Fort Worth-area playoff scenarios: Which teams need a win in final regular season week?
It’s the final week of the Texas high school football regular season.
Although many teams have already locked up playoff spots, there are still plenty up for grabs. Which teams are already eliminated? Which teams can make the playoffs with a win?
Also, there are a few district championships on the line. Here’s a complete rundown of where Fort Worth-area teams stand.
District 3-6A
District champion: North Crowley (9-0, 6-0)
Playoff lock: Euless Trinity (6-3, 5-1), Crowley (7-2, 4-2)
In the hunt: Hurst L.D. Bell (6-3, 3-3), Saginaw Boswell (6-3, 3-3), Weatherford (4-5, 2-4)
Eliminated: Paschal (3-6, 1-5), Saginaw Chisholm Trail (1-8, 0-6)
Breakdown: When it comes to competitiveness, District 3-6A shines. Bell, Boswell and even Weatherford are still in the mix. Oddly enough, none of those teams are playing each other in week 11.
The Pioneers are taking on Chisholm Trail, a team without a district win. Bell and Crowley, on the other hand, have their hands full with Trinity and North Crowley, respectively.
Weatherford is facing an uphill battle and needs both Bell and Boswell to lose to force a three way tie. The Roos also need a win over Fort Worth Paschal.
District 4-6A
District Champion: Trophy Club Byron Nelson (9-0, 6-0)
Playoff lock: Southlake Carroll (8-1, 5-1), Keller Timber Creek (6-3, 4-2)
In the hunt: Keller (6-3, 3-3), Haltom (2-7, 2-4)
Eliminated: Haslet Eaton (4-5, 2-4), Keller Fossil Ridge (3-6, 2-4), Keller Central (0-9, 0-6)
Breakdown: Keller has tiebreaker wins over Eaton and Fossil Ridge, which eliminates them from the playoffs. If Haltom defeats Keller this Friday, however, they’ll have the same record and the Buffaloes will have the head to head tiebreaker.
The Indians have lost three of four and Haltom is coming off a win over Eaton. Can the Buffaloes’ late season stampede shock the high school football community?
District 8-6A
District championship game: Arlington Bowie (7-2, 5-0) vs. Arlington Martin (6-3, 5-0), 7 p.m. Thursday, Choctaw Stadium
In the hunt: South Grand Prairie (3-6, 3-2), Arlington (3-6, 2-3), Arlington Lamar (3-6, 2-3)
Eliminated: Grand Prairie (1-9, 1-5), Arlington Sam Houston (0-9, 0-5)
Breakdown: Since Arlington has a tiebreaker over Lamar, the Vikings need to pick up a win. If both Arlington and Lamar are victorious, three way tiebreaker rules will go into effect; District 8-6A uses a point system with a cap of plus or minus 21.
The Colts are set to face Arlington Sam Houston, a team that hasn’t won a game this season. At the top of the district, Bowie and Martin are set to clash for the title. Both teams are undefeated in district, but the Martin Warriors are the favorite to win. Can the Volunteers pull of the upset?
District 3-5A D1
District Champion: Aledo (9-0, 7-0)
Playoff lock: Justin Northwest (8-1, 6-1), Denton Ryan (6-2, 5-2)
In the hunt: The Colony (5-5, 5-3), Burleson Centennial (6-3, 4-3)
Eliminated: Fort Worth Brewer (3-6, 3-4), Azle (3-6, 2-5), Saginaw (0-9, 0-7), Fort Worth South Hills (0-9, 0-7)
Breakdown: If Denton Ryan wins, it’ll secure home field advantage. The Raiders will be facing Justin Northwest, so they’ll have their work cut out for them.
Burleson Centennial is facing Azle, and the Spartans need a win to stay alive. The Colony’s district record is set and stone at 5-3. If Denton Ryan falls to Northwest and Centennial wins, three way tiebreaker rules go into effect; there is an 18 point cap with only positive points counting.
District 5-5A D2
District Champion: Richland (9-0, 7-0)
Playoff lock: Mansfield Timberview (8-1, 6-1), Carrollton Smith (7-2, 5-2)
In the hunt: Birdville (4-5, 4-3), Dallas White (5-4, 4-3)
Eliminated: Dallas Molina (4-5, 2-4), Dallas Sunset (3-7, 2-5), Dallas Adams (1-8, 1-6), Carrollton Turner (1-8, 0-7)
Breakdown: The Richland Royals won the district last week, besting Mansfield Timberview to remain undefeated. There’s one playoff spot up for grabs. Birdville and Dallas White will face off 7 p.m. Friday at Birdville FA/AC, and the winner will extend its season.
District 4-5A D2
District Champion: Colleyville Heritage (8-1, 6-0)
Playoff locks: Grapevine (5-4, 5-1), Arlington Heights (6-3, 4-2), Fort Worth Wyatt (7-2, 4-2)
Eliminated: Fort Worth Southwest (3-6, 2-4), Fort Worth North Side (4-5, 2-4), Fort Worth Polytechnic (2-7, 1-5), Fort Worth Trimble Tech (1-8, 0-6)
District 5-5A D2
District Champion: Midlothian Heritage (9-0, 6-0)
Playoff Locks: Mansfield Summit (6-3, 5-1)
In the hunt: Ennis (4-5, 4-2), Everman (6-3, 4-2), Arlington Seguin (5-4, 3-3)
Eliminated: Burleson (2-7, 2-4), Corsicana (2-7, 0-6), Joshua (0-9, 0-6)
Breakdown: Everman and Ennis are automatically in with a win. Arlington Seguin needs one or both to lose to have a shot, but they’ll have to topple Burleson first.
Seguin holds a tiebreaker over Ennis but not over Everman. If both the Lions and Bulldogs both lose, a point tiebreaker will occur and Seguin has the advantage; District 5-5A D2 has a point cap of plus or minus 17.
District 4-4A D1
District Champion: Decatur (6-4, 4-0)
Playoff lock: Springtown (6-3, 2-1)
In the hunt: Burkburnett (3-6, 1-2), Wichita Falls (2-7, 1-2), Mineral Wells (3-6, 0-3)
Breakdown: Mineral Wells needs a victory against Burkburnett to keep its season alive. Wichita Falls can take a spot with a win over Springtown.
If Mineral Wells manages to overcome Burkburnett and Wichita Falls fails to win, three way tiebreaker rules will go into effect.
District 6-4A D1
District championship game: Kennedale (6-3, 6-0) vs. Fort Worth Dunbar (7-2, 6-0), 8 p.m. Thursday, Farrington Field
Playoff lock: Lake Worth (6-3, 4-2)
In the hunt: FW Western Hills (4-5, 3-3), FW Eastern Hills (4-5, 3-3)
Eliminated: Castleberry (2-7, 1-5), FW Carter Riverside (4-5, 1-5), FW Diamond Hill Jarvis (0-9, 0-6)
Breakdown: If Eastern Hills wins, Western Hills will need to win to force a tiebreaker. The same goes for Eastern Hills in the case of a Western Hills win over Jarvis.
District 4-4A D2
District Champion: Glen Rose (5-4, 4-0)
Playoff locks: Godley (4-5, 3-1), Hillsboro (4-5, 2-2), Benbrook (6-3, 2-2)
Eliminated: Ferris (2-7, 1-3), Venus (3-6, 0-4)
Breakdown: Although all the playoff spots are full, there are a few different situations that can occur. Depending on the results of week 11’s games, the seeding could drastically change. It’s worth noting that Hillsboro has a tiebreaker over Benbrook.
District 4-3A D1
District Champion: Brock (6-3, 5-0)
Playoff lock: Paradise (9-1, 5-1)
In the hunt: Whitesboro (4-5, 3-2), Peaster (3-6, 2-3), Ponder (4-5, 2-3), Boyd (1-8, 1-4)
Eliminated: Pilot Point (0-9, 0-5)
Breakdown: For Boyd to have a chance, they’ll need to defeat Peaster, and Ponder will have to lose to Whitesboro.
Whitesboro can capture a spot with a win. If Peaster and Ponder end the regular season with the same record, Peaster will advance.
This story was originally published November 1, 2023 at 2:15 PM.
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