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The 2023 All-VYPE Private School Football Team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Jan 17, 2024

Another season on the gridiron is in the books for the private school sector.

With several teams staking their claims to be the best, it was truly a thrilling experience for audiences state-wide.

H-Town experienced its fair share of success throughout the Fall, particularly Episcopal who took home the SPC championship, while Houston Christian experienced a meteoric rise on the SPC-3A scene, reaching the state final for the first time in program history.

Meanwhile, St. Thomas finished the season as TAPPS-DI state finalists, while Second Baptist School and Cypress Christian ended up reaching the state Final-Four in their respective divisions.

With that in mind, it's time to announce the 2023 All-VYPE Private School Football team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.

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TEAM OF THE YEAR: St. Thomas Eagles

Jamey Wright (VYPE)

It had been over two decades since St. Thomas had reached the TAPPS state championship, but coach Rich McGuire and company proceeded to put an end to that drought this Fall.

The Eagles were a force to be reckoned with, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, given that they averaged over 45 points scored per game. With offensive weapons -- Donte Lewis, Johann Cardenas, and Luke Edgecombe, just to name a few -- it's not hard to see why.

Houston's representatives in the TAPPS-DI championship would ultimately fall to state-power Parish Episcopal (40-29) in the end, however the run that St. Thomas went on this season should not go without recognition.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Steve Leisz, Episcopal

It's only natural that the coach of a championship-caliber team would receive this nod.

The Episcopal head coach would ultimately decide to retire following his team's acquisition of the SPC title, which will immortalize his legacy in the well-established Houston program.

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ALL-VYPE PRIVATE SCHOOL TEAM

OFFENSE

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QUARTERBACK

First-Team

Karson Gordon, Episcopal

Donte Lewis, St. Thomas

Second-Team

Tanner Huckfelt, Concordia Lutheran

Bret Kilchrist, Houston Christian

Honorable Mention

Stephen Gill, St. John’s

Canon Toon, Second Baptist

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RUNNING BACK

First-Team

Johann Cardenas, St. Thomas

John Kelly, Cypress Christian

Second-Team

Cole Allen, St. John’s

Miles Roeder, Kinkaid

Honorable Mention

Langston Davis, Second Baptist School

Cole Chance, Concordia Lutheran

Kade Gulledge, Houston Christian

Brandon Thomas, Episcopal

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WIDE RECEIVER

First-Team

Larry Benton III, St. Thomas

J.D. Crisp, Second Baptist

Luke Edgecomb, St. Thomas

Second-Team

Max Granville, FBCA (ATH)

Anderson Jones, Houston Christian

Jackson Ranucci, Episcopal

Honorable Mention

Reece Cutrer, Concordia Lutheran

Jordan Manuel, Kinkaid

Alexander Yearwood, St. Pius X

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OFFENSIVE LINE

First-Team

Jake Ghiselin, St. Thomas

Anthony Pellerin, St. Thomas

Chase Tepper, Second Baptist

Bennett Warren, FBCA

Cullen Witt, Episcopal

Second-Team

Rhett Carroll, FBCA

Wyatt Childers, St. John’s

Oliver Eades, Kinkaid

Zeke Hogan, Cypress Christian

Jacob Rauch, Cypress Christian

Honorable Mention

Graeme Highberg, Houston Christian

RJ Lee, Second Baptist

Andrew Owen, Cypress Christian

Chase Stepp, St. Pius X

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DEFENSE

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DEFENSIVE LINE

First-Team

Michael Fowler, St. Pius X

Dominic Ori, St. Thomas

Jack Reid, St. Thomas

Charles Shears, Second Baptist

Second-Team

Michael-Anthony Okwura, St. Thomas

Ivan Jimmy-Ducksworth, FBCA

Maximus Supplee, Cypress Christian

Cullen Walton, Episcopal

Honorable Mention

Nathan Alvarez, St. Pius X

Kelvin Baptiste, Second Baptist

Will McMackin, Kinkaid

Jacob Rauch, Cypress Christian

Kristofer St. Clair, LSA

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LINEBACKER

First-Team

Bryce Butler, Second Baptist

Tyler Day, St. Thomas

Max Granville, FBCA

Second-Team

Luken Koehn, Concordia Lutheran

CJ Willis, Cypress Christian

Nick Woods, St. Pius X

Honorable Mention

Cooper Davis, St. Thomas

Barrett Mossman, St. John’s

Jeffrey Potts, Cypress Christian

Adam Sheppard, Houston Christian

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DEFENSIVE BACK

First-Team

Ty Blevins, Episcopal

Nico Gomez, Kinkaid

Lou Lamar, Concordia Lutheran

Breylan Thompson, Episcopal

Second-Team

Jackson Powers, Second Baptist

Jordan Rogers, FBCA

Aron Valentine, St. Thomas

Owen Witschonke, Cypress Christian

Honorable Mention

Maxwell Bagwell, Second Baptist

Damarcus Batiste, St. Thomas

Keenan Bonner, St. Thomas

Kameron Brown, St. Pius X

JD Crisp, Second Baptist School

Drew Mestayer, Cypress Christian

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SPECIAL TEAMS

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KICKER/PUNTER

First-Team

Preston Kyle, St. Pius X

Second-Team

Emanuel Montoya, FBCA