The Most Improved TXHSFB Defenses of 2025

Fifth: Price Carlisle (7-6), improved by 22.2 ppg

Clay Baker spent five seasons at Price Carlisle, compiling a 43-17 record, before taking a head coaching job at his alma mater, Henderson, for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He wanted to return to Price Carlisle because, according to him, no place treats you better.

But the only way he’d come back is if his father, Rocky, came out of retirement to be his defensive coordinator again.

“The time he puts in is insane. It’s all night when he gets home as well. He’s one of the best motivators I’ve ever been around. He can just get the absolute most out of his kids and coaching staff as well.”

With Rocky back at the helm of the defense, the Indians improved by 22.2 points per game.

Baker enjoys moving players around the formation based on the offense’s tendencies, and Ivan Garza was his favorite chess piece. The District 8-2A DI Co-Utility MVP had 76 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, four sacks and three interceptions. He could play in the secondary for 85% of the game, or move next to First Team All-District Mike LB Brandon Garza (100 tackles, 13 TFL) for most of the game.

Garza started the year on the defensive line before catching on at linebacker. The good news for Price Carlisle: senior Chuy Hernandez had the defensive front locked down. A varsity football player since his freshman year, Hernandez was one of the few players who experienced Baker’s previous tenure. Back then, he was also a backup QB. While he’s not slinging the rock anymore, he’s still got a high football IQ. 

The secondary was headlined by First Team All-District performers Dakota Grigsby and Juan Diaz. Grigsby was the No. 1 wide receiver a year ago, but blossomed into the No. 1 cornerback in 2025 with six interceptions. Diaz played strong safety with only one speed - full speed. He had 67 tackles and eight tackles for loss.

Fourth: Moody (6-5), improved by 23.8 ppg

After a 0-10 season in 2024, Moody was predicted to finish last in District 13-2A DI. But head coach Weston Cooper knew what the state didn’t - the winless season that had threatened to break the program actually became the motivation to build back stronger. 

“(In January) There were some kids that were like, ‘You know what? I’m out next year,’” Cooper said. “But then they started seeing what was happening in the weight room. And, one by one, they’re like, ‘I want back in. I want to be a part of this.’ Before you know it, after a couple of months, we had everyone back.” 

Moody finished 6-5, the program’s first winning season since 2011, behind a group of 13 seniors who Cooper said led the team with a tremendous amount of character and work ethic. 

Defensive end Ethan Gonzalez embodied the senior class. Gonzalez was not going to play football in 2025 due to a back injury. But after seeing Moody win in non-district games, he begged his parents and doctors for the all-clear, then earned Second Team All-District honors.

Fellow defensive end/outside linebacker Devonte Anderson was one of the defense’s most dominant forces. Cooper described him as a straight-up killer. If Anderson was the killer, then fellow senior Ross Petree was the general. The safety coordinated all of Moody’s coverages and presnap adjustments.

But it was a sophomore in the secondary, cornerback Tucker Poe, who had the group’s breakout year. Moody had lost two lockdown corners from the 2024 team, so Cooper moved Poe to corner for the first time in his career. By the time district play rolled around, opponents didn’t test Poe.

Santiago Castillo earned the district’s Offensive Line MVP, but he was just as valuable at defensive tackle.

Cooper, who served as head coach and defensive coordinator, said assistant coaches John Sadler (linebackers) and John Dirk (defensive line) were vital to a defensive unit that improved by 23.8 points allowed per game.

Third: Robstown (7-5), improved by 24.7 ppg

Robstown’s 7-5 campaign marked the first season over three wins - and the first playoff win - since 2010.

Coach Travis Crowley said the team’s new defensive coordinator, Kevin Carr, changed the team’s base formation from a 4-2-5 to a 4-3 and simplified the playbook so the team could play faster and think less.

The secondary created a No Fly Zone with District 15-4A DII Utility Player of the Year Tim Sanchez, who tallied 37 tackles, five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. First Team All-District corner Miles Rodriguez was quiet on the stat sheet (27 tackles and 2 INT), which was a testament to how well he guarded the opponent’s best receivers.

The linebacker corps also had two First Team All-District performers. Outside linebacker Ricardo Ruiz racked up 90 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles. Meanwhile, his partner on the inside, Ethan Vasquez, had a breakout sophomore year with 92 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception.

The defensive line was anchored by Dominic Figueroa (43 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles) and Aaron De La Rosa (52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble). 

Second: Lubbock Liberty (10-2) improved by 25 ppg

To read about Lubbock Liberty's season, check out our 'Most Improved Teams of 2025' story.

First: San Marcos (8-5), improved by 34.2 ppg

To read about San Marcos' season, check out our 'Most Improved Teams of 2025' story.