Welcome back to Texas High School Soccer!
Tonight, he begins a 17-week journey to AT&T Stadium to hopefully play for and win a state championship in December. There are a few marquis matchups in the first week of the season, and we’re here to break them down.
Here are the top 5 games to watch in Houston this week.
No. 1 North Shore (0-0) vs. No. 5 The Woodlands (0-0)
Game information: Thursday, August 25, at Galena Park ISD Stadium (7 pm) TV broadcast: AT&T Sportsnet SW
game preview
This game may be bigger for The Woodlands than it is for the North Shore. The defending Class 6A Division I state champions know how to take care of business. They know how to win. For The Woodlands, there has been a lot of hype surrounding the Highlanders this offseason, but what can they do against North Shore? The Mustangs are state championship winners in three of the last four seasons. Jon Kay knows how to build his team through a tough slate outside the district, which this year includes The Woodlands, Spring and Westfield. For The Highlanders, this is a yardstick of where they are. Okay, this is the first week of the season, so don’t read too much into who wins and who loses this game. Both will be solid at the end of the season and in the playoffs. This game is all about youth talent as Mabrey Mettauer (junior) and Kaleb Bailey (sophomore) will square off at QB1.
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But because of how things are set up, the only way we’re going to get a rematch of The Woodlands and North Shore would be in the state semifinals in December… maybe a preview?
recruit watch
North Coast: Kaleb Bailey (QB), David Amador II (WR – UTSA), Jacoby Davis (DB), Elijah Fields (DL), Jayven Anderson (S), Omarion Dudley (OL), Rashaad Johnson (RB),
The forests: Mabrey Mettauer (QB), Quanell X Jr (WR), Arkez Gomez (WR), Wei Wei (CB)
No. 7 Tompkins (0-0) vs. No. 13 Cypress Ranch (0-0) Game info: Thursday, August 25 at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium (7 p.m.)
game preview
This is program against program. Tompkins is always in the mix every year for that top spot at 19-6A, while the same can be said for Cypress Ranch at 16-6A. Tonight marks the first time the two teams have met. Let’s start with Tompkins. His defense will be led by three-star safety Caleb Komolafe, who is verbally committed to Memphis. Leading the O-Line will be Ashton Funk, who just received the 28th offer from him earlier this week. He has broken out on the recruiting front. Matthew Ogunrin and Predro Chagas Da Silva will be others to watch out for. Offensively, you’ll see a lot of Wyatt Young and Chris Gilbert Jr for Tompkins. This is a Tompkins team that brought North Shore to the brink of elimination in last year’s playoffs. For Cy Ranch, this may be the most talented Mustangs team in a few seasons. On defense, he’s anchored by Northwestern defensive lineman Ashton Porter and Baylor linebacker Christian Brathwaite. Porter is a four-star and Brathwaite is a three-star, according to 247Sports. On offense, Blake Baker is back after throwing for 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago with just six interceptions. His primary target will be Kansas’ Jarred Sample (429 yards, 4 TDs). This is another heavyweight matchup to open the season.
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recruit watch
Tomkins: Caleb Komolafe (S-Memphis), Ashton Funk (OL), Matthew Ogunrin (WR-Tulsa)
Cy Ranch: Ashton Porter (DL-Northwestern), Christian Brathwaite (LB-Baylor), Jarred Sample (WR-Kansas), Blake Baker, Royce Maloles (DL)
No. 12 Dickinson (0-0) vs. No. 3 Atascocita (0-0) Game info: Thursday, August 25 at Turner Stadium (7 pm)
game preview
This is the first time Atascocita and Dickinson have met in the regular season. The previous three meetings came in the playoffs last season and then previously in 2019 and 2017. Last year, it was a 22-21 victory to move the Eagles forward. Atascocita is 3-0 all-time against Dickinson. The Gators are looking for a good test out of the district that tells John Snelson’s team a lot about where they are. The Gators are bringing in a new quarterback who has to replace Luke Martin’s production from a year ago. Martin passed for more than 1,400 yards and rushed for another 1,200. John Solomon could be the answer as he has the most QB experience coming back both shooting and running the ball. His main target will be Marquis Johnson, committed to Missouri. For Atascocita, Zion Brown will get the nod at QB1 after stepping into the starting role full-time last year following Gavin Session’s injury. The Eagles always have a plethora of receivers and OL talent. Dickinson’s strength will be his defense led by Vernon Glover Jr., a member of the TCU. This is fun when two teams that have historically met only in the playoffs decide to prepare for an out-of-district tryout.
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recruit watch
Atascocita: Zion Brown (QB), Tory Blaylock (RB), Nate Kibble (OL), Samu Taumanupepe (DL – Texas A&M), Braylon Conley (DB), Jadon Ducos (LB)
Dickinson: Marquis Johnson (WR – Missouri), Vernon Glover Jr (CB – TCU), Layden Roque (S), Tyler Thomas (OL)
No. 17 Clear Springs (0-0) vs. No. 2 Katy (0-0) Game info: Friday, August 26 at Columbia Challenger Stadium (7 p.m.) Live streaming: KPRC2+ and Click2Houston.com/watchlive
game preview Katy begins another season seeking State Championship No. 10 under head coach Gary Joseph. The Tigers made it to the gates of AT&T Stadium last year before falling to Austin Westlake in the state semifinals. The Tigers return this year targeting No. 10 in program history, which would be No. 9 for Joseph as coach. Katy is talented and starts out in the backfield with Seth Davis. He has rushed for more than 4,200 yards the past two years and is committed to Mississippi State. Her drum partner will be Caleb Koger, who took over this offense as QB1 and did a solid job. JR Ceyanes will be one of their top targets, while Ramarian Tillman could be a name to remember joining Davis from the backfield in 2022. Defensively, the unit is led by Utah-committed Johnathan Hall, who is a three-star safety. Arian Parish joins him at security and verbally communicates with Arizona. He watches for Broderick Joohnson running from the rim as well and Torik Aigbedion in the corner. For Clear Springs, they have their own star list. They’ll have to find a new QB1 for this season, but Xai’Shaun Edwards is back in the backfield after rushing for 1,499 yards a year ago and will lean in early. Nick Fattig, committed to Texas Tech, will offer a push to the front of the line for Edwards. Ashton Schumann, committed to Tulsa, will be the catcher’s target, while Serigne Tounkara keeps the IL down.
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recruit watch
Katy: Seth Davis (RB – Mississippi State), Caleb Koger (QB), Johnathan Hall (S – Utah), Arian Parish (S – Arizona), Broderick Johnson (DL), Torik Aigbedion (CB)
clear springs: Xai’shaun Edwards (RB), Nick Fattig (OL – Texas Tech), Serigne Tounkara (DL), Ashton Schumann (WR – Tulsa)
No. 3 Manvel (0-0) vs. No. 10 Shadow Creek
