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Bracket Breakdown: VYPE's Favorites in Class 6A
It is time for the 2020 Texas High School Football playoffs!
How exciting is it to scream those words from the rooftops after the challenging fall that we have all faced. But we are here. Six wins and you are a State Champion!
With that being said it is time to breakdown the brackets. Here are VYPE's Class 6A favorites!
Class 6A Division I
Surprise, surprise! The back-to-back defending state champs are a favorite to reach the state title game and repeat in 2020. With the likes of Dematrius Davis leading the squad it is hard to bet against this team. Davis has passed for 2,472 yards and 27 touchdowns with just one interception. Davis has also rushed for 477 yards and 12 scores. Davis' top target has been Texas A&M-commit Shadrach Banks (749 yards, 12 TDs) who has also become a solid weapon out of the backfield. Banks and Davis is a solid combo. But don't forget about Charles King (577 yards) at receiver, he's one of the more underrated talents in the city. On the defensive side of the ball, Denver Harris has led the way in the secondary with six interceptions. This team has all the pieces to get back to the title game.
Class 6A Region III may be if not the hardest part of the bracket in the state. This is a hard section. Cy-Fair won its first state title back in 2017 but did that down in Division II. Now, can they make a run in Division I. Under first-year coach Jeff Miller this offense has looked the part. Airing it out with Carter Cravens at QB and running it down the pipe with LJ Johnson. Cravens has passed for 1,723 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Johnson has rushed for 1,109 yards and 18 scores. Hunter Warren has anchored the defensive unit leading it in tackles with 53 and three sacks. Keith Ford and Nick Chrest have held down the secondary with three interceptions apiece. If they make it to the second round a date with District 19-6A Champion Katy Tompkins could await them. That would be a heck of a second-round showdown. Let's see what the Bobcats have in them this year.
Class 6A Division II
The Sharks have had an interesting season. Opened the year with back-to-back losses to North Shore and Bridgeland. Then had to shut everything down for a couple of weeks due to COVID-19. Came back and rattled off four-straight wins and was in line for the district title at the end. A 31-28 overtime loss to Dawson gave Shadow Creek a second-place finish in District 23-6A. Baylor-commit Kyron Drones has passed for just over 1,000 yards, the running game has been paced by Kelvon Brown and Isaiah Harper, while UH-commit CJ Guidry and Greg Hancock have been Drones' top targets. Defensively, Byron Roberson has been dynamite with 78 tackles to lead the unit. Texas-commit Terrence Cooks has 55 tackles and two sacks on the year. The defense is good, offense has some go to it. What Shadow Creek has to do is come out fast, they didn't do that against Pearland Dawson. They've had two weeks to get ready for Clear Creek. They get past this round a very good C.E. King team could be waiting for them in the second round.
With Seven Lakes taking the final Division I spot out of District 19-6A, Katy got sent to the Division II bracket this year. The last time the Tigers won a state crown, which was back in 2015, it came in the DII bracket. So, can Katy ride that magic again? It has been a weird year for the Tigers. A change at QB early in the season, a loss to Katy Tompkins (which ended a 75-game district winning streak) but they still got into the playoffs. After the loss to Tompkins, Katy rolled over Katy Taylor (which just was advanced to the Area round because George Ranch could not play this week), Morton Ranch and Mayde Creek. So, a solid finish for Katy. Offensively, the running game has to be ON for the Tigers. The services of Davis & Davis will be leaned on. Seth, only a sophomore, led the team with 991 yards rushing, while senior brother Jalen was right behind at 966 yards and they combined for 27 touchdowns. That may be one of the best one-two punches out of the backfield in the city along with Johntre Davis and Reuben Owens II at El Campo. Sophomore QB Caleb Koger has gotten better with experience. But like in 2015, the defense will carry this team as far as it wants in the playoffs. Florida State-commit Hunter Washington and Bobby Taylor anchor the secondary, Malick Sylla is a big man on the line and Shepherd Bowling is one of the top linebackers and captains, along with Ty Kana. The defense is solid but Katy cannot afford to get into a back and forth scoring battle in the playoffs. Their defense will have to be stingy for potentially the next six games.
Others to Watch
Pearland Dawson- Cameron Whitfield is a problem to stop on the defensive line. He is tall and will wreck a play in the backfield. They also have a solid weapon in kicker Carter Brown, who just verballed to Arizona State. Also, don't forget about Jaden Stewart rumbling out of the backfield. They get Dickinson in the opening round but then would get North Shore in the second round.
C.E. King - The Panthers could be one of the surprises of the playoffs. The offense is led by Kameron Kincheon at QB, who has passed for 1,653 yards and 19 touchdowns and Jerrell Wimbley out of the backfield who has rushed for 1,387 yards and 15 scores. That duo could be a problem for defenses to stop. Along with Wimble, D'Koreion Hammond has also rushed for 1,032 yards. Defensively William Hicks and Roy Morris have led the unit with 97 tackles apiece. Hicks is just a sophomore, which is wild. Jakobe Crawford had 85 tackles as well. Freshman Kmard Kimble has three sacks and in the secondary Ty'jai Pollard, Josiah Ruano and David Potts each have three picks apiece. This team could make a run.
Photo by Daniel Alvarez Fedyaev
5 Big Takeaways: North Shore moves to 4-0 behind 21-point second half
MANVEL - In every season there are three parts to it.
Non-district, district and then the playoffs. Each provide their own opportunities. Jon Kay has always approached the non-district portion of the schedule as a time to gauge his team. Coming out of that, capped by a 49-14 victory over Manvel on Friday at Freedom Field, the North Shore Mustangs are 4-0.
\With a COVID-dictated schedule this spring and summer this time for the back-to-back state champions was crucial.
"We always use this non-district schedule as a barometer of the things we need to work on," Kay said. "I thought the second half was the culmination of the weeks of work that these kids have put in. There's no more excuse of no spring ball, no Covid excuse, we've had plenty time to prepare.
"It was good to see us go out there and execute but we better get a lot better to go and compete in District 21-6A."
So what were the 5 Big Takeaways?
Banks Heating Up
TOUCHDOWN MUSTANGS: @NSNationFB WR Shadrach Banks an @AggieFootball commit picks up the low snap and then HURDLES a guy!! #txhsfb
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) October 17, 2020
2nd - 4:01 @NSSH_Mustangs -21@HokaHeyFootball - 7@MaxPreps @KPRC2Ari @KPRC2RandyMc @Perroni247 @KPRC2Vanessa @espn pic.twitter.com/wMAbknEdgu
Jon Kay says Shadrach Banks is continuing his progress to getting into game shape. Friday's win over Manvel showed he is definitely making progress. Banks was featured in the North Shore offense as usual at wide receiver, showing his strength off multiple times. But then they also lined him up at quarterback in a Wildcat formation with Dematrius Davis slotted next to him. They did this a few times and in the second quarter, Banks hurdled a would-be tackler and took it in for a touchdown. Just another wrinkle in this already potent offense. Banks is looking more and more dangerous each week.
Dematrius Davis ... Again
TOUCHDOWN MUSTANGS: @NSNationFB QB @Dematrius09 (@AuburnFootball commit) makes this look easy. Fakes handoff & then the pass. The scores from 26 yards out. #txhsfb
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) October 17, 2020
1st - 0:55 @NSSH_Mustangs - 14@HokaHeyFootball - 0@KPRC2RandyMc @KPRC2Ari @SimoneEli_TV @HTownHSS @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/8OvKHPOJS2
No, Dematrius Davis didn't force two tacklers to smash into each other with a juke this time. He did shed two arm tackles to score on one play though on one of his two touchdown runs. On the play above though, Davis faked the handoff, faked the pass and then proceeded to take off for a score. This play it looked too easy for him. Davis' running ability has really flourished the last two seasons. Last year he just broke loose with it on multiple occasions. Davis had two passing touchdowns and two rushing scores to add to his season total. Davis is a pure challenge for any defensive unit because you really don't know when he is going to fake you out and take off.
Gabriel Larry is a Dual-Threat Problem
Highlight Reel Run! @HokaHeyFootball QB @g_larry1 makes something out of nothing on this 3rd and 10. #txhsfb @Tha_Real_JV @_JustinMedlock @ManvelHS @AlvinISD @Perroni247 @KPRC2RandyMc @HTownHSS @KPRC2Ari pic.twitter.com/x7T462lB8H
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) October 17, 2020
Seeing Gabriel Larry in person for the first time he is a tall, rangy quarterback who can throw and take off with the ball at the same time. Larry on one play broke through a would-be sack and ended up converting a first down on a third down and ten. Larry also had two passing touchdowns in the game. He and his Manvel offense are going to be a problem in Class 5A. Larry can be a gamechanger at quarterback, especially when he takes off.
North Shore Improvements after 4-0 Start
VYPE Postgame: Caught up with @NSNationFB HC Jon Kay after the 49-14 victory. Next up for Mustangs is West Brook at home next week to open District 21-6A play. #txhsfb @NSSH_Mustangs @GalenaParkISD @Dematrius09 @TXHSFB @KPRC2Ari @KPRC2RandyMc @HTownHSS pic.twitter.com/CJ8cx3ZV73
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) October 17, 2020
The offensive line has always been a strength of this North Shore program. Jon Kay said they are still working through some different combinations on the offensive line, looking for depth in the secondary, kicking game needs improvements as well.
"I think there is room for improvement. I saw a lot of resiliency today. [Manvel] had a lot of momentum going into the half and for us to come out in the second half and answer the bell, I think that speaks a lot to [this team's] character."
Kriss Ross - A name to remember
VYPE Post Game: Caught up with @NSNationFB DL Chris Ross who had some big plays tonight. He talks the defense and the 4-0 start. #txhsfb @Dematrius09 @DenvoBandz @NSSH_Mustangs @GalenaParkISD @TXHSFB @alexradow @KPRC2Ari pic.twitter.com/jGPrRSmbUK
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) October 17, 2020
Defensively, Kriss Ross is a force on the line. He is big. Fast and will crush an opponent. One play stuck out when he was able to come free off the edge and sack Manvel quarterback Gabriel Larry in the second half. It was a big momentum swing, a drive stopper and big play for him. Ross is a part of the Class of 2022 and it wouldn't surprise me if he starts getting some looks because he brings some size to that defensive line for North Shore.