For more than 200 years, the Farmer’s Almanac has made long-term weather predictions. When they get it right, it’s fair to wonder, how in the heck do they know?
Truth is, they’re just making educated guesses.
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In that same Farmer’s Almanac kind of spirit, we present to you the 2024 Preseason Super Centex Football Team.
These are our best guesses on who represents the best players in Central Texas entering the 2024 season. They’re based on past performance, statistical analysis, feedback from coaches, breakout potential, and of course a little bit of gut instinct. Will the Super Centex team that we publish following the 2024 season identically match this preseason version? Almost assuredly not. We’re not quite that good.
But put it this way — these guys really are that good, and we’re expecting big things out of all of them. So, with that in mind, let’s meet the team:
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The Offense
Several all-time great quarterbacks departed via graduation, including two-time Super Centex performer Cash McCollum of China Spring. But we’re always well-stocked at the QB position in Central Texas, and our preseason top QB is Lake Belton’s Eli Mascarenas. Last year as a first-time varsity performer, Mascarenas threw for 31 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. He will no longer have the luxury of throwing to Micah Hudson, who moved on to Texas Tech, but we’re still envisioning a strong season from Mascarenas.

La Vega running back Bryson Roland will be looking to cap off a sensational four-year career with another big season in 2024.
We’ll certainly be able to move the chains on the ground with this group. La Vega’s Bryson Roland has been a yard-churning beast ever since he first stepped on the field as a freshman in 2021. Roland is coming off a season in which he piled up 1,685 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. Chilton’s Dha’corian Evans turned in similar stats (1,649 yards, 20 TDs) as a freshman last year and should take an even larger slice of the offensive pie for the Pirates this fall.
Put a ball in the direction of our receiving corps and they’re going to snag it. University junior London Smith is the reigning District 11-5A Div. I MVP and one of the top-ranked recruits in the Class of 2026. Troy’s Reed Ketcham totaled 1,271 receiving yards and 16 TDs a season ago while averaging nearly 19 yards per catch. Good things happen for Axtell when the Longhorns put the ball in Coldyn Horn’s hands, as he racked up nine receiving TDs to go with six more on the ground in 2023.
Our Super Centex offensive scheme is “multiple,” as they say. We’re able to spread you out or pack it in with a jumbo formation. When we go big, watch out for Lorena tight end Brock Kuhl, who in addition to making eight TD grabs last season also delivered 38 pancake blocks.

Expect Mart quarterback De’Montrel Medlock to have another big year in 2024.
We always stock our roster with a couple of do-it-all guys at the utility spot, and we couldn’t have picked two better ones than De’Montrel Medlock and JD Bell. Medlock rescued the Mart offense after moving to quarterback out of necessity last year, but the reigning District 10-2A MVP is capable of beating you in a variety of different ways. His former teammate Bell has moved on to University High School, and it’ll be interesting to see what role Bell takes with the Trojans after rushing for 2,394 yards and 42 TDs for Mart in 2023. But we’re going to give Bell the benefit of the doubt that he’ll contribute greatly, wherever he lines up.
Nobody wears a pocket protector anymore, but who needs one when you’ve got a sturdy offensive line like we’re boasting? Slather some syrup on La Vega’s Eythan Thompson, Mart’s Cadynn Villarreal, Midway’s Michael Collins, University’s Micah Willis and Waco High’s Dantay Ward Jr., because they’re going to be cooking up the pancakes, for sure.
The Specialists
There are three phases to the game, and we strive to be excellent at all of them. At kicker, Lake Belton’s lanky Tommy Stephens is coming off an efficient junior season in which he nailed 40 PATs and eight field goals. Our return specialist is especially special, as all Fairfield’s Calyn Wilson did last year was average 42 yards per runback on punt returns.
Should we ever have to punt the ball, we’ll be in good shape with Connally’s Datri Smith, who averaged 46.3 yards per kick last season and ranked sixth in the state, according to MaxPreps.

Marlin’s Braden Maxwell Steele (left) is coming off a sophomore season in which he was named Super Centex Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 42 tackles for losses.
The Defense
Marlin’s Brysen Maxwell-Steele won Super Centex Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 as a sophomore. The 280-pound two-way earth mover is a load to handle, and will look to build on his output of 112 tackles and 45 tackles for losses.
Lorena’s Jackson Blackwell committed to Baylor this summer, and he’ll anchor a formidable, experienced Leopard line. Our other two Preseason Super Centex linemen are West’s David Klander, who won District 7-3A Defensive Lineman of the Year recognition last season, and Wortham’s Yancey Bean, a never-leaves-the-field contributor who totaled 80 tackles, four sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick in 2023.
Good luck getting past our four-man linebacking crew, considering they combined for 517 stops last season. University’s Joaquin Martinez won Super Centex Defensive Newcomer of the Year recognition as a sophomore, while Chilton’s X’Zavion Taylor and Gatesville’s Amos Phillips were both first-team Super Centex standouts. Then there’s Midway’s Donovan Jones, who emerged as the Panthers’ big-play guy on defense, leading to his commitment to Oklahoma State this summer.
Our secondary is dripping with potential. Teague’s J’Kybryen Harris excels as a cover corner, while Lake Belton’s Josh Mallard should also be capable of sticking with anyone after having to guard Hudson every day in practice last fall. Midway’s Landon Whisenton has started for the Panthers since his sophomore year and will be aiming for a hard-hitting finale. Finally, Connally’s Jamarion Vincent is a guy who will likely draw more attention because of his exploits at quarterback and kick returner, but Vincent also tied for the Cadet team lead in interceptions and pass breakups last season.
Naturally, this is far from a comprehensive list of all the Central Texas players who will make a significant impact in 2024. We’re blessed to be loaded with elite players, coaches and teams here in the 254.
But if you give me this roster, I’m winning a state championship for sure, in whatever classification you want to put us.
And I’m not even a coach — I only play one in the newspaper.
Check out all of our high school football preview coverage so far. Don't see your school? We've got it coming up in our big preview — more tha…
WATCH NOW: Meet the 2023 edition of the Super Centex Football Team. Read about the selections at wacotrib.com/super.