By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
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A new dawn is rising in western Parker County as the Millsap Bulldogs are preparing for a potential brush with greatness. For years, head coach Jacob Johnson has raved about a particular corps of players coming up through his system that could very well be the foundation of Millsap football in the present and into the future. Those players are now juniors, and the class of 2028 will be key for the Bulldogs in the 2026 season after some growing pains in 2025.
After missing the playoffs last year, the time for Millsap to make its move and burst onto the scene in 3A-Division II is now. Especially if the Bulldogs can make it through to the postseason. Region II is wide open after perennial power Gunter moved up a division, and the road to a regional title could run right through District 5. It will not come easy, as the realignment in February was not very kind to Johnson and his squad.
However, most of, if not all, the district opponents are pretty much right on par with where this team stands in 2026. Tolar, Comanche and Clifton are all playoff caliber teams with none making it past the first round a year ago. The only team in the district that went deeper is Hamilton who has moved up to 3A after winning the 2A-Division I state championship, but they graduated most of their starters.
This is going to be a very telling year for Millsap as they bring back eight starters on each side from a team that was one game away from the postseason, and they are hungry. Outside the venerated junior class, senior veterans Levi Tippie and Tyson Johnson will have a lot of weight put on them to anchor an otherwise very young front on both sides of the ball. Given that Johnson says the youth of the line will be the weak point to work through, Tippie and Johnson will need to step up as leaders and rally their troops. They will have help from junior Kaedyn Blue who is another returner. From there it will be sophomore newcomers Buster Black and Mayson Martin to round out the group.
Moving outside, the Bulldogs “will be returning great experience on both sides of the ball at all skill positions,” as Johnson put it. He is exactly right. The skill and endurance of the skill players is exactly what will be carrying the team this season. It all starts with 2025 Parker County Newcomer of the Year Braun Johnson. The head coach’s son has two years of varsity snaps under his belt, and has sparked the life of this team despite missing some time with injury. The star tailback rushed for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, and showed out at linebacker with 21 tackles, 3 TFL, a sack and a forced fumble. He currently holds a Division I offer from Lamar University.
Joining him will be returning dual-threat quarterback Madden Gilbert who amassed 1,300 yards of total offense as a sophomore. He will have a solid pair of junior receivers to look to in Gabe Jones and Cash Webb, though Webb will have his priorities more focused at linebacker as the team’s leading tackler (78). Jones will also see time on both sides after a sophomore season in which he caught 10 touchdowns, and broke up 8 passes in the secondary with 39 tackles.
Other players to keep eyes on will be senior linebacker Corey Goen, who will also see snaps at tight end; all-district honorable mention receiver Miles Griffin, who will be in the secondary defensively; and linebacker Adrian Porter, who will also provide some relief for Braun Johnson in the backfield.
Schedule & Analysis
at Jacksboro
at Callisburg
vs McGregor
at Tolar
vs Dublin
vs Comanche
at Rio Vista
vs Eastland
at Hamilton
vs Clifton
Floor: 3-7
On paper, this is the worst case scenario I can come up with based on this schedule. That is not too bad when you realize it is the same record that the Bulldogs finished with last year. I have trouble talking myself into McGregor being a loss. They return a lot on offense but they snuck into the playoffs last year with just two wins. Rio Vista could be one of those sneaky teams that could be a trap game if taken lightly, especially with nine returning on offense. I count that one as a loss in this scenario. Dublin and Eastland both return a lot, but times are tough for both right now as they combined for a 1-19 record in 2025. I cannot envision either of those as losses.
Ceiling: 8-2, 2-seed
As tough as this district is, they are all pretty-darn even on paper. The one exception I have to give is Hamilton, as a reigning state champion. If this squad stays healthy and finds its groove, I can definitely see it running the table against everybody else. I still envision a season opening loss to Jacksboro, but that could very well be what awakens a sleeping beast.
Nolan’s Prediction: 7-3, 3-seed
Fortune favors the bold, and I am a smarter man than to ever doubt this program and its head coach. A year ago I made a bold prediction for Peaster and they proved me right and then some. I am doing the same this year. I believe this team will not just make the playoffs, they can make a run at a regional title. Again, give me a season opening loss to Jacksboro and a loss to Hamilton. The only difference is I can definitely see some kind of trip-up happen. Most likely to Tolar, Clifton or Comanche; take your pick. But never sleep on this team.
