Arlington Bowie falls to Richardson Berkner in bi-district clash

Down by two touchdowns going into the fourth quarter, Arlington Bowie found a way to make it interesting.

However, the Volunteers’ late scoring barrage couldn’t overcome early miscues that led to a 30-28 loss to Richardson Berkner High School on Friday night.

Berkner won its first playoff game since 2006 in this Class 6A Division 2 bi-district game at Choctaw Stadium.

“We gave them a head start, and we couldn’t catch up,” Bowie coach Joseph Sam said. “That’s really what it is. I told the kids. We gave them 14 points on penalties.”

The Volunteers (8-3) trailed 20-7 going into the fourth, but the final 7 minutes featured enough twists and turns that it mirrored the feelings one would get across the road at Six Flags Over Texas.

Bowie made a big stop late into the third quarter at the goal line, forcing a turnover on downs at the 2-yard line.

The Volunteers, after seven drives without a point, turned the tide on a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jayden Bibbs. With 6:49 left, the Vols had trimmed the deficit down to 20-14.

Then, the tide turned toward the Rams (7-3) in a big way.

Bowie went for an onside kick and Nicko Campbell picked it up, juked a defender and ran 52 yards for a touchdown.

Within seconds of gaining momentum, the Vols were trailing by two scores again.

“My offensive coordinator always says MTM, make the most,” Berkner coach Trey Bryant said. “So that kid that got the ball and ran with it, he’s always ready when his time has come, but he doesn’t start. He probably has one catch on the year, but did he not probably make the play of the game? So when it comes to talking about MTM, we talk about doing your job … That kid did it right there.”

Down 27-14, Bowie kept fighting.

Bibbs had another 2-yard touchdown run, this time with 5:01 left.

He had a 19-yard run and threw a 34-yard pass to Darion Carson to help set up that score.

Berkner, facing a 3rd-and-14 from midfield, got another big play. Daquwan Dunn connected with Kamarri Davis for a 38-yard gain, getting taken down at the 14-yard line.

Alen Tran booted a 25-yard field goal to cap the drive, which made it 30-21.

That essentially ended it, but the Vols battled until the 0:00 was on the clock — and then even had time for one more play.

Bibbs ran for 23 yards on a 4th-and-5 and then connected with Denzel Ponder for a 21-yard gain to get to the Berkner 40. A 27-yard connection to Deontae Tennison moved the ball to the 12.

Two plays later, Bibbs found Keidric Osunde-Brown for a 12-yard touchdown as the clock hit zero.

Before the PAT, the official announced a personal foul on Berkner would lead to one untimed down.

Bowie made the PAT to make it 30-28.

Hopes of something crazy to happen to extend the season were dashed when Berkner recovered the onside kick.

“I mean, I think we beat them 9 out of 10 times,” Sam said. “But this is the one time that they got us. You know … it hurts. It sucks. Kudos to those guys over there. They did what they were supposed to do. I definitely want to thank the Lord. Because, without him, this doesn’t even happen.”

This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 12:31 AM.