GAMES
RANKINGS
The 2023 All-VYPE Private School Football Team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
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.
ALL-VYPE TEAM PHOTO GALLERY: Tanner Huckfelt, Concordia Lutheran (2nd Team QB)
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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
ON THE CUSP: Historic St. Thomas hope to capture first-ever TAPPS title
For the first time since 2001, the St. Thomas Eagles have advanced to the TAPPS title game.
It doesn’t come as quite a shock, given the expectation the team had prior to the season, although the dominant fashion (12-0; 4-0) in which they’ve proceeded has been something truly special for their fans.
However, it hasn't always come easily for coach Rich McGuire and company.
The Eagles have overcome various injuries to key players throughout the Fall including star RB Johann Cardenas, Michael-Anthony Okwura (Sr. DL) and Donte Lewis (Sr. QB).
“The good news for us at this point, is that we seem to be as healthy as we’ve ever been all season,” said McGuire. “But, the team has just been resilient no matter who went down. We have the ‘next man up’ mentality. Somebody else needed to make plays, which speaks to the team’s depth.”
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
While most eyes may veer towards Cardenas on the field – for good reason, considering he’s tallied over 2,200 yards rushing this season – St. Thomas has an entirely different threat behind center.
“He (Donte Lewis) is a different cat,” McGuire said. “He’s so dynamic athletically. People don’t realize he runs a 4.4 (40-yd dash) which is probably the fastest on our team. Just like in baseball, he’s got a cannon for an arm, and he’s so elusive on the field.
“I’ve coached a lot of good quarterbacks here, but Donte can hurt you just as badly with his legs than with his arm. I’ve been very blessed as a coach to have this kind of talent.”
St. Thomas' Donte Lewis (2022-23 Baseball Season)Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Following their 73-62 victory over Prestonwood Christian a week ago in the State Semis, the Eagles are now slated to face off against Parish Episcopal this Friday at the Waco ISD Stadium.
While their offense has been a juggernaut, it will be the defense that decides the outcome, according to McGuire.
“It starts with the age-old adage – don’t turn the ball over, don’t make mistakes,” he said. “We’ll need to play clean offensively. At this point in the season both offenses are good, and the same can be said defensively. So, at the end of the day it’s going to be a matter of which defense steps up and gets the necessary stops.”
Said defense stops for St. Thomas will likely be a result of performances from the aforementioned Michael-Anthony Okwura (Cal-commit), senior LB Tyler Day (Rice-commit), and Aron Valentine (Sr. S).
The last time St. Thomas has won a TAPPS state championship dates back to 1996. Given the significance of the occasion, what’s going through the mind of the long-time St. Thomas coach?
“I tell the guys all the time that if we get a gold ball on Friday, I may just get an Uber, drive to my lake house in Oklahoma with the ball and never look back,” McGuire laughed. “All kidding aside, I’m still going to be around no matter what happens. This game and these kids definitely keep me young.”
Tune in Friday to see if St. Thomas can finally end their championship drought once and for all.