What we learned Week 9: Aledo finds offensive consistency, playoff races tighten
What did we learn in Week 9 of Fort Worth-area high school football?
Here are high school sports editor Charles Baggarly’s biggest takeaways from the action:
Watch out: Aledo finds offensive consistency
When Aledo narrowly defeated Denton Ryan on Oct. 3, it seemed the Bearcats were missing one thing: consistent offensive production.
But after a massive 72-10 victory over Richland in Week 9, it’s clear the Bearcats have taken a huge step in the right direction. Richland isn’t the average District 3-5A Division I squad that Aledo (8-0, 6-0) typically walks all over.
The Royals (6-3, 5-2) are a top tier opponent that lost to Denton Ryan 30-21 and took Aledo to overtime in 2024. With Richland being one of the Fort Worth area’s most consistent programs, the Bearcats dropping 72 points is nothing short of a statement.
Aledo was already a favorite to win the Class 5A Division I championship; the win Thursday serves as a warning sign to its competition.
As things stand, Frisco Lone Star, ranked No. 2 in Class 5A Division I by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, could be the Bearcats’ toughest potential opponent. The Rangers have an 8-0 record and hold an impressive 44-21 win over Argyle.
As the Bearcats go for their 13th state championship, their future in Class 5A isn’t guaranteed. The upcoming playoff run could be their last in Class 5A, and they are in position to, once again, compete at the highest level.
A tight District 4-6A playoff race
Southlake Carroll (9-0, 7-0) and Byron Nelson (6-2, 5-1) hold the top two District 4-6A spots entering Week 10. Where do they rest of the teams stand?
Euless Trinity (6-2, 4-2), with only two district losses, holds an advantage, but still needs a strong close to the regular season. That fourth and final playoff spot, however, is up for grabs for teams like Hurst L.D. Bell, Keller Central, Haslet Eaton and Keller.
For now, Keller Central and L.D. Bell are tied for fourth place with 3-3 district records. Central has a tough slate to end the season with Southlake Carroll and Byron Nelson up next.
Bell also has a daunting path ahead with Byron Nelson and a rivalry game against Euless Trinity to end the regular season. In Week 9, Eaton showcased the Trojans are beatable, falling 24-23 in overtime, so there is still hope for the Blue Raiders, a program that hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2013 season.
Keller has four losses, but could still sneak back into the fourth spot with some help from Central and Bell. Its final game of the regular season is Nov. 7 against Eaton, and a win would certainly help its chances.
Eaton is in a similar situation as Keller with four losses, but has one less win. Although its destiny is outside of its control, victories against Timber Creek and Keller to close the season could catapult Eaton to the postseason, somewhere it hasn’t been since 2021.
Gear up — the end of the District 4-6A slate will be hectic as squads hope to keep playoff hopes alive.
District 5-4A Division I race heats up
District 5-4A Division I has a similar situation as District 4-6A. Decatur (5-2, 4-0) and Springtown (9-0, 5-0) hold the top two spots and have distanced themselves from the rest.
The rest of the playoff spots are available with squads like Fort Worth Southwest (3-5, 2-2), Eastern Hills (4-5, 2-3), Western Hills (2-5, 1-3) and Carter-Riverside (2-6, 1-3) in contention.
Southwest currently has an advantage but also has a tough matchup against Decatur to close the regular season. Eastern Hills has one more loss than Southwest, but could catch up with a victory over Diamond Hill-Jarvis (1-7, 0-4).
Don’t count out Western Hills, a squad with winnable games against Southwest and Carter-Riverside left. Speaking of the Carter-Riverside Eagles, they can also leap up the standings with victories over Diamond Hill-Jarvis and Western Hills.
All four squads have the potential to capitalize on their remaining opportunities, and potentially trigger some tiebreakers.
Week 9 scores
Thursday’s games
DISTRICT 3-6A
Mansfield Lake Ridge 63, Weatherford 46
Crowley 30, Mansfield Legacy 21
North Crowley 69, FW Boswell 17
DISTRICT 4-6A
Euless Trinity 24, Haslet Eaton 23 (OT)
Keller 37, Keller Timber Creek 36
DISTRICT 8-6A
South Grand Prairie 34, Arlington Martin 26
Arlington Bowie 30, Haltom 20
Arlington Lamar 35, Arlington 21
Grand Prairie 35, Arlington Sam Houston 27
DISTRICT 3-5A D1
Aledo 72, NRH Richland 10
Denton Ryan 38, Denton 14
FW Brewer 45, Keller Fossil Ridge 27
Azle 35, Granbury 13
DISTRICT 4-5A D1
Saginaw 45, FW North Side 0
FW South Hills 42, FW Polytechnic 19
FW Wyatt 37, FW Paschal 31
DISTRICT 7-5A D1
Highland Park 56, Cleburne 14
Red Oak 34, Burleson Centennial 25
DISTRICT 3-5A D2
Arlington Seguin 22, Everman 21
Mansfield Timberview 35, Grapevine 20
Argyle 41, Burleson 7
TAPPS DIVISION I - DISTRICT 1
Argyle Liberty Christian 63, FW Nolan Catholic 3
Dallas Parish Episcopal 38, Plano Prestonwood Christian 35
Dallas Bishop Lynch 47, Addison Trinity Christian 9
DISTRICT 5-4A D1
FW Eastern Hills 38, FW Carter-Riverside 14
Springtown 62, FW Western Hills 0
DISTRICT 6-4A D1
Alvarado 72, Waxahachie Life 0
Kennedale 48, Irving Ranchview 21
River Oaks Castleberry 50, Lake Worth 13
DISTRICT 3-4A D2
Brock 66, Burkburnett 7
FW Eagle Mountain 48, Bridgeport 0
Graham 42, Mineral Wells 0
DISTRICT 4-4A D2
Benbrook 21, Hillsboro 20
Godley 23, FW Dunbar 6
SPC - CLASS 3A
FW Trinity Valley 40, Irving Cistercian 8
TAPPS DIVISION II - DISTRICT 1
Fort Worth Christian 59, FW Southwest Christian 12
FW All Saints Episcopal 45, Midland Christian 10
TAPPS DIVISION II - DISTRICT 2
Austin Brentwood Christian 41, Dallas Bishop Dunne 6
TAPPS DIVISION III - DISTRICT 1
FW Lake Country Christian 53, Willow Park Trinity Christian 7
TAPPS SIX-MAN DIVISION II - DISTRICT 1
FW Covenant Classical 63, Weatherford Christian 14
TAPPS SIX-MAN DIVISION II - DISTRICT 2
Decatur Victory Christian 73, Irving The Highlands 51
Prosper Prestonwood Christian North 46, Ovilla Christian 0
TAPPS SIX-MAN DIVISION III - DISTRICT 2
Waco Valor Prep 98, Azle Christian 52
NON-DISTRICT
Frisco Legacy Christian 42, FW Atlas 0
Friday’s games
DISTRICT 4-6A
Trophy Club Nelson 41, Justin Northwest 3
Southlake Carroll 49, Hurst L.D. Bell 0
DISTRICT 7-5A D1
Midlothian 49, Tyler 43
DISTRICT 3-5A D2
Colleyville Heritage 28, Mansfield Summit 21
DISTRICT 5-4A D1
FW Southwest 68, FW Diamond Hill-Jarvis 0
DISTRICT 4-4A D2
Glen Rose 70, Venus 0
SPC - CLASS 3A
Houston Christian 51, Addison Greenhill 7
Arlington Oakridge at FW Country Day, canceled
TAPPS DIVISION II - DISTRICT 1
Grapevine Faith Christian 56, Lubbock Trinity Christian 7
TAPPS DIVISION II - DISTRICT 2
Austin Regents 49, Arlington Grace Prep 21
Austin Hyde Park 28, Tyler Grace Community 20
TAPPS DIVISION III - DISTRICT 1
Lubbock Christian 57, Colleyville Covenant Christian 30
TAPPS DIVISION IV - DISTRICT 1
FW Mercy Culture 48, Muenster Sacred Heart 10
Dallas First Baptist 2, Waco Reicher Catholic 0, forfeit
TAPPS SIX-MAN DIVISION I - DISTRICT 1
Plano Coram Deo 53, Midland Trinity Christian 0
Waco Vanguard 46, Carrollton Prince of Peace 0
TAPPS SIX-MAN DIVISION II - DISTRICT 1
Crowley Nazarene Christian 72, Keller Harvest Christian 36
NON-DISTRICT
Westlake Academy 53, FW Temple Christian 8
Saturday’s game
DISTRICT 4-5A D1
FW Arlington Heights 65, FW Trimble Tech 0
This story was originally published October 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM.
.jpg)