6A Texas State Playoffs: The Willis Wildkats Are Hoping To Prove Something With A Deep Postseason Run

WILLIS, TX – It’s been an eventful season for the Willis Wildkats in 2026. They finished the regular season with an 8-2 overall record and went 5-2 in district play. Most of the season has been a success for the Wildkats, but those 2 losses to College Park and The Woodlands sting and remind us this team isn’t as dominant in the district as it used to be. Still, Willis has shown us time and time again that they can be a threat in the state playoffs, and this year should be no different. They have talent all over the field and have changed their style of play as the season has gone on, becoming a team that can rely on more than just one guy to make big plays. Let’s dive into the Willis Wildkats and how they’ve looked this season, and what they could do in the playoffs.

Despite A Setback, Wildkat QB Play Continues To Roll

To begin the season, the Wildkats rolled into 2026 with solid expectations, returning sophomore QB Linc Frazier, who had put up impressive counting stats in 2025. In non-district play, Frazier played well, leading the team to a solid 3-0 record before district play began, including avenging last year's loss to Klein Collins and a brutal defensive battle with Westfield. When district play began, though, cracks started to show, as the Wildkat offense struggled against College Park and was then blown out by The Woodlands a couple of weeks later. In that game against the Highlanders, Frazier was unfortunately injured, leaving the Wildkats without their second-year starter. Frazier ended the season with 1418 yards, 11 TDs, and 5 INTs in 6 starts, a solid stat line for the sophomore QB who will hopefully return in 2027.

In Frazier’s place, backup Parker Stephenson has taken the helm and, so far, has played brilliantly down the stretch. Through 4 games as the starter, Stephenson has thrown for 1417 yards, 21 TDs, and just 1 INT, completing 72% of his passes. He has matched Frazier’s yardage in 2 fewer games and nearly doubled his TD total. Stephenson is also a major threat on the ground, rushing for 322 yards and 3 TDs and breaking off multiple big runs throughout his time as the starter. This was something Willis lacked at QB before, and it adds a whole new layer to an offense many didn’t expect.

Stephenson has been a spark for this offense and has helped them finish strong in their final few games, keeping this team on track for the postseason. Despite not starting the season as the starter, the senior QB looks like he has been with this offense for years, with poise and accuracy few 6A QBs have. He can push the ball downfield quickly and use his legs effectively to escape pressure. If Stephenson can maintain this level of play, Willis might be primed for another big playoff run.

Strong Offensive Weapons Create A More Balanced Team

Over the years, Willis has had top-level talent on offense. With DJ Lagway leading this team to glory a couple of years ago and Jermaine Bishop Jr. being one of the most dominant athletes we’ve ever seen at the high school level, Bishop was everything for this team last year. Losing him to the next level meant there would be major holes to fill on this offense. Luckily, the Wildkats haven't missed a beat in the WR room, finishing the season with one of the best WR duos in all of District 13. Preston Stephenson and Trey Finney have been electric all year, keeping this highly decorated passing offense alive and well. Together, the duo has accounted for over 1800 receiving yards and 22 TDs, with their combined all-purpose yards well over 2k.

We’ll start with Stephenson, who, much like his brother Parker, has been a huge boost to this offense (we’ll refer to them by first name to avoid confusion). Unlike his brother, Preston has been a key starter all season, serving as a deep threat for both Frazier and his brother. He’s logged exactly 1000 yards on 63 catches this season, scoring 11 TDs and averaging 15.9 yards per catch. Preston’s a premier deep threat in this offense, and his size allows him to get physical downfield when trying to make plays. The connection between the Stephenson brothers has been fun to watch, and it will continue into the postseason.

The other big WR weapon for the Wildkats is Trey Finney, who joined the Wildkats in 2026 for his junior season. Finney, a 3-star multi-sport athlete, has been another fantastic part of this Willis offense, a key threat over the middle and in the flats. In the regular season, Finney has caught 64 passes for 851 yards and 11 TDs, while also logging 1,159 all-purpose yards, including kickoff and punt returns. He also has a short TD pass on the season that came from a trick play vital in their game against Westfield. Finney, much like many Willis WRs, is electric to watch, combining breakneck speed with elite agility and elusiveness that lead to amazing plays after the catch. He’s a fluid runner who refuses to go down easily and is always a threat for a big play whenever he gets the ball. If Finney is in his bag, opposing defenses need to be on the lookout.

One of the biggest revelations for the Wildkats this season is the emergence of RB Jamarcus Williams, who has been tearing it up in 2026. Through the regular season, the junior RB has recorded 91 carries for 1063 yards and 12 TDs, averaging an incredible 11.7 yards per carry. Williams can also make teams pay through the air, logging 21 catches for 315 yards and 2 TDs. This has put Williams far ahead as the team's all-purpose yardage leader, with the RB combining for 1490 yards of total offense across rushing, receiving, and kickoff returns. This is a huge deal for the Wildkats, as the rushing attack has been a major weak point for Willis over the years, and we haven't seen an RB do well in this offense in a while. Williams has been the key to much of the offense's success and adds depth to an offense that usually lives and dies by the pass. If Williams can keep running the ball well, it could be the key to another playoff run and help take some pressure off the WRs.

While Willis has some really high highs, there is still depth on this team, as other players have seen some action. Notably, WR Deshaun “Tutu” Williams has been awesome with Parker under center, catching 22 passes for 393 yards and 4 TDs. Just last week against Conroe, Williams put up 117 yards on 4 catches for 2 TDs, his best game of the season. His role seems to keep expanding every week, and he could be a valuable 3rd option during the playoffs. Other guys like Antrell Warren, Daylen Wilkerson, and Elijah Scruggs have also been making plays in 2026, liable to make a splash play every once in a while. Overall, this offense isn’t extremely deep, but they still have other guys who can make plays, and against the best teams in the playoffs, they will need all the help they can get.

Defensive Improvements

Throughout the season, the Wildkat defense has had some great moments but has struggled against some of the top teams. They held strong against Westfield and Klein Collins but were burned multiple times by College Park and The Woodlands. They also gave up many big plays to Conroe last week, which doesn't instill much confidence heading into the playoffs. However, as a unit, this defense is still very capable and has the talent to shut down teams if they are all on the same page. They are fast and aggressive, which can come back to bite them, but it is what they need to get their offense on the field as much as possible.

Up front is where much of the Wildkats' defensive talent lies, as they have several game wreckers across the field. Along the defensive line, players like Waylan Nolen and AJ Edwards have been anchors, applying consistent pressure on opposing QBs and effectively stopping opposing rushing attacks. In the 7 recorded games, both Nolen and Edwards have 6 sacks each, with Nolen posting 9 TFLs and Edwards right behind at 8. Right up there with them is DE Joseph Read, who leads the team with 7.5 sacks and completes this strong unit. In the LB core, players like Aiden Smith and Nazeree Guy cover the middle of the field well, preventing many plays from reaching the secondary.

Speaking of that secondary, this is where things get interesting, as many of these players are top tacklers but struggle to contain opposing WRs. A’Maiji Friend notably leads this unit in tackles, an ever-present force over the top of this defense and seemingly involved on every defensive play. Next to him, Longani Friberg is up there in tackles too, getting involved on several plays and serving as a speedy safety who can get downhill fast. The cornerback room can be somewhat unreliable, though, as they have let multiple big plays through and have often been burned on routes that lead to scores. They just don’t have the speed to keep up with some of the top WRs in the district, and while the safeties can help, they won't be there every play. These playoffs will be a test for this unit, and hopefully they can keep things under control this week.

Round 1 Opponent And Final Outlook

This season has been an overall success for the Wildkats, despite not winning a district title. They remain a top offensive unit in the district and have become more balanced, rather than focused on 1 top guy. In the 1st round, they face a familiar foe, the Westfield Mustangs, who are eager for revenge on the Wildkats. Willis played Westfield in Week 3 of the season, barely squeaking out a 12-7 win after stopping the Mustangs twice on the 1-yard line for what could've been the game-winning TD. We were actually at this game, and while it was sloppy, it might’ve been one of the best endings to any game we’ve been to all season. Seeing these 2 face off again might be interesting. Since then, the Mustangs went on to dominate their district, finishing with a perfect 7-0 record and capturing their 6th straight district title. They are hungry for a playoff win, and Willis will have to be careful against this hot Mustang team.

The 1st matchup between these two is pretty much how Westfield likes to play, using suffocating defense to keep scoring low and put teams away later. This strategy has worked well all season, as the Mustangs have allowed only 54 points to opposing teams, while giving up a staggering 29 points to district opponents. This easily marks them as one of the toughest defenses in 6A (which is funny because they are technically a 5A school) and will be their calling card in the playoffs.

On defense, look out for #1 Davon Smith, as the OLB has 93 total tackles this year, with 26 of those being tackles for loss and 6 of those TFLs being sacks. #0 DE Jordin Jones is also a big threat, recording 74 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, and 9 sacks in the 2026 season. Players like #7 Jaylin Jones, #41 Talib Foster, and #16 Logan Draper also have over 10 TFLs this season, topping the charts in total tackles alongside Smith and Jones. Looking at team stats, they have recorded 40.5 total sacks this season, with 129 TFLs, which is mind-blowing. They’ve picked the ball off 10 times and recovered 8 fumbles, returning 3 of those INTs for TDs, showing they can cover downfield and make plays when the front 7 get the QB under distress. In their 1st matchup, Willis couldn't move the ball like they wanted to thanks to this defense, and Westfield kept them to the lowest final score of the season. Look for the Mustangs to approach this rematch in much the same way, as they might be one of the only teams that can handle this Willis offense effectively.

A good defense doesn’t equal a great offense, however, and Westfield certainly doesn’t stand out in that department. They have 2 RBs with over 400 yards, with Demonte Ford and Challis Simms both key rushers for a team that keeps it on the ground to chew clock. 2 QBs have also seen playing time, with Zekedrick Love and Kevin Carmouche both throwing passes this season. Love has the most yards, throwing 108 passes for 761 yards and 7 TDs, but also has 7 INTs. Carmouche has only 31 passes for 302 yards and 6 TDs, but hasn’t thrown a pick. It’s anyone's guess who gets the start here, but Carmouche seems like the scarier option if they go with him. Catching the ball is mostly handled by senior Damaris Richardson, who has accounted for 385 yards and 4 TDs on 26 catches. This offense isn’t very special, but they run slow, and the Wildkats could get them into a trap if they don't handle it properly.

If Willis gets through Westfield, they will face the winner of the Cy-Falls and Magnolia matchup. The Wildkats thoroughly handled the Bulldogs earlier in the season but haven’t played Cy-Falls, who are favored as the District 16 champs. If they get through the 2nd round, there's a clear path to the 3rd round, as Longview is the only other powerhouse on this side of the district. If they go far, the buzzsaw of the top-ranked North Crowley would be the only obstacle to escaping the Region II bracket, and that would be incredibly tough. Still, the Wildkats have to get through the 1st round, and of all the District 14 opponents District 13 will face, Westfield might be the best. We expect Willis to have to grind one out to get a win, but they’ve done it before and we believe they can do it again.