6A Texas State Playoffs: The Woodlands Highlanders Look To Build Off A District Championship Season In The 2026 State Tournament

THE WOODLANDS – The 2026 season has been a special one for The Woodlands Highlanders. They finished with an excellent 9-1 overall record and went undefeated in district play for the 1st time since 2021. That undefeated record was enough to claim their 1st district title since 2021 and their 1st since the formation of District 13 as we know it today. They have been carving up teams all season, entering the playoffs ranked among the top 20 in Texas 6A and hot off a 9-game win streak. Today we’ll take a deep dive into this team to see what has made them so successful this season and what they could do in the state playoffs in 2026.

Unreal QB Play Headlines A White-Hot Offense

We’ve talked to no end about the Highlanders’ elite QB play, but it truly is special to watch, as this season wouldn’t be possible without it. Junior Kaden Copelin has lit the 6A world on fire in the 2026 season, coming in relatively unknown to most outside of The Woodlands, but now the young QB is making his mark. Copelin’s stats this season are otherworldly, as he has been efficient and taken care of the football throughout. Through 10 regular-season games, Copelin has thrown for an incredible 2628 yards, rushed for 281 yards, and combined for almost 3000 yards of total offense. He’s done all this on an excellent 74% completion rate and with just 1 interception on the year, leading to an unreal 156.3 QBR (for reference, a perfect QBR is 158.3).

Scoring is not a problem for Copelin, as those yards have led to a district-leading 43 TDs through the air and 3 TDs on the ground. Those 43 TDs are enough to put Copelin well within the top 3 in total passing TDs for the season, and he is by far the most efficient among them. Many teams love to throw the football, with some of these top guys throwing the ball 30-40 times a game, but Copelin gets his stats on far fewer attempts in a far more balanced offense, leading to his excellent efficiency and unreal QBR.

If we want to go a step further to put this season into perspective, let's compare Copelin to some of the best Highlander QBs. For many Highlander fans, 2016 was a magical year, with The Woodlands going undefeated on its way to a state championship appearance. QB Eric Schmid was elite all season, led the team on an unforgettable run, and is widely regarded as one of the best Highlander QBs. Another QB that comes to mind is Mabrey Mattauer, who, like Copelin, lit the world on fire when he first came onto the scene and had 3 seasons of fantastic play. Now, let's take a look below at all these QBs compared, as we looked at each QB's 10 regular-season stats and put them up against Copelin’s to see if anyone could beat him.

Highlander QB Regular Season Stats

2026 - Kaden Copelin -> 150 completions, 2628 yards, 43 TDs, 1 INT, 74.3 C%

2016 - Eric Schmid -> 131 completions, 2022 yards, 30 TDs, 1 INT, 72.4 C%

2021 - Mabrey Mattauer -> 143 completions, 2213 yards, 24 TDs, 4 INTS, 66.5 C%

2022 - Mabrey Mattauer -> 127 completions, 2198 yards, 25 TDs, 3 INTS, 66.1 C%

As you can see, when we compare some of the best Highlander QBs to ever play for this program, Copelin comes out on top in almost every passing statistic. Even if we include guys like Lance Miles from 2011 and Trent Eckel from 2009, neither could match Copelin’s stats in 14 and 12 games, respectively (Miles had a fantastic run, completing 180 passes for 2595 yards, 26 TDs, and 6 INTs in 14 games). This further proves that Copelin might be one of the best passers The Woodlands has ever had and explains why he has been so amazing to watch this season. No guy has ever done what he’s doing for the Highlanders, and it’s still only his junior season.

With all this in mind, we think Copelin is a top 5 QB in the state and should be getting serious looks from scouts and schools at the next level. His mechanics, footwork, timing, accuracy, and throwing power are all fantastic and help him succeed in this offense. The one thing we could knock him for is his lack of rushing, which many of the former QBs we discussed earlier had in their bag. Many of those QBs scored plenty of TDs on the ground, and guys like Jack Daulton found great success with his legs last season. Still, it's not like Copelin can’t move. His evasion behind the line is amazing, and he is willing to step up and throw instead of tucking and running, a notable trait many Highlander QBs struggled with throughout their careers. All of this to say, Copelin will be getting serious looks heading into the dance, and hopefully he can lead the Highlanders to a deep playoff run. We can’t wait to see what he’ll do.

Elite WRs and Tough RBs All Over The Field

Alright, we’ve talked a lot about the QB position, but where would they be on offense without elite weapons outside the QB? We’ll start with the WR room, which is chock-full of talent and has proven to be a top unit in the district. Headlining this unit is junior Carter Cass, who, alongside Copelin, has had a breakout year in 2026. Cass enters this postseason with 53 catches for 839 yards and 18 TDs, averaging 83.9 yards per game. He leads the Highlander offense in all 4 of those categories, and when you factor in his 186 kick/punt return yards and his 78 rushing yards, Cass is well above the golden 1k yardage number. He is a threat all over the field and is used in multiple ways on this Highlander offense, as a deep threat and behind the line of scrimmage for their specialty shovel pass plays. Like his QB, this is only Cass’s junior year, so he should continue to rise as his career progresses.

Bryson Bourn is the next player we have to talk about because he has been amazing every time he touches the football. While his counting stats might not be as high as Cass’s, Bourn has made himself known at multiple points throughout the season. His 34 catches for 619 yards and 10 TDs easily beat some other team’s WR1s. As a multi-sport athlete, it’s no surprise Bourn is very gifted athletically, as we’ve seen the senior tear it up on the baseball diamond last spring. He accepted an offer to play for the University of Oklahoma’s baseball team, and it will be exciting to see what he can do when spring rolls around. But sticking to football, Bourn is a scary threat for any defense to face, and alongside Cass, he makes for one of the speediest WR duos in the state.

Although Cass and Bourn top the charts in many of the counting stats, there are still plenty of other players who have had an impact in this offense. Among these other pass catchers, Kaiden Stewart certainly stands out, as the senior WR has recorded 19 catches for 429 yards and 5 TDs. Stewart, much like his peers, is a speedy outside threat who gets a chance at a big play almost every game. He’s been excellent in the latter half of the season and will be another threat opposing defenses will have to worry about.

TE Colton Weddel has also been a key piece of this offense, serving as both a key blocker and a pass catcher throughout the 2026 season. Weddel’s blocking skills open up some of the trickier plays the Highlanders like to run, and when he’s on the attack, the senior captain has put up a respectable 13 catches for 265 yards and 5 TDs. Weddel has been efficient when catching the ball, and his size alone is enough to make him stand out. Hopefully he continues to see work in the postseason, as he could be a dangerous player if the Highlanders really start to focus on him.

On the rushing side, the Highlanders aren’t the strongest in the district, but they can pack a punch when needed. Leading the rushing attack is senior RB Jason Haskins, who has been solid in the backfield. So far this season, Haskins has recorded 552 yards and 7 TDs, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and 61.3 yards per game. The yardage might seem low, but remember, this offense loves to throw. Haskins has been efficient when his number is called, bruising through opposing lines and breaking off plenty of big plays throughout 2026. Haskins was a bit banged up in the game against Oak Ridge, sitting out the contest to rest up before the playoffs. If he is good to go Friday, watch out for him to make a big play in round 1 of the playoffs.

Other Notable Offensive Players

Now let's go over some other players who have been making an impact this season and how they might come into play in round 1. As we said before, Haskins was absent in the Oak Ridge game, and in his stead, both Max Darce and Aldo Salinas came in as the 1A/1Bs of this offense. Darce and Salinas have both 200 yards on the season, with Darce scoring 4 TDs and Salinas 3 TDs. They have shown they are strong runners when called upon. If Haskins is unable to go, watch out for #49 and #83 to have an impact on the ground.

Some WRs who have also seen action include Harry Miller, JP Loranger, Bo Duke, and Beckett Barefoot, all of whom have caught multiple passes this season. Miller stands out, as the senior WR has recorded 211 yards and 3 TDs on 11 catches. He’s not always the most targeted, but Miller makes them count when they come his way and, like his peers, has broken off some big plays in 2026.

Lastly, the offensive line has been solid for the Highlanders this season, and they’ve been the key to some of the crazy plays this offense is able to pull off. They aren’t perfect and sometimes let guys slip through, but as a whole, they are well above average and should be a key part of this 1st-round game. Watch out for guys like Jacob Corley, Micah Matlock, and Brody Hulett to protect their QB and keep this offense rolling on schedule. This offense has been elite all season, and with the guys up front leading the charge, watch out for everyone to have a spectacular 1st-round in the state playoffs.

Defense Is The Key

Let's now switch gears for a second and give the guys on the other side of the ball their flowers. This defense entered the 2026 season with plenty of unknowns, having to replace almost the entire unit outside of a few key players. The unit started out slow, but once they got synchronized, they’ve been lights out ever since. As a whole, they’ve shut down every offense they’ve faced since Week 2, including stifling both Willis and College Park's high-powered attacks. They still have some things to work on, but overall, the defense complements the offense well and plays hard and fast week in and week out.

To start, the defensive line and outside LB units have been excellent in the 2026 season. The highlight is senior captain Magnus Herndon, who has continued his excellent DE play from last season. He was one of the few defensive starters to return this season, and his leadership has put this Highlander front on the map. His 7.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss are among the best in the district, combining speed and power to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. Joining Herndon on the outside are outside LBs Vinny Lewis and Max Mitchell, both key parts of this defense. Mitchell currently leads the team in total tackles and has a pick and a fumble recovery this season, while Lewis is right behind him in total tackles. Together, this duo is capable of anything asked of them, filling gaps and stopping the run effectively, while also threatening the QB in passing situations. Elsewhere along the line, players like Aiden Ventura, Cole Maxwell, and Jason Side-Anene anchor a defensive line that can wreak havoc on any opposing offensive line. In the middle of the field, the MLB rotation of Nate Beagle, Jacob Montgomery, Mattias Molito, and Cash Mock has been solid all season, keeping the middle of the field safe and attacking any offensive player that enters their territory.

On the back end of this defense, the defensive backs unit has benefited greatly from this strong front 7, but still has plenty of talent to go around. At corner, guys like Bryce Stott, Pilot Clary, and Matthew Johnson can cover well, but they can sometimes let guys slip through. Over the top, safeties Nico Chavez, Thomas Daigle, and Ashton Hunger hold the last line of defense for this unit and have been doing a good job throughout the season. This room can let up some big plays and has had some struggles against faster WRs, notably in the Grand Oaks game, but as a whole, has shown the capability to cover top offensive threats. This unit will need to be in top form for this run, as explosive plays need to be kept to a minimum against stronger playoff competition.

This defense has grown significantly over the season and has become quite the force. They have allowed the fewest points in the district, with 165, and since Week 2 have allowed only 97 points. The one game they struggled in was against Grand Oaks, as the Grizzlies hung 48 points on this defense, the most they’ve allowed all season. One of their biggest strengths is rushing the QB well, being well above the national average (28) with 54 total. Turnovers have happened for them, but not as many as you would think. Overall, that isn’t the biggest issue for this defense, as they are able to get off the field quickly to get their offense back out on the field. Overall, this is a very scary defense to go up against, and right now they are firing on all cylinders. They will be a huge factor in the postseason and will be the difference between the Highlanders sustaining a deep run or fizzling out early. If tackling is on point, watch out for this Highlander defense.

Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead

This has been a lengthy one, so thank you for sticking with us until the end as we now move on to the final point, which is discussing the Highlanders' next opponents and the outlook for the bracket ahead.

In the 1st round, the Highlanders will play at Woodforest Bank Stadium, hosting the District 14’s Nimitz Cougars. The Cougars finished the season with a 5-5 overall record, just squeaking into the playoffs at 4-3 in district play. They’ve been able to put up points on opponents, but have struggled against the district’s contenders. They were crushed in both their higher-ranking non-district matchups against Barbers Hill and Cy-Ranch, and were beaten by a Spring Lions team that almost cost them their spot in the dance. Admittedly, we don’t have many stats on this team (much like last year), which makes it hard to see what they are going to do. They usually like to run the ball, but with the way this Highlander defense has been playing, we don’t think that’s much of a threat. In all honesty, this shouldn’t even be a contest, as Nimitz is mostly just happy to be here, and District 14 has not been good, outside of Westfield. Still, sometimes we never know until they play the game, and it could be that the Cougars give the Highlanders a tough time Friday, but we don’t think that’s going to happen.

If The Woodlands can make it past Nimitz, they will face a gauntlet moving forward. The 2nd round could be either the Klein Bearkats or the Cy-Woods Wildcats, two teams who have been formidable this season, while later rounds could feature teams like Waxahachie and Sachse. District 11 has been the bane of the Highlanders' playoff runs in recent years, and although it isn’t Duncanville this time, Waxahachie is a very good team and is currently the favorite to win this side of the bracket. Still, they must make it past these other teams if they want to get a shot at District 11, and to do that, they need to start strong against Nimitz. Who knows what the state playoffs hold for our District 13 champions. Hopefully we can continue to watch this exciting team for a couple more weeks, as this season has been a treat to witness.