North Crowley to have ‘three-headed race’ for starting quarterback spot
North Crowley, the 2024 Class 6A Division I state champion, will have quarterback competition leading up to the start of the Texas high school football season, head coach Ray Gates told the Star-Telegram.
In 2024, All-Area quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr., now at North Texas, established himself as one of the best in the state, passing for 3,769 yards and 58 touchdowns. Now, his position is open.
“When you lose a guy that you had for three years, somebody has to win the position,” Gates said. “And right now we have a three-headed race.”
Gates mentioned senior DeMarcus Harris, senior CJ Alexander and three-star junior Hayes Cloutier, a transfer from Inglewood, California, with offers from Arizona and Sacramento State, as the athletes competing for the spot.
“All three of them have had their days, and they’re battling,” Gates said. “And so right now, there isn’t a clear-cut winner. We’re going to take this thing probably all the way into game one. And you know, you have to see them under the lights.”
Cloutier, during a scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 15, started the controlled portion and tossed scoring passes of 40 and 55 yards in the Panthers’ first 10 offensive plays as North Crowley torched the Trinity secondary.
“Hayes (Cloutier) played really well,” said Gates. “I thought he was poised under pressure and the good thing about him is that he has the ability elude the pocket.”
Harris followed and tossed a 63-yard scoring strike before Cloutier returned and connected for a 41-yard touchdown. All four scores were to different receivers.
All three QBs tossed TD passes when the teams went to the first and goal at the 10 portion of the scrimmage. Cloutier, however, played every down in the live quarter that ended the scrimmage.
Cloutier threw an interception on the second play of the live session, but came back later to toss a 33-yard touchdown, the only score by either team in the live session.
Gates added that Harris stepped up and had a good scrimmage, and Alexander came in and made plays when he had the opportunity.
“We have a really good battle going on right now,” said Gates. “We’re not going to name anybody. We’re going to keep it going and I want to make sure that the guy that wins the job, earns the job.”
Gates said the competition has been friendly, with all three athletes having respect for the others.
“They are competing and they want the job, but they are happy for each other when one does something that’s really good,” Gates said. “I enjoy seeing that.”
Gates said each competitor brings a different playing style to the table, which gives North Crowley’s area-leading offense options. The Panthers may run different sets that bring out the best in each QB as they set out to find the long-term starter.
“We’re going to utilize all of their skill sets until we feel like we have a clear-cut guy that we’re going to roll with,” Gates said.
Whoever is playing quarterback will have all the tools needed to thrive. North Crowley’s offense will feature a talented group of receivers, including sophomore standout Damarion Mays and a running back room with three-star Kiante Ingram.
“We’ll have the opportunity to throw the ball deep,” Gates said. “It will be hard for defenses to stop us, simply because of the weapons that we have. And they have to make some tough decisions on who they want to take away.”
Jacob Torres also enrolled
Gates did not mention Jacob Torres, a transfer quarterback from Burleson Centennial who earned District 7-5A Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. Torres, who is enrolled at North Crowley, moved to the Fort Worth area after his house was struck by lightning, according to The Dallas Morning News.
This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
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