Rivalry re-sparked: Arlington Heights bests Paschal in Battle of the Bonfire thriller
Arlington Heights and Paschal football have a storied history that started in 1922 but hadn’t played since the 2013 season.
Ahead of the 2024 season, the Paschal Panthers’ move back to Class 5A set up the highly anticipated 76th game of the rivalry, which is now known as the Battle of the Bonfire. In front of one of Farrington Field’s largest crowds in a decade, Arlington Heights secured an 28-23 victory on Nov. 8. as fans chanted, “Ayyy Heights! Ayyy Heights!”
“Our guys, they fought hard,” Head coach Curtis James said. “There were a lot of banged-up kids on both sides. A lot of emotions. Overall, it was a fantastic night for the city of Fort Worth.”
Paschal had a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown when Heights’ Kelle Johnson notched a game-sealing interception. Paschal still leads the all time series 39-36-1.
“I tell us it’s always the next play,” coach Curtis James said of the rivalry. “So, until the game next year -- we’re the champions.”
Heights running back Carson James, son of head coach Curtis James, said renewing the rivalry “means a lot.”
“This is really important,” Carson James said. “It was really fun to play in this game. It was something different. It was amazing.”
To the Heights and Paschal fanbases, the rivalry between the two squads holds great importance. Coach Curtis James said people were “calling and pleading” to bring it back, and both sides wanted to make it an ultra-important game once the Jackets and Panthers landed in the same district.
“When to play them -- let’s make sure it’s not in the middle, then it might get downplayed,” James said. “Let’s go at the end. So, it’s a big game for the community.”
In the bi-district UIL opening round of the playoffs, Paschal will hit the road to face Denton Ryan, the No. 2 ranked Class 5A D1 team in Texas. Arlington Heights will face Richland at Farrington Field.
“It’s going to be tough. It’s going to be real tough,” coach Curtis James said. “That district, by far, is one of the best in 5A division one. ... Richland had a lot of guys come back. They had a really good run last year. Aledo is Aledo. And Denton Ryan is really stout.”
Both teams have an uphill battle ahead, but success is relative. The Yellow Jackets and Panthers have had tremendous seasons; Heights made the playoffs for a third consecutive season, while Paschal made the playoffs for the first time in over 28 years.
“Our number one goal is to make sure we get a playoff game at home,” coach Curtis James said. “That’s our best chance to beat anyone we ever play -- to play them at Farrington Field. (Richland) has a lot of high profile guys from what I’ve seen, so we’re going to have to play a great game.
“We’re a young team, but young teams can play. I’m going to be proud of them. Proud of everything that we’ve been building from the youth through the summer through the spring. ... We’re going to give it all we’ve got.”
Arlington Heights, Paschal battle in rivalry thriller
To start the game, Paschal quarterback Jashaun Thomas set the tone, breaking free for a 63-yard rushing touchdown up the middle, sending the Panther fans into a frenzy. After a missed PAT for Paschal, Arlington Heights quarterback Kaeden Grant responded, leading an 11-play drive that culminated with him keeping for a one-yard touchdown.
After a Paschal punt, Heights embarked on another touchdown drive led by running back Carson James, who averaged 10.6 yards per carry in the first half. He finished the series with a three-yard scoring scamper.
Paschal’s offense punted but got another chance after a Heights red zone fumble recovered by Aireas White. The Panthers capitalized with a scoring drive ended by an 11-yard rushing touchdown from Thomas.
Grant then tossed his first interception of the year to Paschal’s Noah Dillon as time expired in the second quarter, and the Yellow Jackets took a 14-13 lead into the break.
To start the second half, Heights wide receiver Jakob Hemphill extended the Jackets’ lead with a spectacular over-the-shoulder, 24-yard touchdown reception. Paschal’s offense, however, responded with a touchdown drive, and Thomas found the end zone for a third time with a six-yard rush.
The Heights offense, powered by Carson James, was relentless. Carson James older brother, Canyan James, left with an injury. Coach Curtis James told Carson James, “Finish this game for your brother,” and he did.
In another scoring drive, Grant finished the series with a 19-yard touchdown, maneuvering around Panthers and laying a hit to once again extend the lead.
A field goal was the best the Panthers’ offense could respond with, yet it cut the lead to just five with 10 minutes remaining. After both teams traded punts, the Jackets had a chance to put the game away; on 4th-and-long, Grant fired to the end zone for a game-sealing touchdown, but it fell incomplete.
The failed drive was inconsequential, as Johnson’s interception ended the threat.
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 10:44 PM.
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