Grapevine controls Arlington Heights in showdown for the District 4-5A Division 2 title

The slipper finally didn’t fit for the Fort Worth Arlington Heights football team.

After starting the season 8-0 and going 5-0 in District 4-5A Division 2 play, the Yellow Jackets traveled to a soggy, chilly Mustang-Panther Stadium for a showdown with Grapevine, which was also undefeated in district at 5-0 and No. 5 in the state in Class 5A D2.

Heights was unable to get anything going on offense other than star running back Brian Furch and Mustangs’ running back Parker Polk rushed for 258 yards and two scores as Grapevine downed the Yellow Jackets 28-7 to claim at least a share of the district title.

Grapevine (8-1 overall, 6-0 district), ranked No. 5 in the Star-Telegram Class 5A area rankings, can win the district title outright with a win over last-place Fort Worth Trimble Tech next week. The Mustangs will be the top seed coming out of the district in the playoffs with Arlington Heights being the second seed.

The game started an hour and five minutes late, at 8:05 p.m., due to lightning in the area. After play was resumed the rain was replaced by a light mist that remained for the rest of the contest.

Arlington Heights (8-1, 5-1) came out of the gate strong with a 27-yard run by Furch on the first play from scrimmage that gave the Yellow Jackets a first down at the Grapevine 48. But much of what was to come took place next.

The Yellow Jackets were forced to punt three plays later and five out of the first six possessions by Heights were punts. The other possession ended in a fumble.

While the Mustang defense was handling the Arlington Heights offense, the Grapevine running game was in high gear behind Polk. His 258 rushing yards was just 10 yards shy of the Yellow Jackets’ total offense of 268 yards.

“We knew coming in that they would give us a lot of different fronts, but it was a great job by our center (Sie Owen) and all our linemen communicating up front,” said Polk who carried 29 times. “In practice we ran against six different fronts because they run everything, but my boys handled it really well. They blocked amazing all night and we just kept pounding it up the middle.”

Grapevine quarterback Evan Baum hit Rondale Carridine with a 40-yard pass on third down to keep the Mustangs’ opening drive alive. Four plays later Carridine took an option pitch and raced 23 yards for the score.

Polk carried three of four plays on Grapevine’s next series picking up 26, 18, and the final 11 yards to put the Mustangs up 14-0 with 2:33 left in the first quarter.

Heights’ first half turnover was turned into points as well when Polk raced around left end from 27 yards out to up the lead to 21-0 just before halftime.

Arlington Heights finally found some offensive rhythm late in the third quarter driving from its own 29 to the Grapevine 11, but lost the ball on downs there.

Furch rushed for 147 yards on 19 carries, but the problem was the rest of the Yellow Jackets picked up 37 yards on the ground and just 84 more through the air.

“They fought their hearts out and this is the first time they’ve felt loss so it stings for them,” said Arlington Heights coach Phil Young, whose team lost the turnover battle (2-1) for the first time in nine weeks. “But I told them that it’s hard to win every game and not many teams do, in fact Grapevine has lost a game. We have to take care of business and beat North Side and be 9-1 and go win a playoff game.”

The Mustangs took a 28-0 lead with 7:48 left when Polk darted up the middle for 55 yards to the Jackets’ 8-yard line. Two plays later Reid Watkins took it in from the seven.

The Yellow Jackets finally scored when Furch ran off right tackle for a 14-yard TD with 2:52 left. Heights had been 8-0 for the first time since 2014 when the team won its first 12 games.

“When you play Arlington Heights it’s not like playing anyone else on your schedule,” said Grapevine coach Mike Alexander. “A lot of two tight end sets, two back sets, run the ball downhill and our kids met the challenge. They were tough tonight and physical. Man, I’m just so proud of them.

“Three years in a row as district champs. These seniors are definitely leaving a legacy.”

This story was originally published October 28, 2022 at 11:47 PM.