A New Chapter for Houston Christian
The Houston Christian football program closed the 2025 season with a 2‑10 overall record and a 1‑7 mark in Southland Conference play, exposing glaring gaps on both sides of the ball. The team’s offense struggled to sustain drives, while the defense faded late in the year, allowing opponents to score crucial touchdowns in the final weeks.
Enter head coach Jason Bachtel, who returns for his third year with a clear directive: reclaim play‑calling duties and reshape the roster into a more consistent unit. Bachtel previously stepped away from the playbook to focus on program development, a move he now believes cost the team on the field but gave him valuable leadership insights.
The receiving corps will be anchored by wideout Keith Wheeler, who finished third in the conference in receptions and second in receiving yards last season. Adding transfers Jarred Sample from Kilgore College and returning junior Ja’Ryan Wallace should give the offense more depth and variety in the passing game.
At quarterback, the staff faces a heated competition between redshirt junior Cutter Stewart, who threw for 945 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025, and returning starter Maddox Kopp, who posted 750 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Both bring different skill sets, and the coaching staff expects the battle to sharpen the offense’s decision‑making.
Defensively, linebacker Trent Zappe highlighted missed opportunities, especially in the closing stretch of the season, noting that the unit allowed too many touchdowns when the game hung in the balance. Bachtel stresses mental toughness and discipline as the foundation for weekly improvement.
The ultimate goal is simple: translate early‑season defensive form into consistent performance throughout the conference schedule. If the team can tighten up the passing attack, protect the ball, and capitalize on defensive takeaways, Houston Christian could rebound from its slump and compete more effectively in the Southland Conference.