GAMES
RANKINGS
Episcopal's Karson Gordon
The 2023 All-VYPE Private School Football Team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
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.
...
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.
ALL-VYPE TEAM PHOTO GALLERY: Tanner Huckfelt, Concordia Lutheran (2nd Team QB)
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
ALL-VYPE PRIVATE SCHOOL TEAM
OFFENSE
...
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
…
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
…
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
…
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
…
DEFENSE
...
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
…
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
…
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
…
SPECIAL TEAMS
...
KICKER/PUNTER
First-Team
Preston Kyle, St. Pius X
Second-Team
Emanuel Montoya, FBCA
2023-24 Houston Christian Football
ON THE CUSP: Houston Christian is inches from making history
Just how have they accomplished this feat?
“It’s been a six year growth of culture for the program,” said head coach AJ Eisenman. “We’ve got an amazing group of seniors who have led the way for this group, so it’s been about them maturing through the process. We talk a lot about playing for souls and not just the goal, so we’re about significantly more than just football. From that standpoint, we’ve been winning for a while and it’s finally translating onto the field.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Eisenman took the reins of the program a year ago, following his tenure as the team’s defensive coordinator dating back to 2018.
"Coach Eisenman and his staff have worked hard to build community," said Houston Christian AD Terry Pirtle. "This has proven big dividends this season, and the results are showing!"
“I have had the fortune of being here from the ground up, so it was a very easy transition for our kids when I stepped in,” Eisenman said. “Like I said, we’ve been winning here for a long time, in the culture way. So, carrying over that continuity with the right mix of kids has allowed us to start seeing more success.”
That “right mix” would include senior QB Bret Kilchrist, who’s been connecting with fellow contributors Jack Henning (Sr. WR), Anderson Jones (Jr. WR), and Kade Gulledge (So. RB) on the offensive side, while senior DB Jordan Elie-Stuart (Air Force-commit), Dylan Hill (Sr. DB), and team captain Adam Sheppard (Sr. LB) have anchored the stingy Mustangs defense.
Bret Kilchrist
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Houston Christian has yet to win a state title, however they are finally on the cusp.
“It would be great for the school,” Eisenman said. “That would shine a light on what we’ve been doing here, and more importantly the way we’ve been doing it. When you put first things first, and build these young men up to be strong men of God, it shows in the result.”
“That’s what is the most reassuring thing – when you can look parents in the eyes and let them know that we’re going to care more about your kid’s character than what happens on the football field. If we can do that, it’ll produce a winner.”
The rapid development of Houston Christian’s football program is palpable, given that not too long ago there were only 18 players on the roster, whereas now there are 80 and counting.
“That’s what has been the most amazing thing,” said Eisenman. “The world tells you to keep your faith kind of private, but the more we’ve leaned into our faith, the more we’ve actually grown and the better we’ve gotten.”
On November 4th, the Mustangs will have their shot at making history for their school. Stay tuned for the finale.