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2023-24 Houston Episcopal Knights Football
THE CONTENDERS: VYPE's 2023 Preseason Private School Football Rankings; No. 1-5
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THE CONTENDERS (No. 1-5)
VYPE Private School Photo Feature: J.D. Crisp (Second Baptist School)
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
No. 5--Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
The reigning TAPPS-II champs return to the gridiron with their sights set on a repeat. Despite several key pieces having graduated over the offseason, the Eagles are still a force to be reckoned with.
Coach Jordan Black will look to 6-foot-7 Tennessee-commit Bennett Warren (Sr. OL) to anchor the trenches on offense, while game-wrecker Max Granville (Jr. Edge) and Ivan Jimmy-Ducksworth (Sr. DL) wreak havoc on defense.
While the FBCA offense is going to be youthful in 2023, expect senior RB Jordan Montanez to provide the experience in the run-game.
No.4--Second Baptist School Eagles
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Coach Beck Brydon enters his first season as the Second Baptist School head coach after spending nearly two decades building Austin Regents. He’ll have plenty of talent to work with as the majority of the SBS squad that advanced to the TAPPS-II State Semis in 2022 returns to the field.
First-team, all-state recipient J.D. Crisp (Sr.) is going to be the do-it-all man for the Eagles, given that he will play RB/WR and FS this Fall. Sr. QB Turner Murdock will also be a key figure on offense as the signal-caller behind a battle-tested offensive line.
Others to watch for include Jackson Powers (Sr. DB) and junior RB/LB Bryce Butler. Canon Toon (So. ATH) could be an interesting offensive weapon stretching defenses on the outside.
No. 3--St. Thomas Eagles
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
St. Thomas is coming off a 2022 campaign which saw them reach the second round of the TAPPS-I postseason and finish with an overall record of 10-2. If the rapid progression of this program is any indication, the Eagles are due for an even greater outcome this time around.
Coach Richard McGuire will have the luxury of having senior Johann Cardenas back in the fold. The versatile running back went off once again a year ago, combining for north of 1,300 all-purpose yards, which earned Cardenas first-team all-state honors.
If the run-game doesn’t scare a defense, the passing game between Donte Lewis (Sr. QB) and Luke Edgecomb (Sr. WR) will. On defense, look for senior DL Michael-Anthony Okwura to lead the charge in the trenches.
No. 2--Episcopal Knights
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
The Knights fell into some bad luck a year ago, narrowly falling to rival Kinkaid (the eventual SPC-4A champs) in the 2022 postseason. But, don’t let that fool you – this team is raw.
The seniors make Episcopal one of the best private school programs in the Houston-area. Dual-threat QB Karson Gordon (UNLV-commit) returns to power the offense behind a premier O-Line that features the likes of Billy Wheless and Cullen Witt.
On defense, look for DB Breylan Thompson (Yale) to continue his ball-hawking prowess, while sophomore LB “Mad Dog” Madden Morgan seeks to build upon his electric freshman year performance.
Will this be the year Episcopal dethrones their rival?
No. 1--Cypress Christian Warriors
Lorin Cook (VYPE)
In recent years, Cypress Christian football has become a dynasty in TAPPS-III. Having been to the State Championship each of the last four years, and winning three of them (2020-22), it stands to reason that 2023 should be no different.
Coach Kris Hogan enters year No. 4 with the program, and while some weapons were lost to graduation, the Warriors will be as strong as ever in the trenches. Senior OL/DL Jacob Rauch should once again be a beast on both sides of the ball and will be joined by fellow senior Zeke Hogan on the O-Line.
Cy-Fair transfer John Kelly (Jr. RB) has numerous Power-5 offers and will be the catalyst to the Warriors’ offense. He could rush for over 2,000 yards this season. According to Hogan, the Warriors are going to emphasize a culture of “ownership” and “unity” this Fall.
Coach Beck Brydon shakes hands with SBS Director of Athletics Mike Walker
PIONEERING AGAIN: Brydon starts fresh at Second Baptist
So, what was it that made Brydon decide to move to SBS to continue his illustrious career?
“Several things influenced my decision to coach for Second Baptist School,” said Brydon. “Joining high capacity leaders like Mike Walker, Don Davis and Chris Hobbs is kind of obvious. It was difficult to leave Regents because that’s been my family’s home for about 25 years now."
"It would take a phenomenal opportunity for us to leave, and I feel like that’s what has happened here at SBS. It’s largely because of the movement of Christian education and what a growing Second Baptist can do with it on a global scale. Being a part of that and coaching football just happens to be the icing on the cake.”
As previously mentioned, Brydon was the Regents AD prior to his new position at SBS.
There were several opportunities that come with the job, but a part of him missed the comradery of the locker room.
“When you’re at a place for as long as I’ve been, sometimes it’s a little more difficult to change things since you’ve been doing them one way for so long,” Brydon said. “Sometimes a new opportunity allows you to restart. I’ve always been more of a ‘pioneer’ than a ‘farmer’ and being the Second Baptist School coach allows me to ‘pioneer’ again.”
Brydon will have plenty of talent to work with at the established TAPPS power that is Second Baptist School.
Some of the stars of Second Bapist School Football featured at the 2023 VYPE citywide Football shootMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
Given the success they’ve already compiled in recent years, he will complement the program nicely.
“I don’t need to change up the program too much to continue its success,” he said. “It’s not like I’m inheriting a ball club that won three games a year for the last decade. This is a good football program. I think what I bring to the table is the fact that I’m a ‘culture’ and ‘process’ guy."
"The coaches here are great, and I look forward to working alongside them. What I bring is perhaps a slightly different view on how the non-X's and O-things are done, which starts with further enhancing the relationships between all the players, to take the program to an even greater level.”
This will be an intriguing process to witness, come this Fall. Stay tuned to see how far Brydon will take the Eagles’ program.