Buy Stock Now in These Soon-to-be Resurgent TXHSFB Teams

To make money in the stock market, you’ve got to buy low and sell high. After examining every Class 4A program’s questionnaire for the 2026 summer magazine, we’ve picked four teams that have struggled over the past few years and could be in for a brighter future. Whether it’s a new coach, a strong JV team, a talented underclassman group, or all of the above, you’ll wish you’d bought stock in these TXHSFB programs come next year.

Aubrey

Coach Keith Ivy has only missed the playoffs twice in his 12-year run at Aubrey. With 19 returning starters, you’d better buy the dip now. After realignment, the Chaparrals no longer have to play Celina, Frisco Panther Creek, or Sulphur Springs. The district is still tough with Springtown (12-1), Alvarado (12-1), and Decatur (8-4), but there is a path to the playoffs with Alvarado and Decatur both breaking in new coaches. 

Aubrey has a bevy of All-District performers back in the fold for 2026. WR/DB Riley Lemons (6-foot-1, 180) was the District Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore with 38 tackles, three pass breakups, and three forced fumbles. The offensive line should be strong with two First Team All-District linemen in C Brayden Wood (6-foot-3, 280) and Stephan Coffman (6-foot-3, 245).

Palestine

Normally, the fact that Palestine hasn’t had a winning season since 2020 and just hired a new head coach on May 11 would scare me off the scent. But not many head coaches have a resume like Ty Robinson. Most recently, Robinson turned Crawford from 3-9 to 10-2 in one year. In 2024, he led Woodville to its first-ever state championship appearance. Robinson also isn’t a complete stranger to Palestine’s program, having served as the defensive coordinator from 2010-13. With Robinson at the helm, 16 returning starters, and help from a 5-5 JV team, we expect Palestine to make a big jump from last year’s 1-9 record.

Van Alstyne

Coach Mikeal Miller has only had three losing seasons in 17 years at Van Alstyne. With 16 returning starters and help from a 10-0 JV team, we predict Van Alstyne will drastically improve upon its 4-6 record. 

The offense returns nine starters and will run through RB Xavier Vidaurri (5-foot-10, 190), who earned First Team All-District honors with 606 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The Panthers should be balanced, however, with Swiss Army Knife WR Cayden Benedict and 6-foot-2, 180-pound Tim Moore, who missed all but three games last season with injury. Coach Miller says Moore has next-level talent and speed. This bevy of skill-position talent will help new starting QB Cason Howard, a junior whom Coach Miller describes as an up-and-coming dual threat. 

Waco Connally

Waco Connally (3-7) needed a shot of adrenaline after missing the playoffs for just the second time since 2018. We like head coach Willie Carter’s hiring for multiple reasons. He proved himself as the offensive coordinator on back-to-back District Championship teams at Arlington Bowie. He’s also a young coach who played running back at Tulsa and in the NFL, a perfect resume for one of the state’s most underrated DI factories at Connally. He won’t have to hold dual duties as an AD/HFC. Connally moved former head coach Terry Gerik into an AD-only role for Carter to lean on as a mentor. Finally, he was an assistant under former head coach Shane Anderson when the team went 8-4 and 12-1.