Arlington Heights denies Wyatt late and more from Week 1 in the Fort Worth area

Needing a defensive stand to preserve the win, Fort Worth Arlington Heights’ cornerback Derrick Davis just got enough of the ball to tip a fourth-down pass away.

It came with 3:49 left in the game and the Yellow Jackets went on to beat Fort Worth Wyatt, 33-28, in a battle of the 817 during Thursday night’s season opener at Clark Stadium.

Brian Furch was the workhorse for Heights as the running back rushed for 325 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries. He rushed for two first downs to run out the clock late.

“My whole linemen. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did,” Furch said. “We had some ups and downs. But we’ll be on line next week. I want to thank my coaches too. We are all one. I’m just one part. Everybody does something. We’re Heights nation.”

“He has conditioned himself so much in the spring and fall, we knew he could carry the load,” added Heights’ coach Phil Young. “We have the ability to pass and do other things. Our strength though is in our offensive line and running game. When the running game works, don’t get cute.”

Wyatt quarterback Kaid Barrett had a sensational opener throwing for 325 yards on 26 of 42 passes. His touchdown pass to N’kem Ware pulled the Chaparrals within five in the fourth quarter.

The drive was set up when Wyatt recovered a Heights’ fumble with 6:26 remaining.

Wyatt looked to take the lead, after recovering another fumble, driving 55 yards on five plays to the Heights 20. But on fourth-and-1, Barrett’s final attempt, near the end zone, was tipped away by Davis.

“Our defense did an outstanding job on three fourth down stops,” Young said.

Heights’ QB Ben Chairez threw TD passes of 43 and 28 yards to Markell Sanders, and Furch scored on a 7-yard run to help grow their lead to 26-6 in the first half.

However, Wyatt would answer.

After an Ashton Larkins’ 3-yard score got Wyatt on the board, the Chaparrals pulled to within 26-20. Wyatt scored late in the second quarter and again early in the third.

Wyatt had another chance to score when Ashton Moore intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards, but the Chaparrals were called for defensive holding.

James Washington made seven receptions for 82 yards for Wyatt.

Burleson 42, Abilene Wylie 3

Dylan Raiola shined in his varsity debut, throwing for 269 yards on 20 of 27 passes and two touchdowns in the season opener on Thursday. Raiola, a 4-star sophomore quarterback, already holds seven scholarship offers, which include TCU, Baylor, Georgia and Florida State.

Senior running back Reece Williams scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to give the Elks a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Williams finished with 124 yards on 14 carries.

Luke Peterson and Mason Ferguson were the recipients of Raiola’s TDs.

Peterson, named a preseason all-area wide receiver, made six catches for 131 yards.

The Elks put this game to rest with 21 points in the opening quarter and led 28-0 at halftime. Wylie’s only points came on a field goal in the third quarter.

Quintlon Ivory also scored on a TD run, as well as Raiola, from one yard that capped off a 92-yard scoring drive and pushed Burleson’s lead to 35-0 with 7:23 left in the third quarter.

Burleson gained 538 yards of total offense.

Keller Fossil Ridge 42, Azle 41

Quarterback Logan Cundiff scored the game-winning touchdown on a 12-yard run with 15 seconds left as Fossil Ridge upset Azle, the No. 4 ranked Fort Worth-area team in Class 5A, in the season opener Thursday at Keller ISD Stadium.

Fossil Ridge running back Landen Chambers ran for 216 yards on 34 carries with four touchdowns.

The Panthers win their first season opener since 2018. They had won one game each of the past two seasons. Fossil Ridge ended last season with six straight losses.

Azle, which was dealing with the loss of senior lineman Jack Schwantz, took a 41-35 lead with 3:07 left to play on a Mason Wyble touchdown run.

Fossil Ridge began the game-winning drive at its own 25 and covered 75 yards on 10 plays.

The two teams combined for 964 yards of total offense.

Azle QB Chris Lee threw for 217 yards and three TDs. Wyble rushed for 165 yards and three TDs.

Peaster 58, Munday 0

For the second straight season, the Peaster Greyhounds opened the high school football season with a shutout. They beat Venus, 34-0, in 2020.

Behind 26 points in the second quarter, Peaster dominated Munday in the season opener on Friday.

Peaster originally was scheduled to play Willow Park Trinity, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19 healthy and safety concerns. Then the Greyhounds found a replacement in Munday.

Peaster is playing its second varsity season after going 3-7 in 2020.

The Greyhounds gained 478 yards of total offense. Gunner McElroy threw for 207 yards on 17 of 21 passes and four touchdowns. Tramar Gilbert rushed seven times for 165 yards and three TDs. Brody Williams made five receptions for 85 yards and three scores. Luke Wiley and Caden Duer also scored.

Keller 39, Abilene Cooper 0

Matthew Anderson connected with Amari Henry on a 64-yard touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage and Keller went on to rout Cooper on Friday in Abilene.

Austin Coleman scored on an 87-yard TD run in the first quarter and added a 2-yard score late in the second that gave the Indians a 29-0 lead.

The defense forced three Cooper turnovers.

FW Paschal 38, Granbury 35

The Paschal Panthers defeated the Granbury Pirates to open the season Friday at Farrington Field. Paschal lost to Granbury in last season’s opener, 56-20.

Leading by 3 and trying to run out the clock, Paschal dropped a fourth-down pass with 2:20 left. Granbury gained 30 yards and reached midfield, but Paschal’s Chris Gee killed the drive with an interception and picked up a first down on the ensuing drive.

Gee rushed 28 times for 231 yards and two TDs. Tommy Bell added 138 yards rushing and one TD.

Niyonkuru Rodrique scored on a 30-yard interception return for Paschal while Gray Gordon connected on all five PATs and nailed a 41-yard field goal.

Joshua 36, FW Eastern Hills 0

Danny DeArman picked up a win in his Joshua football debut Friday night at Scarborough-Handley Field. DeArman came to Joshua in January after eight seasons leading Arlington Bowie.

Aiden Lee returned a fumble for a touchdown and four different Joshua Owls scored a rushing touchdown.

Joshua out-gained the Highlanders 303-66 in total yards.

Ayden Groce led the Owls with 131 yards on 17 carries and a score while Kolby Smith and Robert Brown each added a TD and 44 yards rushing apiece. Jaydin Pool rushed for 30 yards and a TD.

Daniel Terry and Cooper Moore picked off Eastern Hills and Drew DeArman had a team-high nine tackles.

This story was originally published August 27, 2021 at 10:57 AM.