Fort Worth Paschal partakes in playoffs for first time in 28 years, falls to Denton Ryan
Before the season began, Fort Worth Paschal Panthers head coach John Killough said his team was looking at 2024 as “a fresh start” for the gridiron program that was moving down to 5A Division I from 6A, where it had won just seven games the past 10 years.
A 77-14 5A Division I bi-district playoff loss to the Denton Ryan Raiders on Nov. 14 at Denton’s C.H. Collins Athletic Complex ending Paschal’s season did not damper the enthusiasm for his squad.
“Sometimes you just get outmanned,” said Killough. “And we got out manned by a great football team. Our guys fought hard. Gave great effort. Did not quit. Just like they have all season. I am so very proud of this group.”
There were a few highlights for Fort Worth Paschal against Denton Ryan. Wide Receiver Mike Guerrero hauled in a 67-yard TD pass on a flea flicker from Wideout Chris Debenport with 6:46 left in the third quarter for the Panther’s first score. Jashaun Thomas added a one-yard TD plunge 3:13 left in the game for the contest’s final score.
Paschal defensive back Oliver Rodriguez had a pair of first-half interceptions, but the Panthers could not capitalize on the turnovers. Rodriguez, late in the opening half, had his third pick which he returned 92 yards for an apparent TD, but a Paschal penalty negated it.
Senior Marquez Dean registered a team-high 72 rushing yards on 18 carries. Guerrero grabbed three passes for a team-leading 71 receiving yards.
Coach Killough can be “encouraged” rather than “discouraged” by his team’s accomplishments this year. Paschal, in the post-season for the first time in 28 years, was making the program’s 18th overall playoff appearance, but the first since a 1995 bi-district 42-7 loss to Arlington.
“You have to start somewhere,” said Killough, referencing building a program. “You make the playoffs one year. Then you win a playoff game. Then you win two playoff games. And so on.”
Competitive in each regular-season game, the team’s three losses were one-score defeats -- seven, eight and five points.
“That is a tribute to all the hard work these guys put in,” said Killough. “They play together. They love each other. It’s a family.”
Paschal (7-4) had its first winning season since 1979 when it finished 6-4, and the last time it experienced a seven-win season was 1968, posting a 7-3 record.
Go back to 1964, with a 10-2 record and last district title, to find a Panthers team to win more than this year’s seven-win squad. That ‘64 team was also the last year the Panthers won a playoff game -- 7-0 over Dallas Hillcrest.
For perspective, it has been 60 years since a Fort Worth Paschal football team won more than this year’s edition.
“This team accomplished so much this season,” concluded Coach Killough, in his fourth year guiding the football program. “We set the single-season scoring record. Glad for our seniors to get to a playoff game. We will get to work with the underclassmen and get ready for next year.”
The Denton Ryan Raiders, No. 3 state-ranked 5A Division I team and second in the Star-Telegram’s area 5A rankings, showed its dominance early and often against Paschal, scoring 21 first-quarter points then exploded for 35 in the second period to hold a commanding 56-0 halftime lead.
Running backs Nemo Warmate and Tre’Vaughn Reynolds each recorded three first-half scoring runs, while quarterback Quin Henigan tossed a pair of second-period TD strikes to Braeden Mussett.
Warmate had a 40-yard TD burst on Ryan’s first possession, and added scoring runs of one and 10 yards. Reynolds had a pair of 11-yard TD scores sandwiched around a two-yard six-pointer.
Mussett hauled in a 15-yard scoring first-quarter scoring aerial and then a 26-yarder in the second stanza. Mussett’s 67-yard punt return set up Warmate’s one-yard score.
Reynolds finished with 94 rushing yards on eight attempts, while Warmate totaled 71 yards on just six carries. Henigan, son of head coach Dave Henigan, completed eight of nine passes for 105 yards and two TDs with one interception.
The offensive quartet of Warmate, Reynolds, Henigan and Mussett all sat out the entire second half. Rontavian Brown, who registered 94 rushing yards on nine carries -- all after halftime -- had a 27-yard third-period TD scamper for Denton Ryan.
A Rafael Miranda four-yard scoring run in the third quarter and a 67-yard blocked punt return by John Catlin Jr. in the final period rounded out the Raiders scoring bonanza.
Ryan defensive back Xavier Hiler had two interceptions, both in the first half, and had a third negated by penalty. Hiler’s first pick led to Reynolds first 11-yard TD run.
Denton Ryan piled up 290 rushing yards on 33 attempts, running behind an offensive line that is among the best in the state, including Alabama pledge Ty Haywood (6-5 285), who is the No. 7 state recruit by 247Sports, while the same website lists Texas A&M commit Marcus Garcia (6-5 270) No. 55 in the 2025 class.
Winning its sixth consecutive game since its lone setback, a 42-27 loss to top-ranked Aledo, Denton Ryan could very well be headed for a re-match in the Regional Final.
The Raiders (10-1) advance to the Area round next week, squaring off against the Lubbock Monterey Plainsmen (7-4) at a date/time/location to be determined.
This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 11:46 PM.