DISTRICT 8-5A-DI
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS (Playoff teams in bold)
Port Arthur Memorial Titans
Barbers Hill Eagles
Crosby Cougars
Kingwood Park Panthers
La Porte Bulldogs
Porter Spartans
Lee Ganders
Sterling Rangers
Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
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Most Valuable Player
Kody Fuentes, Barbers Hill
Offensive Player of the Year
Payton Evans-Pickens, Porter
Defensive Player of the Year
Daevon Iles, Port Arthur Memorial
Breakout Player of the Year
Kade Eudy, Crosby
On the Cusp
La Porte Bulldogs
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Crosby Cougars
Doug Brown (VYPE)
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Kingwood Park Panthers
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
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Baytown Lee
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
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Baytown Sterling
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Port Arthur Memorial has been in the playoffs seven-straight years and are coming off the best year of the Brian Morgan-era at 11-2 overall. The Titans defense will be their calling card led by DB Daevon Iles, the Defensive MVP of District 8-5A-DI a year ago. Other key returners on defense include Michael Riles (DE), Taiyion King (LB), Nolan White (DB) and Taveon Chatman (DL). Offensively, watch for Jaquan Holmes (WR), Amante Martin (RB), Semaj Pierre (WR) and Quinton Harper.
Carl Abseck is entering year three of leading Barbers Hill. Last year, the Eagles went 8-4 and finished second in district. Kody Fuentes is back for his senior year at quarterback and is coming off a season where he passed for 2,612 yards and 29 scores. The best thing for Fuentes is he brings back all of his top targets. Brady Thompson (725 yards, 7 TDs), Cyler Williams (477 yards, 6 TDs) and Tripp Davis (460 yards, 5 TDs) are all back at receiver. Miller Malone will lead the Eagles’ defense after racking up 86 tackles and a team-leading six sacks. Other key returners include Trey Bright (90 tackles), Landen Gaskamp (85 tackles) and Gabriel Guzman.
The Crosby Cougars have a new man to lead in Joe Willis, who led Cedar Park to the Class 4A State Championship in 2012 and in 2014 took them back as a 5A team. Willis takes over a Crosby program that in 2020 and 2021 went a combined 24-7 and played in the Class 5A Division I State Championship game in 2020. Levi Fontenot will pace the rushing attack early after racking up 766 yards and six scores in 2022. As Kade Eudy settles into the fulltime starting QB role, Fontenot will help him do that. Eudy does have experience, he passed for 659 yards and seven scores on 59 passing attempts in eight games. Copeline Windfont will pace the defense after leading the team with 83 tackles and five sacks. Other key returners include Wesley Yarbrough (RB), Trevaun Dixon (DB) and AJ Johnson (OL/DL).
The Kingwood Park Panthers return to gridiron on the heels of yet another productive season, which saw them reach the postseason to conclude the year with a record of 7-4. Coach Clayton Maple will see to it that K-Park’s decade-long playoff-streak remains intact with an impressive arsenal of weapons at his disposal. The offense wields a one-two punch of senior running backs, Brayden Moronko and Aiden Troost, while the defense will be anchored by DE Rylee Bush (Sr.), LB Brandon Waggoner (Sr.), CB Jaxson Lindsey (Sr.) and senior safety Jayden Henderson.
La Porte is in a unique situation as they will play their “home games” at Barbers Hill as their stadium is renovated. Kevin Berneathy enters year two and is looking to get the Bulldogs back in the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Tyresse Barnes (718 yards, 15 TDs) and Kennan Lawrence (539 yards, 8 TDs) will pace the rushing attack, while Landon Kay and Caden Hisatake will lead the receiver group. A new QBI will have to step up. Defensively, Jaylon Fisher will lead that unit along with Ashton Riffin, Tyran Williams and Eurie Bright.
Porter has missed the playoffs the last three years. The Spartans will lean on Payton Evans-Pickens to churn the offense. He is Mr. Do-It-All, after registering over 800 yards of offense between passing and rushing and racking up 13 total touchdowns. The O-Line will be solid in front of him with Jayden Green, Marco Guerra and Sebastian Lara back. Defensively, Ryan Gilliam had over 100 total tackles a year ago and will pace that unit.
Lee (5-5), Sterling (2-8) and Goose Creek Memorial (1-9) all finished at the bottom of the district standings and missed the playoffs. The Ganders will be led by QB Levay Duncan Jr. and Josiah Joseph is a freak who can play all over the field. Josh Huerta will lead the defense. The Rangers will be led by John Smith (QB), Chris Harris (WR), Enijah Russell-Evans (RB/LB) and Brennon Allen (RB/DB). Finally, GCM will lean on their lines early with Makalyn Bradley (DL), Adrian Arellano (OL) back. Other key returners include Luis Zavala (OL) and John Arenas (DB).