Preview: North Crowley’s rise to play Westlake on Texas football’s grandest stage
When North Crowley coach Ray Gates was hired in 2022, he didn’t have plans to turn the program into a Texas high school football powerhouse.
“If you want to make God laugh, make plans,” Gates said. “We always try to plan out and have this idea of where we’re going to be in two or three years, but the reality is that you don’t know.
“We believe in the work. And that’s what we’ve done.”
North Crowley will face Austin Westlake in the Class 6A Division I State Championship at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
North Crowley’s recent success is massive, but it wasn’t always that way. From 2006 to 2019, the Panthers endured 14 losing seasons. In 2020 and 2021, the Panthers started to improve and posted two 7-4 seasons.
At that point, Gates was hired. In his first season, North Crowley set a single-season record with 12 wins. Gates, a former defensive coordinator at Cedar Hill, had a reputation as a defensive mastermind with an ability to motivate and lead.
“Defense really started to elevate once coach Gates got here,” senior defensive end Xavier Coleman said.
The Panthers continued to improve en route to three consecutive undefeated district championships. In Gates’ tenure, North Crowley has a 41-2 overall record. He was named the Star-Telegram Coach of the Year in 2023.
Ahead of the 2024 season, the Panthers were already a powerhouse, yet they did not have a program-defining win over a state champion. On Sept. 6, things changed; North Crowley secured its statement win, shocking defending Class 6A Division II State Champion DeSoto, 57-51.
The non-district game against the Eagles was one of four challenges Gates intentionally scheduled to test his squad against the best Texas football had to offer. It sparked improvement, which came in handy in the postseason.
In a state semifinal vs. Duncanville, North Crowley was ready and prepared to seize the moment, earning a 36-34 victory over the defending champions. With the win, the Panthers earned a No. 3 Max Preps national ranking and avenged last season’s 52-10 loss.
“We’ve been building up to this moment since freshman year,” senior running back Cornelius Warren III said. “ … This year, we had a chip on our shoulder, and we had to attack.”
Gates said that national attention can make you have a “big head.” He added it’s crucial to step back and re-focus on a proper approach.
North Crowley has a “headless opponent” mentality. The coaching staff repeatedly emphasizes the need to focus on the things that brought them success: Preparation, dedication, work ethic and blocking out the noise.
“We’re ready for the moment, and we’ll seize our opportunity on Saturday,” Gates said.
North Crowley has an opportunity to win a state title in the UIL’s largest classification. The Panthers have never accomplished this feat, and the city of Fort Worth hasn’t been represented in the UIL’s largest class title game since 1948.
The win over Duncanville was massive. However, the staff knows a focus on bringing the team back down to earth is necessary.
“It’s reframing everything,” offensive coordinator Eli Reinhart said. “The goal is to win a state championship. The goal wasn’t just to beat Duncanville.”
Austin Westlake & North Crowley: Players to watch, more
Austin Westlake has a storied tradition and will play in its 12th state championship since the 1990 season. The Chaparrals are looking to win their fifth state title.
Gates said Westlake is a “worthy opponent”, especially considering the win over North Shore, a team that has four state championship wins since 2015.
Gates knows North Crowley doesn’t have Westlake’s history but emphasized his team has something to fight for, too. He said that the Panthers, as the “new kid on the block” at AT&T Stadium, have a “point to prove.”
“It’s going to be a battle between two teams, and it’ll come down to who wants it most,” Gates said.
Leading the Westlake offense is junior quarterback Rees Wise, a three-star prospect with offers from SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and more. He has passed for 2,444 yards and 23 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
One of his primary targets is senior tight end Brody Wilhelm, a three-star Baylor commit. With a 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame, Wilheim is a force who has tallied a team-high 600 yards and nine touchdowns.
“They have guys that can make plays all over the field,” Gates said. “It’s really about fulfilling our responsibilities and doing our jobs.”
For North Crowley, forcing turnovers will be a game-changer against a high-powered offense. Against Duncanville, two key turnovers from junior strong safety Aaron Bradshaw arguably won them the game.
The unit wants to be aggressive, but at the same time, the priority is discipline, playing smart and securing the stop.
Keep an eye on North Crowley’s turnover machines: Bradshaw, linebacker Ja’Brelle Asberry, LB and Texas signee Jonathan Cunningham, and defensive back and Oklahoma State signee Draden Fullbright, to name a few.
“It’s fun playing with a bunch of headhunters,” Cunningham said. “Everybody just flies around to the ball. We all really just trust each other. We don’t have to do too much worrying or thinking on the field.”
Offensively, North Crowley will rely on the same core players. Within Reinhart’s offense, senior quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. will lead an offense that averages 54.2 points. Jimerson has thrown 54 touchdowns this season.
His favorite target is wide receiver Quentin Gibson, a Colorado commit. Gibson has taken the high school football world by storm, breaking onto the scene with 1,828 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior.
The Panthers have a well-balanced rushing attack, with senior Daniel Bray, sophomore Kiante Ingram, and Warren all receiving touches. Warren was the star of the show vs. Duncanville, tallying 178 rushing yards on 42 carries. He also had 45 passing yards and two total touchdowns.
“I’ll do whatever just to see my team win,” Warren said. “It doesn’t matter if a beating or whatever comes with it.”
Gates said he is proud of the team and the senior class for what they’ve already accomplished. However, he knows that the Panthers, to leave a lasting legacy, have to win the final game of the year.
“Nobody will remember what happened in round five,” Gates said. “They will remember the state championship game.”
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