Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

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Houston Christian head coach Jason Bachtel put his offensive coordinator hat back on after a disappointing 2-10 record last season because of an offense that only scored 16.83 points per game in 2025. The passing offense was the main culprit, as the Huskies managed just 153.33 passing yards per game and only seven passing touchdowns for the season.  

His points of emphasis were to get more physical in the trenches, improve the vertical passing attack, and use tempo to create mismatches and advantages for the offense. And to find a signal caller he can count on.  

“The No. 1 thing is to find a consistent quarterback who is going to give us a consistent chance to be successful on the field,” said Bachtel, who is also in charge of the quarterback room. “We’re not looking for a quarterback that necessarily has to go win games. We just want them to manage the offense and control what they can control and play within the system. I just never thought that we were consistent last year.” 

The quarterback competition is a three-way contest between Maddox Kopp, Cutter Stewart, and Reily Garcia. Kopp, who started the final few games in 2025, had offseason shoulder surgery and was out of the mix in the spring as he recovered. Garcia is a former Washington State transfer who arrived on campus last summer. Stewart might be the smart bet to win the job. He started six times at HCU in 2024 before transferring and spending last season at Cisco College.  

The good news for the quarterback room is that Bachtel believes this is the best group of receivers at HCU in his tenure as an assistant or head coach. That starts with the tandem of Ja’Ryan Wallace and Keith Wheeler, who combined for 60 catches, 792 yards, and four touchdowns. The coaching staff focused on adding speed through the portal.  

Expect the Huskies to use a committee approach to replace the departing production of All-Southland running back Xai’Shaun Edwards, who topped the 1,000-yard mark last year and transferred to Missouri in the offseason. Champ Dozier, who was one of 10 Huskies lost to season-ending injuries in 2025, returns, as do local products Elijah Harris and Trey Morris. Transfers Corey Landers and Jaylen Middleton will have big roles in the running game.  

Scotty Parker anchors the offensive line after starting all 12 games for the Huskies last year at center. Will Cook is a sophomore who started seven games last year and should solidify the left tackle position. That leaves three spots up for grabs with transfers such as Marcus Smith and Briley Brown impressing in the spring.  

Trent Zappe, who was HCU’s second leading tackler last season with 81 stops, returns to lead a linebacker room that figures to be the strength of the Huskies defense. Zappe is the brother of HCU legend, Bailey Zappe, who is now an NFL QB. He’ll be flanked by fellow linebacker Jadon Ducos, who was lost to injury in the preseason last year but is expected to be 100% healthy for the opener. HCU also moved former safety Jayven Anderson to outside linebacker and Bachtel believes he has NFL potential at that position.  

The Huskies will build the defensive line around DT Marcus Moore and rush end Mike Slyvalie, while also returning DE Ejike Brown from injury. Creating more pressure on opposing quarterbacks was an emphasis in the offseason after the Huskies registered just eight sacks as a team in 2025. More pressure from the front seven will also aid a secondary that lost CB Tyran Chappell to Michigan State and a pair of veteran safeties.  

“The defensive line has a chance to be really, really special,” Bachtel said. “We think our linebackers have a chance to be really, really special. We’re going to need some guys in the back end to step up and replace the production that we lost from the 2025 season.”  

DCTF Take 

The high-water mark for wins by the Houston Christian football program in 13 years of existence was five, reached most recently in 2023 and 2024. Head coach Jason Bachtel holds high hopes that his 2026 squad is talented enough to flirt with six victories if the Huskies can find a consistent quarterback and get more explosive on offense after averaging only 16.83 points and 153.33 passing yards per game in a disappointing 2025 campaign.  

A talented and fast group of receivers and an experienced front seven on defense make the Huskies a tougher test in the Southland Conference than they were a year ago, especially if they cut down on turnovers and penalties. HCU emphasized the fundamentals and playing smart, clean football in the offseason and plan to “protect our logo.”