The Woodlands opens a new era Friday, Aug. 28, when junior quarterback Kaden Kopelin takes his first snap as the starter against Bridgeland at Woodforest Bank Stadium. Across town, defending undefeated district champion College Park visits Iowa Colony the same night. The District 13-6A title race is on.
The Woodlands: new signal-caller, proven pass-rusher
The Highlanders lost starting quarterback Jack Daulton (now at TCU) and starters across both sides of the ball to graduation. Kopelin, who threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns in limited action last season, inherits the job. Coach Jim Rapp named senior defensive end Magnus Herndon and senior tight end Colton Weddel as captains at the annual Meet the Players event at Weldon Willig Field, according to Woodlands Online.
Herndon gives the defense an immediate identity. He recorded a team- and district-high 14.5 sacks in 2025. Seniors Max Mitchell, Vinny Lewis, Nate Beagle and Aiden Ventura round out the defensive leadership group. On offense, receivers Carter Cass and Bryson Bourne join dual-threat running back Jordan Haskins and fellow back Solomon Woods as Kopelin's primary weapons. Former Oak Ridge quarterback Nicholas Chavez transferred in during the offseason, adding depth to the QB room.
College Park: loaded roster, new coach
The Cavaliers captured their first-ever undefeated district title in 2025 and reached the regional final, the deepest playoff run in program history. Head coach Kyle Coats then left for Atascocita, and College Park hired Michael Buro, the former offensive coordinator at San Antonio Johnson, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Buro inherits a win-now roster. Senior quarterback Camden Hughes, a Cincinnati commit who threw for 2,648 yards and 36 touchdowns against just four interceptions last season, earned VYPE Houston's preseason district MVP honor. Clemson-bound receiver Julian Cromartie and wideout Brian Snodgrass give Hughes proven targets, while running backs Duke Stephens and Antonio Booker add a ground-and-catch dimension. Linemen RJ Wyms and Jordyn Grant anchor the defensive front.
"We made school history winning district and going three rounds deep in the playoffs, but we're going to take it to the next level this year," Hughes said in an Aug. 17 VYPE Houston feature.
Non-district tests against Cy-Fair and CE King, the 2025 Class 6A Division II state runner-up, will show how ready this group is.
Rest of the district
Willis may be the most dangerous team in the field. The Wildkats finished 11-3 and reached the state quarterfinals in 2025, the deepest playoff run of any 13-6A squad. Sophomore quarterback Linc Frazier returns after throwing for 4,232 yards and 43 touchdowns as a freshman. New receiver Trey Finney already holds multiple Division I offers.
Grand Oaks made the playoffs for the first time in program history last fall and won its first-ever postseason game. Utah-committed receiver Darnell Jackson Jr. headlines the returning roster. Conroe, led by quarterback Cameron Nunley, opens against CE King and aims to crack the playoff field after going 4-4 in district. Oak Ridge returns defensive end Finn Walker but faces an unsettled QB situation. Caney Creek begins fresh under first-year head coach Taylor Cobb, and Cleveland enters year two under head coach Ajani Sanders still seeking its first win since Sept. 23, 2022.
