GAMES
RANKINGS
Some of the stars of 2023-24 Lake Creek Football
THE NEW AGE: Kennedy has turned Lake Creek into a Class 5A powerhouse
For now.
The Lion football team would have something to say about that. Lake Creek is off to a banner year (sixth year playing varsity), going 6-0 under the direction of coach Pat Kennedy, who has built the den into a Class 5A power.
Kennedy was the defensive coordinator for The Woodlands for years before taking over Montgomery ISD’s newest school.
“Coming from a big 6A, it was eye-opening when I first got here,” Kennedy said. “Coming from a place where the expectations were challenging for State, to a new school that was just starting with a handful of kids was an adjustment. The expectations were on both sides of the spectrum. It changes the way you practice, the way your coach, the way you manage expectations… every day was a new experience. Now, the expectations are back to being aligned.”
The Lions sit atop the VYPE Class 5A rankings with four remaining games where they will be favored to win and complete a perfect regular season. Their success hasn’t been without its challenges, however.
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
“We are learning to be more resilient as a program,” he said. “We have been bitten by the injury bug more this season, so we have more of a next-man-up mentality this year.
“In the last couple of years, we have become more of the hunted than the hunters. We were climbing the mountain as we built this program. We still are, but we aren’t sneaking up on anyone now. Everyone is trying to prove a point to us, and we get everyone’s best game. That’s where we want to be of course, but that is something our kids have to be prepared for.”
Case in point. The Lions were taken to the wire against Montgomery in the “Mo-County Showdown” as the 0-6 Bears were a last-second field goal away from upsetting the mighty Lake Creek, 35-34. Of note, leading RB Tyvonn Byars sat out the game due to injury.
Lake Creek's Tyvonn ByarsJamey Wright (VYPE)
“It was a packed house and a great atmosphere if you were a fan,” he said. “Not if you were the head coach of Lake Creek. What is setting us a part is that the kids kept making plays and we made one more play than they did. Even though we won, there were lots of lessons for us to learn from. So many teaching opportunities to make us better.”
Byars will return as the motor of the offense. The junior has rushed for over 700 yards and 17 scores, giving the Lions that go-to back that moves the chains.
Junior QB Eli Morcos has made huge strides in his first year as a starter with 1,400 yards combined and 18 TDs. His top target is Sam Lee (1,000 all-purpose yards) is a dude on the outside and returning kicks. He is complemented by Kade Yeary. The offensive is “piece-mealed” with a senior Jaxon Sayers and sophomore Hunter McKinney leading the way.
Lake Creek's Eli MorcosJamey Wright (VYPE)
“The defense has been really steady with some solid secondary play led by Leighton Scott and Wyatt Davis,” he said. “The whole unit has been a pleasant surprise.”
The Lions are still licking their wounds from last year’s third-round playoff loss to FB Marshall, 55-18. It was a learning process.
“It was our first time that deep in the playoffs and we just got off-schedule,” he said. “They were fast, and we couldn’t emulate that in practice. We just got off our process and tried to make the ‘big play’ instead of just grinding it out four yards at a time. We learned a lot.”
As the learning process continues at Lake Creek, the Lions steadily climb the state rankings as they build their brand.
Could this year that Lake Creek steps into the limelight and out of the shadows of softball? Stay tuned.
VYPE Public School Football Team, Players of the Year & All-VYPE Teams by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
ALL-VYPE PUBLIC SCHOOL
Offensive MVP – David Amador, North Shore
Defensive MVP – Jadon Ducos, Atascocita
…
OFFENSE
Quarterback
First-Team
Preston Hatter, Westfield
Gavin Rutherford, Cinco Ranch
…
Second-Team
Mabrey Mettauer, The Woodlands
Trey Owens, Cy-Fair
…
Honorable-Mention
Zion Brown, Atascocita
Jordon Davis, FB Marshall
Denim Johnson, CE King
Caleb Koger, Katy
DJ Lagway, Willis
Cade Tessier, Lake Creek
…
Running Backs
First-Team
Seth Davis, Katy
Rueben Owens, El Campo
…
Second-Team
Rashaad Johnson, North Shore
Kedrick Reescano, New Caney
…
Honorable-Mention
Taji Atkins, Westfield
Tyvonn Byars, Lake Creek
Xai’Shaun Edwards, Clear Springs
Trey Morris, Cy Falls
Ashton Ojiaku, Foster
Santana Scott, Morton Ranch
Christian Womack, Tomball
…
Wide Receivers
First-Team
Ja’Koby Banks, FB Marshall
Jaelen Smith, Klein Cain
Jonah Wilson, Dekaney
...
Second-Team
Noah Abboud, Cinco Ranch
Ryan Niblett, Eisenhower
Jaquaize Pettaway, Langham Creek
...
Honorable-Mention
Marquis Johnson, Dickinson
Zion Kearney, Hightower
Seth Salverino, Cinco Ranch
Ashton Schumann, Clear Springs
Ethan Wyatt, Klein Collins
…
Tight Ends
First-Team
Hawkins Polley, Stratford
Cooper Stevens, Cy-Fair
…
Second-Team
Hayden Davis, Clear Springs
Clayton McBride, Deer Park
…
Honorable-Mention
Luke Carter, Katy
Chico Holt, Strake Jesuit
Reid Mikeska, Bridgeland
Gary Rebodello, MacArthur
Jordan Washington, Langham Creek
…
Offensive Line
First-Team
Omarion Dudley, North Shore
Nick Fattig, Clear Springs
Ashton Funk, Tompkins
Nate Kibble, Atascocita
Gibson Pyle, Klein Cain
…
Second-Team
Ray’Quan Bell, Westfield
Peyton Farmer, Ridge Point
Reagan Gill, Jersey Village
Hudson Perroni, Stratford
Cross Tucker, The Woodlands
…
Honorable-Mention
Layton Mann, Lake Creek
Frank Moss, Heights
Jonte Newman, Bridgeland
Zach Session, Morton Ranch
Koltin Sieracki, The Woodlands
Marquis Yancy, Shadow Creek
Erick Zapata, Kingwood Park
…
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
First Team
Zach Chapman, FB Marshall
Elijah Fields, North Shore
David Hicks Jr., Paetow
Samu Taumanupepe, Atascocita
…
Second-Team
Bryson Balka, Westfield
Theorin Randle, Shadow Creek
Ashton Porter, Cy Ranch
Serigne Tounkara, Clear Springs
…
Honorable-Mention
Mason Fleming, Manvel
Terrance Green, Cy Woods
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Oak Ridge
Jaylon Joseph, North Shore
Landon Rink, Cy-Fair
Emaon Small, Fulshear
Trent Spence, Klein Forest
Zion Taylor, Shadow Creek
…
Linebackers
First-Team
Dillon Dixon, North Shore
Daymion Sanford, Paetow
Braylan Shelby, Friendswood
Brad Spence, Klein Forest
…
Second-Team
Christian Brathwaite, Cy Ranch
Alex Kilgore, Paetow
Jordan Sample, Marshall
Justin Williams, Oak Ridge
…
Honorable-Mention
Jarvon Coles, North Shore
Cooper King, Stratford
Grayson Lincecum, Memorial
Dylan Rogers, Cy Woods
James Walley, Ridge Point
Breylon Wyatt, Westfield
…
Defensive Backs
First-Team
Jayven Anderson, North Shore
Johnathan Hall, Katy
Devin Sanchez, North Shore
Maurice Williams III, Shadow Creek
…
Second-Team
Jacoby Davis, North Shore
Taylor Davis, Ridge Point
Vernon Glover Jr, Dickinson
Braylon Conley, Atascocita
…
Honorable-Mention
Patrick Batiste, Klein Cain
Rodney Bimage, Dickinson
Evan Jackson, North Shore
Cory Huff, Nimitz
Tyler Hutcherson, Eisenhower
Darius Johnson, Jersey Village
Caleb Komolafe, Tompkins
Marques Neal Jr, Channelview
Paul Omodia, Bush
Lazarus Ranch, Pearland
…
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickers
Aidan Bui, Shadow Creek
Carlos Alvarado, Tomball
Garrett Carleton, Clear Creek
Adam Carter, Katy
Christian Castaneda, Langham Creek
Giancarlo, Chelala, Stratford
Wyatt May, Kingwood Park
David Michel, George Ranch
Jose Morales, Channelview
Erik Peters, Lamar
Ray Razo, Alvin
Scott Starzyk, The Woodlands
Dillion Trimble, FB Austin
…
Punters
Zidane Allan, Memorial
Caylon Dygert, Magnolia West
Kade Eudy, Crosby
Francisco Sanchez, Deer Park
Max Williams, Clear Falls
...
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
...
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
...
Watch the video below to find out who won the Public School Offensive & Defensive VYPE Awards presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is Houston's leading provider of orthopedic services, from sports medicine to joint replacement. Houston Methodist offers comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative services with a high standard of excellence for elite athletes, active adults and student athletes. Houston Methodist serves as the official health care provider for the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Rice Athletics, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera.