District 13 HS Football Preview: The Woodlands, College Park, Willis, And More!

HS FOOTBALL – Despite what it might feel like outside, fall is just around the corner, and football season is back. Soon, stadiums will be packed on Thursday and Friday nights, with eager fans waiting to see what their teams can do this season. There’s nothing quite like Texas high school football, and our favorite District 13 teams look at this season as a blank slate on which to build their story. Some teams return multiple star players from last season, while others look completely different, hoping to build on the foundations laid by those who came before. Wherever a team might be headed into this season, all are excited to get to game day. So strap in and grab a snack as we check in on these teams before the season starts and see who might fare better than others.

College Park Cavaliers: A New Powerhouse Emerging?

Last season, the College Park Cavaliers were spectacular, capturing their 1st-ever undefeated district title and reaching the regional final round of the playoffs in 2025. The Cavaliers now step into a new era under head coach Michael Buro, who inherits a strong group of returning starters for the 2026 season. Chief among them is QB Camden Hughes, an established starter who is dynamic in the air and on the ground. Hughes amassed 2,648 passing yards last season, throwing an impressive 36 TDs to only 4 interceptions. Catching those passes this season is Julian Cromartie, a returning starter who had a massive impact on the Cavalier offense last season and committed to Clemson University. Joining Cromartie is fellow returning WR Brian Snodgrass, who looks to add even more to this already senior-heavy roster. In the backfield, Duke Stephens and Antonio Booker also return from last season, looking to cement themselves as the district's scariest RB duo. Stephens and Booker were also threats in the passing game, giving this offense options when WRs were shut down. On defense, the DL is full of returning starters, including RJ Wyms and Jordyn Grant, with Brandon Claybaugh, Lucas Richard, and James Cabarrus holding it down in the open field. The Cavaliers are set up for success this season, and with all the returning talent, it's hard to pick against them. With out-of-district games against Cy-Fair and CE King, this group will be tested early, but those tests could build them into a championship contender come October.

The Woodlands Highlanders: Brand New Faces Look To Make Their Mark

Entering this season, The Woodlands Highlanders face a massive roster turnover, with new faces all over both sides of the ball. But don’t let that fool you. Talent is never something the Highlanders are short on, and this year is no different. With QB Jack Daulton graduating and heading to the next level at TCU, junior Kaden Kopelin now takes the reins under center. Kopelin played in a limited role last season, throwing for 210 yards and 2 TDs, but he now steps into a role that will ask a lot more of him. He won’t be alone, though, as senior TE and offensive captain Colton Weddel will be a big target for Kopelin throughout the season. Weddel was limited last season but showed sparks in the opportunities he got and looks to be a big contributor this season. Other wideouts like Carter Cass and Bryson Bourne will also look to make an impact and step into larger roles within this offensive engine. In the rushing game, Jordan Haskins returns as well, poised to build on a solid 2025 season, with Solomon Woods right behind him in the RB room. Haskins has shown to be a threat in both the ground and passing games, so look to him for some big plays this season. On defense, captain Magnus Herndon leads a fresh batch of talented players in a defense that lost some key pieces from last season. Herndon looks to build on a fantastic 2025 season, where he recorded a team- and district-high 14.5 sacks. Other seniors such as Max Mitchell, Vinny Lewis, Nate Beagle, and Aiden Ventura also look to fill the roles left by their former upperclassmen and are expected to be leaders on a promising defense. The Woodlands will be tested early against teams such as Bridgeland and Klein Oak, and proving themselves will be vital to how this season goes and whether they can get their revenge on College Park when district play begins. They will be an interesting group to watch and are expected to keep the Highlander tradition alive and well.

Willis Wildkats: The Start Of A New Era

The Willis Wildkats were electric in 2025, finishing 11-3 and reaching the state quarterfinals, the furthest any District 13 team advanced in the playoffs. But a new era is set to begin in Willis, as stars like Jermaine Bishop Jr. and Javion Martin have moved on to the college level, leaving holes that will be hard to fill. Despite the losses, the Wildkats remain strong, with returning QB Linc Frazier ready to play his sophomore season. Frazier exceeded expectations, throwing for a staggering 4,232 yds and 43 TDs in only his freshman year. Frazier did lose some top targets in the offseason, but he will still have returning production, including Jayden Lane and Daylen Wilkerson, along with new faces in Trey Finney and Preston Stephenson. Finney is an exciting new face, as the explosive WR has already been recruited by several Division I schools and looks to be a standout this season. In the backfield, Jamarcus Williams returns to his role as the lead back for his junior season and will attempt to give this Willis run game some juice it sometimes lacked in 2025. Defensively, the Wildkats return several key starters. DEs Waylan Nolen and AJ Edwards will continue to be forces on the line, while LBs Cayden Williams and Trenton Frankum look to hold up the middle of the field. In coverage, Jamal Lagway and J’Lynnd Kellow will look to lock down opposing WRs, rounding out a stout defensive unit. Willis will face some tough opponents to start the season, including a rematch against Klien Collins in week 2 and a pivotal game against College Park in week 4. Willis will once again be an electric team this season and a prime threat in the district title race.

Grand Oaks Grizzlies: Looking To Build On A Historic Finish

In 2025, the Grand Oaks Grizzlies etched their name in the record books, making the playoffs for the first time in program history and winning their first-ever playoff game. This kind of success is rare for such a young program, and the Grizzlies are looking to build on it. At QB, the Grizzlies have options, with senior Pierceson Lackey looking to make his mark and junior Harley Adams right behind him. On the passing attack, University of Utah commit Darnell Jackson Jr. looks to make an impact right away, elevating the Grand Oaks passing attack and complementing an already strong run game. Jackson’s 6 TDs led the passing attack last season, and hopefully we get to see more of him this season. The rushing attack will be led by returning senior Bryan Victorian Jr., who looks to continue the powerful rushing attack established last season. On defense, the Grizzlies lost some production, but with players like Bruce Warren III, Jaylen Ashley, Zion Rollins, and Trey Lott across the defense, this unit should remain solid. Grand Oaks opens the season against a solid Klein Oak squad, followed by a test against Montgomery in week 2. They don’t play some of the heavy hitters like The Woodlands or College Park until later in the season, so hopefully they can build some chemistry and maybe have a shot to place even better than last year’s historic season.

Conroe Tigers: Eying A Return

The Conroe Tigers just missed the playoffs last season, finishing with a 4-4 district record. They weren’t a bad team at all; they simply fell short of expectations and struggled against the top teams in the district throughout the season. Coming into this season, the Tigers are looking to get back to the playoffs and reclaim a spot at the top of the district. The offense will be led by returning QB Cameron Nunley, who threw for 1,548 yards and 7 TDs last season. On the receiving end of those passes, Jackson Taylor will look to take on a larger role in the passing attack and help improve the offense through the air in 2026. The rushing game is a question, as replacing the high production from last season by Angel Sparagna and Kwame Medina will be a challenge, and both are looking to prove themselves valuable assets to this offense. Defensively, returners Denzel Haynes, Alexander Coey, and Jacob Baker all look to make an impact on a defense that has been the cornerstone of their success. Conroe starts the season with a tough game against state runner-up CE King in week 1, before taking on a solid Waller team in week 3. They will get to prove themselves early in district play against Grand Oaks, but dates with the big 3 teams will come later in the season. If they want to recapture a playoff spot, the Tigers will have to prove they can move the ball on offense and keep scores low on defense.

Oak Ridge War Eagles: Trying To Improve On An Up-And-Down Season

In the 2025 season, the Oak Ridge War Eagles appeared to be a strong team at times but often struggled when they needed to perform their best. Finishing with a 4-6 record was below their potential, as the talent on the team exceeded what their record shows. They had notable wins early, such as defeating a playoff-bound Stratford team and competing with a Grand Oaks team that dominated the lower district. However, their offense has been inconsistent, and with several seniors graduating, there's concern over who will step into key roles. The quarterback position is uncertain since Drayton Urbay has left, and the only underclassman QB, Nicholas Chavez, transferred to The Woodlands High School. We'll have to see who ultimately starts and how effective they are, especially since last year's backup situation was challenging. The offense is being largely rebuilt with new players, raising questions about their performance this season. On defense, some experience remains, notably DE Finn Walker returning to lead and hopefully strengthen the unit. Oak Ridge faces an intriguing opening schedule, with a tough game against Klein Cain in week 2 and a notable matchup with Montgomery in week 3. We hope for clarity as the season progresses, but in such a competitive district, they will need to surprise to make a playoff run.

Caney Creek Panthers: Just Trying To Do Their Best

Since joining District 13, the Caney Creek Panthers haven’t had it easy. Wins are hard to come by for this program, but new head coach Taylor Cobb is looking to change that. Fortunately, there are some returning starters from last season, and QB Kaleb Marshall is expected to lead this offense. Behind him is RB Aaron Williams, who had some solid performances last season. The defense will need to be backfilled by new faces, as many starters graduated in the offseason. This defense will need to prove itself early if they want any type of success. The Panthers don’t have the worst out-of-district schedule, playing two 5A schools, Splendora and Porter, in weeks 1 and 2, neither of which are historically powerhouses. Aldine is another beatable opponent, meaning the Panthers could head into district play undefeated if all goes right. Caney Creek might not make the playoffs this season, but they will do their best, and that is sometimes all you can ask for.

Cleveland Indians: Can They Finally End The Drought?

Lastly, it comes down to the Cleveland Indians, who have been woeful since joining District 13. It’s been a rough couple of seasons for Cleveland, who have not won a game since September 23rd of 2022, and yes, you read that right. Head coach Ajani Sanders enters his 2nd season with the team, and maybe they can finally get over the hump and get at least 1 win this season (something we are hopefully in attendance for). They have a couple of returning players on both sides of the ball, with QBs Jacob Estrada and Zachariah Nickson filling out the QB room, while Antonio Gordon and Cesar Castillo slot into the running and passing attacks. Defensively, they really need to step up, as they were basically a revolving door last season. With a couple of returning starters, a level up is surely possible. If Cleveland can even get one win on the board this season, that is an improvement, and we are hoping they can finally do it. Even if they don’t, at least the band will still be the best part of any Cleveland football game.

Final Thoughts:

The 2026 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with so many unknowns heading into the season. We have some incredible players throughout the district, and title contenders are all over the place. College Park is looking like a clear favorite, but don’t count out The Woodlands or Willis, both eager to avenge last year’s losses. Make sure to stay tuned throughout the season for previews, recaps, and more here on Woodlands Online, as we’ll be covering everything you need to know throughout the 2026 high school football season.