorial Mavs
Sam Rayburn Texans
Pasadena Eagles
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Most Valuable Player
Kam Webb, South Houston
Offensive Player of the Year
Cameron Matthews, Dobie
Defensive Player of the Year
Luke Webb, Deer Park
Breakout Player of the Year
Lorenzo Delgado, Pasadena Memorial
On the Cusp
Pasadena Memorial Mavericks
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Channelview Falcons
Lorin Cook (VYPE)
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The Deer Park Deer registered a nine-win season in 2022, which was their best year record-wise since 2011. The Deer are riding a four-year playoff streak entering 2023. The defensive unit will be anchored by Oklahoma State-commit Luke Webb, who was the District 22-6A Defensive MVP in 2022. First-team, all-district picks King Phillips (WR), Clayton McBride (TE), Caleb Dilley (DL), Landon Sanders (CB), Ethan Chavez (CB) and Francisco Sanchez (P) are all set to return for coach Austin Flynn’s crew.
Channelview is currently in its best run of success, making the playoffs three-straight years for the first time in program history and registering eight wins in 2022. The eight victories are the most for the Falcons since 1993. A big reason was District 22-6A MVP Darius Clark-James at quarterback. Unfortunately, he has transferred to CE King for his senior year. Averion Hurts, who was the District 22-6A Coach of the Year in 2022, will need to find a new signal-caller quickly. Other key returners for the Falcons in 2023 include Aden Boutte (OL), Traveon Jackson (RB), David Watson (WR), Alex Hodges (OL), Caleb Atafua (DL), Devin Tanner (DL), Oscar Manzanares (ILB) and Jose Morales (K).
Five-straight years, Dobie has been in the playoffs, including making it 2022 in Demond Stafford’s first year at the helm. The Longhorns will ride running back Cameron Matthews once again in 2023 after he was an unanimous first-team, all-district back. Matthews led the team with 1,037 yards and 13 scores for Dobie. He also had 425 yards receiving and three scores. First-team, all-district OL Evan Jordan and first-team outside linebacker Derrick Kelley (76 tackles) and safety CJ Richardson (3 INTs) are all set to return for the Horns. Other key returners include Franky Aleman (OL), Roderick Drumgo (DL) and Dempsey Spears (ILB). Spears is the leading returning tackler with 81 from 2022.
South Houston has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2016-2017. If the Trojans make it three-straight in 2023, it will be the first time in program history they have ever done that. Kam Webb, the reigning District 22-6A Offensive Player of the Year, is back for coach Patrick Longstreet. He was also a first-team basketball player for the Trojans. Other key returners include Jacob Sheppard (WR), Evyn Ponce (DL) and Josh Larry (CB).
Pasadena Memorial barely missed the playoffs last year, going 5-5 overall. Now, the Mavericks will try and get back into the dance for the first time since 2020. District 22-6A Newcomer of the Year Lorenzo Delgado will be the lead workhorse for the Mavs at running back. First-teamers Ethan Munoz (WR), Ricardo Cordova (OL) and Arian Lerma (S) are back. Other key returners include Jaylon Bell (RB), Ri’chard Crawford (DL) and Carlos Amaya (K).Sam Rayburn and Pasadena finished at the bottom of the district standings with one district win between the two. Key returners for the Texans include Abel Gonzales at cornerback and Jermaine Calvin at safety. Both were second-team, all-district selections. Second-team, all-district specialist Jonathan Ticas will be back for Pasadena at punter.