Convenience Big Store: Football is back: A look at the top games around Houston in Week 1

August 24, 2023

Football is back: A look at the top games around Houston in Week 1

It certainly doesn't feel like fall yet. But despite high temperatures in the 100s the past month or so, Week 1 of the Texas high school football season has arrived.

Many games across the city have adjusted their game times in order to try to manage the heat as much as possible. Here's a look at this week's schedule with the most updated info on start times.

There are plenty of great games this week and several feature matchups pitting Greater Houston ranked teams.

Here's a look at some of top recruits to watch around Houston this season, as well as a look at the top quarterbacks.

Complete Houston-area high school football coverage ahead of the 2023 season can be found here.

Follow along all season as Jon Poorman, Rob Tate, Ted Dunnam, Jack Marrion, Marcus Gutierrez, Al Montaño and Dennis Silva II bring you high school football coverage all across Houston.

Three things to watch

Great bloodline: Magnolia West multi-sport athlete Brandon Taylor returns to football this season for the first time since middle school. A basketball player with a famous uncle, Taylor was convinced to join the Mustangs' football team this fall.

Glowing résumé: College Park has a new coach this season, and he brings a state championship ring from his old job at DeSoto. The Cavaliers will have a different look on both sides of the ball as Kyle Coats takes over.

Athletic family: Friendswood volleyball player Nadi'ya Shelby comes from a family of athletes who have competed at a high level. Shelby is holding her own as the Mustangs look to contend this season.

Follow all our coverage at houstonchronicle.com/highschoolsports.

Note to coaches: Submit scores and stats on game nights by emailing hssports@houstonchronicle.com.

Rob Tate, Deputy High School Sports Coordinator

rtate@houstonchronicle.com

Athlete of the Week

Congratulations to Montgomery volleyball player Kaysie Lynch, who's the winner of the Houston High School Girls Athlete of the Week. Lynch surpassed 1,000 career assists last week. She averaged 23.3 assists per match over nine contests last week and has 431 for the season.

Congratulations to Jersey Village cross country runner Marco Requejo, who's the winner of the Houston High School Boys Athlete of the Week. Requejo took first place at the Cypress Woods Invitational last week, winning the two-mile race with a time of 10 minutes, 9.2 seconds.

Check Monday's newsletter for a new set of polls.

Shout out

Fulshear junior volleyball player Bailey Warren put up a strong effort Tuesday in a sweep five-set win over Ridge Point. Warren, a six-rotation star for the Chargers, put in 24 kills and 14 digs in the victory. Warren said afterwards her team has big goals of going on a longer playoff run than the past two years.

Stat of the day

30: The Woodlands junior outside hitter Ella Lewis had an impressive night Tuesday as the Highlanders won a four-set match with Oak Ridge in the District 13-6A opener. Lewis put down 30 kills, 47 percent of the team's total. Lewis reached 1,000 career kills earlier this season.