With RGVSports.com expanding into the Coastal Bend area, the sports staff decided to find the top football teams in the area heading into the 2024 season.
The result of that culminated in the first-ever RGVSports.com Coastal Bend Top 4 poll. Below is the preseason rankings heading into the new year as voted on by the RGVSports.com staff. Updates to the poll will be coming every Monday following the conclusion of the previous week’s games.
No. 1 Corpus Christi Miller
The Buccaneers open as the No. 1 team in the Coastal Bend area and rightfully so, returning 16 starters from last year’s Region IV-5A DI finalist squad. Offensively, Miller fields one of the state’s most explosive units, averaging a whopping 57.6 points and 536.6 yards per game. The Buccaneers return weapons at every key position on that side of the ball, with quarterback Trevor Long (3,767 passing yards, 57 passing touchdowns) commanding the passing attack, while potential DI running back Broderick Taylor (2,333 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns) securing the run game. Do-it-all playmaker Corey Holmes (1,609 total yards, 28 total touchdowns) gives the Buccaneers another weapon through the air and on the ground, while senior OL Devin Cage anchors the trenches. The defensive unit isn’t far behind from the offense, returning eight starters as well, including dynamic linebackers Delson Cavaness (166 total tackles, 14 TFL) and Lamarcus Cullum (146 total tackles, 23 TFL) and disruptive defensive linemen Steven Richardson (20 TFL, 7 sacks) and George Simmons 10 TFL, 6.5 sacks). A move down to Class 5A DII and a loaded returning class puts the Buccaneers in prime position to make another run at a regional title and more. They’ll be battle tested to make that type of run by the time the postseason rolls around, with non-district tilts against Class 6A DII state champion DeSoto, Corpus Christi Veterans and Cuero on their schedule, as well as a possible district-title deciding matchup against Gregory-Portland during the backend of their season.
No. 2 Flour Bluff
The title of No. 2 ranked team in the Coastal Bend area belongs to the Hornets, a squad favored by many to win the District 15-5A DI title. An explosive offensive attack is led by third-year starting quarterback Jayden Paluseo and star wideout Cameran Dickson, a Vanderbilt commit. The duo hooked up 66 times through the air for 1,089 yards and 17 touchdowns, making them arguably the top quarterback-receiver duo in the area. The defense will need to fill some holes, with only five starters returning from last year’s squad. The Hornets make the jump from 5A DII to 5A DI this season, moving into a district that features nine teams. A long district schedule is made tougher with games against PSJA North and Corpus Christi Veterans to close out the regular season. The Hornets should be up to the task, however, with a third-straight district title possibly in the cards.
No. 3 Corpus Christi Veterans
The Eagles open the season as the No. 3 team in the inaugural RGVSports.com Coastal Bend rankings, coming off an 8-4 season a year ago. They’ll be a fairly young team in 2024, but return players at key positions to keep them in the hunt this year. Junior quarterback Billy White III commands the offense for a second straight year, fresh off a breakout 3,000 passing yard, 30 passing touchdown season. He’s one of only four returners on the offensive side of the ball, but his experience and on-field coaching should help the brand-new skill position group. Linebacker Chris Vasquez will lead a defense that brings back just five starters, entering the year as the team’s top returner in tackles (81 total) and sacks (6). A Week 1 tilt against No. 1 Corpus Christi Miller will test the Eagles, but should serve as valuable experience for the team as they prepare for an eight-game district schedule.
No. 4 Gregory-Portland
The final spot in the Coastal Bend preseason poll belongs to the Wildcats, a team which has played into at least two rounds of the playoffs each of the last three seasons. Head coach Brent Davis has turned Gregory-Portland into a yearly contender since taking the reins in 2021 and this year should be no different, with a loaded offensive unit returning from last year’s 9-3 squad. QB Reed Dooms (2,242 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns) and RB Cody Adame (1,220 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns) give the Wildcats a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield, while receivers Brandon Coates and Ryder Harrison provide weapons outside. The biggest question for Gregory-Portland will be its defense, returning just two starters from last year. The unit will have plenty of time to mesh, however, with only five district contests on the schedule for the Wildcats. Non-district games against Calallen, Sinton and Alice should have the Wildcats ready to roll by the time district rolls around. Their Week 10 matchup against Miller is likely the biggest game on their schedule this year, with the contest likely deciding the district champion in 14-5A DII.
