HS Football: College Park Cavaliers preview

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The 2020 season will be Lonnie Madison’s fourth year as head coach for the College Park Cavaliers. The past two seasons, CP has been much more competitive, winning six games in 2018 and five in 2019. However, the Cavaliers are still searching for their first playoff appearance since 2015.

College Park came close in the last two seasons in a very competitive nine-team district. Now, district 13-6A is only six teams and includes two teams making the move up to 6A. It will still be a competitive district, but the door for a CP playoff push seems to have opened a bit wider.

2019 Recap

Record: 5-5 (3-5 in district)

Wins: Aldine Davis, Aldine MacArthur, Klein Forest, Oak Ridge, Klein Cain
Losses: Conroe, The Woodlands, Klein Collins, Klein Oak, Klein

Playoffs: DNQ

2020 Outlook

The Cavaliers bring back five starters on each side of the ball, including defensive stand-outs LB Dylan Hazen and DB Curt Evangelister. Hazen, a Wake Forest commit, has been a first-team all-district player two years in a row and should continue to be a problem for offenses in 2020 after recording 101 tackles last season. Evangelister will lead the secondary as he looks to force even more turnovers than his previous season’s interception total of four.

College Park’s defense will be considered the strength of the team, but all eyes should be on the offense as this unit prepares to take the next step in 2020. The O will likely be led by junior QB Ty Buckmon in his first season as a full-time starter after taking over the job a few games into the season. Buckmon is an athletic QB and his poise under pressure allows him to be a very creative playmaker. He threw eight TDs in 2019, expect that number to go up this season as he will be a more experienced player. One of Buckmon’s main targets should be TE Cody Mladenka. Mladenka is on the rise heading into his junior season. The 6’4” target with reliable hands while still being an effective blocker will be a key component in the Cavaliers offense.

Season predictions will be coming soon, but College Park should be making their return to the playoffs in 2020.