High school football storylines: Paschal, Arlington Heights to re-spark rivalry, more
Week 11 of the Texas high school football season is here, and Fort Worth-area teams are set to wrap up the regular season. See the storylines, district title games and playoff races from around the area:
Fort Worth Paschal, Arlington Heights to re-spark rivalry
Fort Worth Paschal (8-1, 6-1) and Arlington Heights (8-1, 6-1) started a storied rivalry in 1922 but haven’t played since the 2013 season.
Paschal’s move to Class 5A re-sparked the rivalry now known as the Battle of the Bonfire, a reference to the Great Bonfire Incident of 1963. The Panthers and Yellow Jackets last matchup in 2013 drew 11,000 fans to Farrington Field.
The feud has been competitive, with Paschal leading 39-35-1. The winner will take home a newly made Battle of the Bonfire trophy, and the game is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8, at Farrington Field with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Both Paschal and Arlington Heights have clinched playoff spots out of District 4-5A D1 with 6-1 records and will play for second-place positioning. The Panthers, with a week nine victory over Wyatt, secured a playoff spot for the first time in over 28 years.
Paschal won the first 15 games and 12 straight from 1953 to 1964. Arlington Heights won 11 consecutive from 1970 to 1980. The two schools faced off every year from 1928 to 1989 but since have met eight times.
Tickets must be purchased via the GoFan app or online, and gates will open at 6:15. Paschal will be the visiting team on the east side, while Heights will be the home team on the west side.
North Crowley to face Crowley for district title
Undefeated North Crowley (9-0, 5-0) has been “sharpening its sword” to prepare for the treacherous Class 6A playoffs. The Panthers, a title contender, will face their toughest district challenge on Nov. 7 at Crowley ISD Stadium.
North Crowley is set to face Crowley (6-3, 5-0), a school district rival, on Nov. 7 at Crowley ISD Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Eagles remain perfect in district play while showcasing improvements from early season struggles.
North Crowley is ranked No. 1 in the Star-Telegram’s Class 6A area rankings, while Crowley holds a No. 5 ranking. The winner of the clash will also win a District 3-6A championship. The Panthers have won the last two 3-6A titles and are looking for a third consecutive.
District title games, playoff races, more
Alvarado (9-0, 4-0) and Kennedale (5-4, 4-0) will face off with the District 6-4A D1 championship on the line.
Due to an expectation of severe weather, the game was moved to Thursday, Nov. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Head Stadium.
Another Thursday game is Mansfield Summit (5-4, 5-2) vs. Arlington Seguin (6-3 4-3), which has a 7 p.m. kickoff at Wilemon Field. With Mansfield Timberview (6-4, 5-3) having a bye week, the Seguin Cougars need a victory to force a three-way tie and keep playoff hopes alive.
Arlington Martin (6-3, 3-3), after six years of dominance in district play, is in danger of missing the UIL playoffs. The Warriors will face Arlington (6-3, 4-2) and need a victory. Arlington Bowie has already clinched, but Arlington, Haltom, and South Grand Prairie are in reach with 4-2 district records.
Although the contest was initially supposed to be held at Choctaw, Martin will face Arlington at UTA Maverick Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Weatherford (2-7, 2-3) is also looking to keep playoff dreams alive. The Roos can force a three-way tiebreaker with Mansfield Legacy and Mansfield. They’ll need a victory over the Mansfield Tigers (7-2, 3-2) on Nov. 8 at Newsom Stadium to make that happen; kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
A huge rivalry week
Hurst L.D. Bell shocked the Texas high school football world with an upset of Euless Trinity, snapping a 25-game losing streak to the Trojans. Bell (2-7, 1-6) is already eliminated from playoff contention, while Trinity (8-1, 6-1), No. 3 in the Star-Telegram’s Class 6A rankings, has clinched a playoff spot.
Although playoff implications are out of the picture, Bell football can end the season well with a victory over a rival. The Blue Raiders and Trojans will clash at Pennington Field on Nov. 7 with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Another huge rivalry is Grapevine-Colleyville ISD’s Red Rail. Colleyville Heritage (7-2, 6-1) and Grapevine (0-9, 0-7) will clash at Mustang-Panther Stadium on Nov. 8 with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Mustangs will look to avoid ending the season without a win. The Panthers will look to enter the UIL playoffs with momentum and a victory over a rival.
More games to watch
Arlington Bowie vs. South Grand Prairie, 7 p.m. Nov. 7, Gopher-Warrior Bowl
Highland Park vs. Midlothian, 7 p.m. Nov. 7, Midlothian ISD Stadium
Azle vs. NRH Richland, 7 p.m. Nov. 8, Birdville FA/AC
FW Chisholm Trail at Saginaw, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8
Decatur vs. FW Southwest, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, Clark Stadium
FW All Saints Episcopal at FW Southwest Christian, 7 p.m. Nov. 8
SPC 3A Championship: FW Trinity Valley vs. Houston Christian, 3 p.m. Nov. 9, Pennington Field
This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 3:02 PM.
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