BELLVILLE, NAVASOTA, GIDDINGS AND SEALY HARBOR HIGH HOPES ENTERING 2021 FOOTBALL SEASON
Prospects are high for a number of the area’s 4A high school football teams in the area.
The 2021 issue of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine picks the Bellville Brahmas to top the standings in District 14/4A Division II when all is said and done, while defending District Champ Sealy is a close second.
The Brahmas and longtime coach Grady Rowe return seven starters on an offense that averaged 45 points per game in 2020, led by explosive tailback Richard Reese (1,873 yds., 26 TD’s) and quarterback Jake Lischka (1,039 yds., 13 passing TD’s). The defense should be anchored by lineman Cole Powell and linebacker Tyler Fishbeck. Robert Briggs (6 TD receiving, 4 TD rushing) should key a dangerous return game.
The Sealy Tigers return 11 starters (5 offense/6 defense) from their 2020 team that advanced to the third round, under head coach Shane Mobley.
Dual threat quarterback D’Vonne Hmielewski (junior) is expected to once again lead the Tigers, after posting 2,195 passing yards and 28 TD’s and 1,029 rushing yards and 13 TD’s. Four-year starter Thomas Clark (All-District LB) should lead the defense, after 100 tackles last year. Connor Krenek (WR/DB) will be a force on both sides of the football.
The Navasota Rattlers and Giddings Buffaloes are expected to battle Cuero for the District 13/4A DII title.
The Rattlers were 8-4 last season, including a trip to the third round of the playoffs.
Coach Casey Dacus returns District MVP quarterback Ja’Mar Jessie, who threw for 2,182 yards and 24 touchdowns, as the team averaged over 30 points per game. The offense will also rely on returning receiver Xavier Steptoe (846 yds., 7 TD) and running back Jamarion Freer (631 yds.).
Returning linebacker Jaylen Myles and defensive end Braylen Whitley will lead a defense that has a number of returners at key spots.
The Giddings Buffaloes shared the 2020 district championship with the Rattlers and advanced to the Area Round of the playoffs.
Coach Wade Griffin’s team should be strong up front, with four returning starters on the offensive line: Woodrow Beltran (6-3, 275), Miguel Murillo (5-10, 260), Easton Kylberg and Camron Rimes. Quarterback Holden Jatzlau returns after combining for nearly 2,000 yards offense in 2020.
Linebacker Hector Granados (176 total tackles leads the Buffaloes defense.
| 2021 SEASON SCHEDULES |
| BELLVILLE BRAHMAS 8/27, 7:30, GIDDINGS @ BRAHMAS 9/3, 7:30, CAMERON @ BRAHMAS 9/10, 7:30, BRAHMAS @ STAFFORD 9/17, 7:30, ROCKDALE @ BRAHMAS (HOMECOMING) 9/24, 7:00, COLUMBIA @ BRAHMAS 10/1, OPEN 10/8, 7:00, BRAHMAS @ WHARTON 10/15, 7:00, SEALY @ BRAHMAS 10/22, 7:00, BRAHMAS @ ROYAL 10/29, 7:00, BRAHMAS @ LaMARQUE 11/5, 7:00, SWEENY @ BRAHMAS |
| SEALY TIGERS 8/27, 7:30, BRAZOSPORT @ TIGERS 9/3, 7:30, TIGERS @ NAVASOTA 9/10, 7:30, TIGERS @ LAKE CREEK 9/17, 7:30, STAFFORD @ TIGERS (HOMECOMING) 9/24, 7:30, TIGERS @ BAY CITY 10/1, OPEN 10/8, 7:00, ROYAL @ TIGERS 10/15, 7:00, TIGERS @ BELLVILLE 10/22, 7:00, SWEENY @ TIGERS 10/29, 7:00, TIGERS @ WHARTON 11/5, 7:00, LaMARQUE @ TIGERS |
| NAVASOTA RATTLERS 8/27, 7:30, RATTLERS @ WHARTON 9/3, 7:30, SEALY @ RATTLERS 9/10, 7:30, RATTLERS @ MEXIA 9/17, 7:30, RATTLERS @ HARGRAVE 9/24, 7:30, YOAKUM @ RATTLERS (HOMECOMING) 10/1, OPEN 10/8, 7:30, SMITHVILLE @ RATTERS 10/15, 7:30, RATTLERS @ LaGRANGE 10/22, 7:30, CUERO @ RATTLERS 10/29, 7:30, GONZALEZ @ RATTLERS 11/5, 7:30, RATTLERS @ GIDDINGS |
| GIDDINGS BUFFALOES 8/27, 7:30, BUFFALOES @ BELLVILLE 9/3, 7:30, COLUMBUS @ BUFFALOES 9/10, 7:30, TAYLOR @ BUFFALOES (HOMECOMING) 9/17, 7:30, BUFFALOES @ CALDWELL 9/24, 7:30, NAVARRO @ BUFFALOES 10/1, OPEN 10/8, 7:30, BUFFALOES @ GONZALEZ 10/15, 7:30, BUFFALOES @ CUERO 10/22, 7:30, SMITHVILLE @ BUFFALOES 10/29, 7:30, BUFFALOES @ LaGRANGE 11/5, 7:30, NAVASOTA @ BUFFALOES |