Fort Worth Benbrook topples Castleberry in high-scoring thriller

Friday night football is officially back.

The matchup between Fort Worth Benbrook and River Oaks Castleberry was a high-scoring fight to the end, with Benbrook outscoring Castleberry 47-45 on Friday, Aug. 29, at Clark Stadium.

The Bobcats and Lions are used to back-and-forth games when they meet. Last season, Benbrook came out on top, with a 42-35 win. Benbrook finished second in District 4 4A Division II and made it to the second round of playoffs before being eliminated by Brock.

This season’s opener saw a similar start, despite Benbrook having a very different team. The Bobcats graduated 26 seniors last season and had to get it done Friday night with many new players.

“We just challenged these kids that it is a new year and it is a new team,” Benbrook head coach Cody Slater said. “We have got to build every week and try to get better every week. We try to get 1% better every day.”

Part of their success as a team comes from their 7-on-7 fourth-place state finish, Benbrook quarterback Brennan Barton said.

“This team is really close, we work together tight,” Barton said. “Each weekend we would go out and throw, talk to each other, hang out, we are a real tight group.”

This team saw their skills tested as the first score Friday night was made midway through the first quarter by Castleberry’s Jaydin Locks. Locks ran it into the end zone with 5:48 remaining in the first. It wouldn’t be long before Benbrook responded.

Bobcats running back Carlos Harris stiff-armed a Castleberry defender down to the ground, forcing his way into the end zone with 2:25 remaining in the first quarter, and tied the game 7-7. Shortly before the second quarter, Harris ran into the end zone for another touchdown with 0:04 remaining in the first quarter.

With 9:05 in the second quarter, Benbrook would commit a costly mistake when the ball was dropped on a punt, and Castleberry immediately recovered the ball and later scored.

“The first half, we were in our heads with first game jitters,” Harris said. “We got rid of that second half; we came together as a team.”

A team effort from Benbrook saw DeShawn Deane find his way into the end zone, making the score 20-14 with Benbrook in the lead. Castelberry responded with a rushing touchdown by Isaiah Ford, putting the Lions up 21-20.

Castleberry struck once again with only 57 seconds on the clock in the first half as Brian Ceniceros scored a 70-yard receiving touchdown, which brought the score to 28-20 at the half. This was one of two touchdowns of the night for Ceniceros.

“Our team came out here and we did what we were supposed to do, and just came up short,” Ceniceros said. “It was a hard fight. Benbrook is a good team. We will be back next week, and I’m excited for this year.”

The third and fourth quarters saw a back-and-forth between Castleberry and Benbrook. The final scoring drive was when Benbrook’s Harris sealed the win for the Bobcats with his fourth touchdown of the night.

“As long as we come together as a team and do what we are supposed to do and go out there and do our job, we will come out with that district championship and go deep in the playoffs,” Harris said.

The Bobcats will face Whitney High School on Thursday, September 4, at Farrington Field. The Lions and the South Hills High Scorpions will both be looking for their first win of the season on Friday, September 5, at Scarborough Handley Field.

Editor’s note: This story was produced by members of FW Southwest High School’s advanced media program.

This story was originally published August 30, 2025 at 12:22 AM.