5 Friday night football storylines in Week 5: Bell, Eaton to clash, and more
Week 5 of the Texas high school football season is here.
Here are five of the top Friday night football storylines from the Fort Worth area:
L.D. Bell, Eaton to clash in key 4-6A matchup
Hurst L.D. Bell and Haslet Eaton have a golden opportunity to take the next step toward the postseason in District 4-6A, which is arguably one of the best leagues in Texas.
The district is a bit top-heavy, with state-ranked Euless Trinity and Southlake Carroll, but playoff spots are still available to be seized. The Blue Raiders haven’t made the playoffs since 2013, and the program is hungry to get back in the dance.
Bell is off to a fantastic start with a victory over Keller Timber Creek and a game-winning field goal against Keller. Keep an eye on Bell kicker Grady Matcham, who has been an absolute game-changer for the Blue Raiders this season.
Eaton is also rolling with a district win over Justin Northwest. Bell will face Eaton at 7 p.m. Friday at Northwest ISD Stadium. The winner will have a leg up in a tightly contested playoff race.
Keller Central looks to build momentum
Keller Central, also in contention for a District 4-6A playoff spot, only won one game in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
But 2025 has been a different story, and the Chargers are 3-1 to start. With a victory over Keller Timber Creek, it’s evident that Central has turned around its program.
Now, the Chargers have another golden opportunity to build momentum in another Keller ISD rivalry game. Central will face Keller at 7 p.m. Friday at Keller ISD Stadium.
The Keller Indians’ chance at a playoff berth took a hit with a loss to Bell in Week 4. They have an uphill battle with that loss on their record, and to turn things around, they’ll need to make the most of their opportunities moving forward.
Can North Crowley get back on track?
For the rest of the regular season, the North Crowley Panthers will be a heavy favorite against District 3-6A opponents.
It’ll be a great time for North Crowley to get back to the basics, clean up the penalties and start building momentum. The Panthers are coming off a stunning upset loss to Rockwall in Week 4.
With the loss, the 2024 Class 6A Division I state champions dropped to No. 21 in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s Class 6A rankings.
The Panthers will look to get back on track against Mansfield Legacy at 7 p.m. Friday at Newsom Stadium.
Colleyville Heritage looks to bounce back
Colleyville Heritage had a tough loss in Week 4, falling 36-35 to Mansfield Timberview, a rising program. Now, the Panthers will host Argyle at 7 p.m. Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium.
It’ll be another tough task, as Argyle is ranked No. 5 in Class 5A Division II by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
Heritage lost 42-35 to Argyle last season. In the 2023 season, however, the Panthers stunned the Eagles in a regional semifinal playoff game, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes.
The programs have lots of history, and they’ll write the next chapter Friday.
A big Fort Worth ISD rivalry
Fort Worth Western Hills will face Eastern Hills at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Scarborough-Handley Field in a rivalry known as the Battle of the Hills.
Eastern Hills won the rivalry game last year and is coming off a strong 34-28 overtime victory against a solid Benbrook squad. Western Hills, after a season-opening win over North Side, has lost its last two contests.
.jpg)