Under-the-Radar Undefeated TXHSFB Teams

Class 6A: Magnolia Bulldogs
Projected sixth in District 15-6A

Last year, its first in Class 6A, Magnolia missed out on the playoffs by one point in a Week 11 loss to Klein. We at Dave Campbell’s slept on Magnolia this offseason, projecting them outside the playoff picture in a loaded District 15-6A. But Coach Craig Martin’s squad has raced to a 6-0 record, the only unbeaten team in the district.

“We had established ourselves as a perennial Top 20 team in Class 5A DI,” Martin said. “Within two years of being in 6A, it’s pretty cool when you start seeing your name up there with some of the blue bloods.” 

A 42-32 win over College Station in Week 2 opened eyes around the region, and on the Magnolia team. In Martin’s seven seasons with the program, the Bulldogs have beaten College Station twice, and the other win kick-started a district championship season in 2020. 

The Bulldogs believe in their defense, which returned eight starters, including five who’ve played varsity football since freshman year. Identical twins and unanimous team captains Tyler and Tanner Covar, both of whom are Navy commits, headline the unit. Tyler, an inside linebacker, is a two-time First Team All-District performer, while Tanner, a safety, has made up for lost time after missing most of his junior year. Other standouts include inside linebacker Ty Miller and defensive ends Ayden Johnson and Greenwood Horn. 

Miller says that junior quarterback Chase Lowery made a massive leap from his sophomore year. He and running back Cash Ferrell have room to operate behind tight end/fullback hybrid Carson Smith, who is one of the team’s best blockers and has also made clutch catches throughout the season. 

Magnolia’s special teams have proved to be the difference maker in multiple games, like when kickoff returner Cole Sorenson made a house call against Klein Cain. Punt returner Hudson Enyart has added a touchdown of his own, while kicker Gavin Gonzales is preventing return opportunities by kicking almost every ball out of the back of the end zone.

Class 5A: Terrell Tigers
Projected third place in District 6-5A DII

Ever since a 52-14 bi-district playoff loss to South Oak Cliff last season, Terrell Coach Marvin Sedberry Jr. has had his team break out of the huddle with the same slogan: “Close the Gap!” Terrell has lost in the first round of the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, and the South Oak Cliff game showed them what a state championship team looked like… and how much harder they had to work to become one themselves. Sedberry stressed what he termed “non-negotiables” so often this offseason that the kids began mimicking him. They had to be disciplined. They couldn’t be late. 

“I tell the coaches, ‘They really are listening even though we thought they weren’t,'” Sedberry said.

In this past Thursday’s 21-14 win over projected District 6-5A DII champion Midlothian Heritage, Terrell showed how ingrained Sedberry’s message had become. Terrell is now 6-0 for the first time since 2005. 

The Tigers are a throwback team that runs the Wing-T to maintain possession. The defense hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in any game this year, partially because the opposing offense has limited opportunities, and partially because the defense is toughened up from practicing against the Wing-T every day.

“The biggest compliment we’ve received about our football team from the coaches who’ve played us this year is how physical we’ve been.”

Terrell has a two-headed monster in the backfield with Julian Ashley (77 carries, 795 yards, 12 TD) and Roderick Hambrick Jr. (77 carries, 574 yards, 6 TD). Running back coach Dawonya Tucker, a Terrell alum who was an all-conference player at Prairie View A&M, has created an unselfish culture in the backfield by coaching his guys to run out their fakes hard enough that the defense doesn’t know who has the ball. Sometimes, neither running back does, as QB Nolan Hall has thrown 11 touchdowns to just one interception off play-action passes.

Class 4A: Jarrell Cougars
Projected fifth place in District 13-4A DII

Every program preaches about family, but the Jarrell Cougars are actually a team full of family members. 

Sophomore twins C.J. and Adonis Brown start at opposite corner spots. But Jarrell has three father-son combinations on its coaching staff, including head coach Alan Haire and his son Hayden. 

The Haires’ inaugural season in 2024 resulted in Jarrell’s first winning season since 2015. But the Cougars realized Year 2 had potential to be even better after overcoming a 13-point halftime deficit to beat state-ranked Llano in Week 4. Haire was hired in late June last season and didn’t know most of the players' names until two-a-days. Now, the Cougars’ Slot-T offense, headlined by fullback Jaysen Hobbs and running back Kenneth Johnson, is averaging 43.9 points per game. 

“We don’t do a whole lot, but what we do, we need to do really well,” Haire said. 

The Slot-T’s success is predicated on the guards, whom Haire refers to as running backs that wear linemen numbers because they pull and run down the field to block. Quick guard, Caleb Webster, and strong guard, Vincent Logan, have paved the way for Hobbs and fellow back Kenneth Johnson, who put up over 1,000 yards in the first five games of the season and earned a UTEP offer. 

Marco Cosimeno and Luke Warfield have anchored Jarrell’s defensive line, while linebackers J.T. Travis and Bryan Tibbetts are the defensive leaders. 

Jarrell’s unbeaten record will be tested in a three-game gauntlet to close the season against Wimberley (3-3), Salado (5-2) and Gonzales (5-1). The Cougars’ first three district opponents are a combined 0-8 in district play.

Class 3A: Raymondville Bearkats
Projected fifth place in District 16-3A DI

William Littleton came to Raymondville in January after helping turn around PSJA Memorial’s football program, coaching the team in 2023 to its first playoff appearance since 2012. But he wasn’t the only new face, as Raymondville had to replace eight defensive starters and six offensive starters. 

“Our message from Day One was that we were going to outwork everybody,” Littleton said. “I have a strength and conditioning program that we feel is as tough as anybody in the state. We were going to hang our hat on that, and the kids really bought into it.”

Raymondville saw an instant return on the offseason grind, knocking off Brownsville St. Joseph in Week 1 despite entering the game as 33-point underdogs. Then, in Week 3, the Bearkats knocked off Class 4A La Feria 51-42. Littleton said that victory convinced his team it had the opportunity to be great.

Junior running back Traeshaun Washington is averaging over 200 rushing yards per game, but Littleton says even Washington would tell you it’s a credit to his offensive line. Senior right guard Randi Pedraza is a dominant force who broke every school powerlifting record for his weight class. He headlines a veteran group that’s played two to three seasons together.

Sophomore quarterback Jeffrey LeFevre has thrown for 11 touchdowns and one interception, showing complete command of the offense as a first-year starter. It helps that his uncle, Coach Jeff LeFevre, is the offensive coordinator. Also, Jeffrey is ranked No. 1 in his graduating class. 

The defense is headlined by safety Rigo Villegas and middle linebacker Rolando Villasana, who, according to Littleton, hold the entire unit accountable through their consistent pursuit of the football.

Class 2A: Elysian Fields Yellowjackets
Projected fourth place in District 10-2A DI

Coach Bo Maines was hired at Elysian Fields in early April, but the community has quickly wrapped its arms around him after a 7-0 start.

“I joke with the people in the community all the time, I think I’ve gained 20 pounds since I got here because they won’t stop feeding me all of the time,” Maines said. “They’re very thankful. Elysian Fields has a rich tradition of winning. But I think, more than the winning piece, they’re ready to get back to an athletic program that they can be proud of.” 

The undefeated start is even more remarkable considering Maines had to hire an entirely new coaching staff within four months of the season. But Brandon “NuNu” Kennedy is the constant in a sea of change. The senior rarely comes off the field, rotating from safety to outside linebacker on defense and lining up at the big three (QB, RB, WR) on offense. He’s also taken sophomore LB/RB Alex Simmons under his wing, showing him the work ethic required to be great. 

“I live on the campus, and anytime I step out the door and see the stadium lights are on at night, I know it’s Alex up there getting extra work in,” Maines said.

Maines’s fingerprints are all over the 2025 depth chart. Landon Lawless played offensive and defensive line last year, but Maines moved him to inside linebacker after watching him come in sixth place in the district 100m dash race. Lawless is now the leading tackler with over 70 stops. Six athletes are playing their first football seasons after specializing in baseball last year, including catcher-turned-left-tackle Spencer Scott.