Five Pressing Questions for Week 1

What does Brenham look like without Jakoby Dixon?

Brenham is the Class 5A DII preseason No.3-ranked team in Dave Campbell’s TexasFootball magazine, and editor-in-chief Greg Tepper predicted the Cubs would win their first championship in school history. But that was before KWHI Sports reported in mid August that Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Jakoby Dixon, who rushed for 2,248 yards and 32 touchdowns as a sophomore, was no longer with the program.

The timing of Dixon’s departure means the Cubs will be working out more kinks than normal in the season opener. Brenham should not be viewed as a finished product, and they’ll have a long runway to become one before the first district game on October 10. But the matchup against Huntsville (Preseason No. 8) will be a barometer for how far they have to go.

But Brehham won’t have to remake their entire identity. Coach Danny Youngs plans to deploy a two-headed monster in the backfield with junior Ledrick Walker Jr. and sophomore CJ Glover, who each have 4.6 40-yard dash speed. Both played primarily in the defensive secondary last season but grew up as running backs. Hudson Hartstack, a junior, will take over as the new quarterback. He has a wide receiver in Chris Guidry (41 receptions, 848 yards, 11 touchdowns) who can make a catch in Los Angeles rush hour traffic.

Who takes over for Austin Carlisle at Fort Bend Ridge Point?

Fort Bend Ridge Point has one of the most loaded rosters in the state of Texas, with 12 Division I prospects. The Panthers return three All-District selections on the offensive line (Texas A&M commit Avery Morcho, TCU commit Jordan Burnett, Arkansas commit Hugh Smith), two First Team All-District defensive ends in Romaire and Robaire Smith Jr., and First Team linebacker Dyllon Bennett. Ridge Point really has one question: who replaces Austin Carlisle, last year’s Unanimous District MVP, at quarterback?

Coach Rick LaFavers had three options that the program felt great about battling in the spring. Senior Romin Seymour (6’6, 198) was a First Team All-District selection at Fort Bend Elkins last year and holds double-digit offers. Junior Brody Bartee and sophomore Travis Fielder showed they were also more than capable of taking the reins. 

The unknown at quarterback is the only thing keeping Ridge Point as a state championship dark horse and not favorite. Week One will illustrate whether LaFavers plans to rotate quarterbacks until district play, or if he’s found the guy in preseason camp.

How different does Frisco Lone Star's offense look with Karece Hoyt at a new position?

Karece Hoyt earned District 5-5A DI Overall MVP honors in his first year as starting quarterback, leading Frisco Lone Star to a 12–2 record with 3,308 passing yards, 1,547 rushing yards and 55 total touchdowns. This offseason, the junior switched to a RB/WR and starting safety.

It’s an unusual move that could elevate Lone Star’s ceiling to state championship contender, depending on how Hoyt and a new quarterback develop throughout the season. Junior quarterback John Madden threw for 601 yards and seven touchdowns as Hoyt’s primary backup last season. He competed over the offseason with sophomore Trey Wright, who was the JV starter as a freshman. 

Whichever quarterback gets the nod will face a big early test against Argyle, the No.4 team in the Dave Campbell’s TexasFootball magazine’s Class 5A DII rankings.

San Marcos' college football prospects make varsity debut

San Marcos has lost 21 consecutive games, but insider Matt Stepp dubbed them ‘TXHSFB’s Most Interesting Team’ in 2025. Eleven of their players were ruled ineligible for three seasons back in 2022. Nine of them will be seniors in the fall. Linebackers Izayah Young (SMU commit) and Darius Davis (Texas State commit) form the fifth-best corps in Class 5A. Wide receiver Henry Harris (6’3, 190) has offers to Baylor, Texas Tech and Houston. Offensive tackle Nick Henry (6’6, 285) has offers to North Texas, Texas State and Pittsburgh. None have played Varsity football. Until now. 

Does this group hit the ground running because of the chemistry they’ve developed playing JV, or does it take a minute to acclimate to Varsity ball?

Can Boerne and Liberty-Eylau adapt after Arkansas departures?

The state of Arkansas picked up two TXHSFB stars this offseason when Boerne quarterback Hank Hendrix (4,237 yards, 46 TD) and Liberty-Eylau wide receiver Dequane Prevo (1,541 yards, 21 TD) moved. Both programs will have different offensive attacks than they first envisioned when the offseason began.

Boerne head coach Che Hendrix stepped down in January to take a job as a senior defensive analyst with the University of Arkansas. New head coach Brett Sawyer was Hendrix’s defensive coordinator for the entire 71–19 run over the past seven seasons, so the program’s core mission should remain intact. But QB Hank Hendrix, who’d started since his freshman year, was supposed to have two more years behind center, which can sometimes hinder backup quarterback development. Week One will provide the first glimpse as to whether or not Boerne will keep the same pass-happy scheme (Hendrix led all of Class 5A in passing yards) or decide to lean on the run. Whoever takes over at QB will throw to First Team All-District tight end selection Ben Bays (531 yards, 6 touchdowns) and wide receiver Eli Nickolas (770 yards, six touchdowns).

Prevo wasn’t just a focal point of Liberty-Eylau’s offense, but one of the faces of Class 3A as the Coverboy in Dave Campbell’s TexasFootball magazine. Coach Brad Willard led Liberty-Eylau to an 11–3 record in his first season, the most wins since 2015. Prevo is a big loss, but the Leopards still have running back Arian Taylor (1,331 yards, 11 touchdowns). Can Taylor carry the offense, at least early in the year, while a new QB develops?