Brenham Cubs Eye State Title Run With Jakoby Dixon's Return

Three third-round playoff appearances in four seasons is a strong résumé. For the Brenham Cubs, it still feels like unfinished business.

Entering his fifth year leading the program, head coach Danny Youngs has the Cubs ranked 10th in the state heading into the season, coming off an 11-2 finish that ended in the third round against The Colony. The standard in Brenham — a community where Kelly Green runs deep and the tradition stretches back through legendary coach Glenn West — is nothing short of a state championship. Youngs is well aware of that, and he embraces it.

The biggest storyline this season is the return of Jakoby Dixon. The Oklahoma commit missed all of last year but is back and healthy, and figures to be the featured back in what could be one of the more dangerous backfields in District 8-5A Division I. Alongside Dixon is C.J. Glover, who as a sophomore carried the ball 182 times for 1,156 yards and 16 touchdowns — numbers that would be the centerpiece of most programs' offenses.

Under center, Roland Branch takes over as the starting quarterback. Coaches describe him as a dual-threat with high football IQ who had a strong summer, and expectations are that he will be a difficult matchup for opposing defenses to contain.

Brenham opens the non-district schedule at home against Huntsville before entering a district slate where they are the clear favorite. The alumni — names like Courtland Sutton, Roosevelt Leaks, and Malcolm Brown — set the bar in Cream City. This year's group is aiming to clear it.