Manvel is a pre-season pick to claim the District 10-5A Div I crown, but they may find stiff competition as this district may be one of the toughest 5A leagues in the state.
The Mavericks are a pre-season No. 8 state-ranked team, but there are three other schools in the district who are a pre-season top 25 state-ranked team.
Other teams in the district include Magnolia West (No. 19), Richmond Foster (No. 20), and Angleton (No. 23) and that’s how the teams are picked to finish in the district race behind Manvel.
Last season, Manvel was 10-3 while advancing to the region semifinals while Magnolia West was 10-2, Richmond Foster was 5-5, and Angleton was 8-4.
Other teams and their pre-season place is Magnolia (7-4), Friendswood (6-5), Fulshear (5-6), Rosenberg Terry (4-6), and Fort Bend Kempner (2-8).
There are nine teams in Manvel’s district so the Mavs will have only two non-district games before league action begins.
Manvel will open the season on Friday, August 26 against district cousin Shadow Creek at 7:00 p.m. at Freedom Field. This should be an early season test for both teams since both are pre-season picks to win their respected districts.
Shadow Creek (9-3) will return an experienced team for the 2022 season with six offensive and seven defensive starters while drawing from a pool of 39 returning lettermen to fill the other positions.
The offense will be led with the return of quarterback Duke Butler (6-1, 175, 4.5) who threw for 1,922 yards and 29 TDs. He also had a QB rating of 111.0 while averaging 13.4 yards per completion. Butler had 207 yards rushing on 90 carries and two TDs.
Joining Butler in the backfield is junior RB Tylik Burton (5-9, 170, 4.7) who rushed for 760 yards and 8 TDs as a sophomore.
The defense will be led by defensive ends Theorin Randall (6-2, 265, 4.9) and Zion Taylor (6-2, 230, 4.8). Last year, Randall recorded 42 tackles and 5 sacks while Taylor had 18 tackles and 4 sacks.
LB Robert Edmonson (6-1, 200, 4.7) led the defense with 72 stops, 3 sacks, and 1 INT. Junior DB Maurice Williams (6-2, 185, 4.5) had 47 tackles and 1 INT while garnering double digit offers at the next level.
The Mavs will face Beaumont West Brook at Beaumont Memorial Stadium on Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m.
West Brook was 5-5 last season and didn’t advance to the post-season from a very tough district that includes state powers North Shore, Atascocita, Summer Creek and C.E. King.
The Bruins have four offensive and three defensive starters returning with 10 lettermen. They aren’t picked to make the post-season though they are picked behind the big four teams. Kingwood, Humble, and Beaumont United are the bottom three teams behind West Brook.
Manvel will begin the 2022 season with only two offensive and one defensive returning starters to go with 16 lettermen, but they will still bring plenty of talent to the roster.
Head coach Kevin Hall says depth and inexperience will be a major concern entering the season.
Leading the way on offense for the Mavs will be senior QB Kaeden Smith (6-1, 190, 4.6) who was 115-of-205 passing for 1,464 yards, 12 TS, and 3 INTs while picking up 261 yards rushing on 72 carries for 6 TDs.
RB Steve Polk was a reserve last season so he will need to step up this season to provide some leadership in the ground attack. Polk had 22 carries for 168 yards and 2 TDs in 2021.
Other players on offense include OL Malcolm Fields (6-3, 265), OL Devin Davis (6-3, 335), sophomore ATH Kamal Henry (6-1, 180, 4.6), and OL/DE Kenneth Riler.
Defense will be a strong suit for the Mavs led by CB Jalen O’Neal (6-2, 185, 4.5) who is a DI prospect. LB Kenyon Armstrong (6-0, 235, 4.8) will also be a defensive leader.
Other players on defense include LB Kaleb Blanton (6-2, 225, 4.9), CB Avery Demery (6-2, 180, 4.7), DL Mason Fleming, DE Jalen Charles, DL Kevin Hadley, DB Jamari Williams, LB Tyler Cooks. and LB Quentin Lucas (6-1, 180, 4.6).
