Football is a team sport, but many times, victory comes down to one play, one call, carry or catch in crucial minutes. For Eastern Hills and Arlington Heights, stellar play from athletes wearing the number “1” pushed their teams to big bi-district championships Last week, The SMG Report covered three bi-district championship games at historic Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Each game featured a FWISD football team and gave each community supporting their teams a thrilling end to football in Fort Worth. Though Carter-Riverside lost 77-0 to Alvarado, they’re already looking to best this year’s season, which earned them a playoff berth ending a 30 year drought. Arlington Heights faced a tough matchup against Brewer but emerged victorious when Carson James literally carried the team on his back notching 288 yards on 36 carries. His four touchdowns powered Heights to a 36-23 win over the Bears. On Saturday night, Eastern Hills did it ‘one time for the east side‘ in their clash against Kennedale. Jamarion Hardemon made his impact on offense as well as defense notching 102 yards of offense, a touchdown and a game sealing interception in the waning minutes of the game.
The Yellowjackets faced a fierce battle against the Bears, but Brewer simply had no match for Heights and Carson James. When asked about his dominant performance, James credited his off-season prepared him to not just tote the rock but carry his team to a win, saying it’s that off-season right there. Being in the weight room all the time, just getting in and getting tough!” He was definitely tough. James was too tough for Brewer to handle, and his four touchdowns carried Heights to a bi-district championship and area matchup against Lubbock Monterey this Friday.
The next night, Eastern Hills brought their belief to their home playoff game against a formidable Kennedale team looking for back to back bi-district wins against Fort Worth schools. The Wildcats had no answer for Jamarion Hardemon who caught nearly everything thrown his way. If he didn’t catch a pass, chances were there was a flag following. Hardemon regularly faced double coverage but lept over and in-between defenders to keep the chains moving for Eastern Hills. As Kennedale mounted a comeback, Hardemon’s one-handed interception sealed the win and championship over the Wildcats. The uncommitted game breaker is sure to get some looks his way from scouts after his impressive showing at the Fort Worth football finale at Farrington, last Saturday!
“We did this together. It was a well-played game by each team. We believed and we believe next week, too!”
-Jamarion Hardemon
Kennedale looked to make quick work of their Fort Worth opponent but found themselves battling back from Hills’ three play scoring drive on their opening possession. Schools from Fort Worth seldom triumph over Kennedale, who can usually pencil in a win when facing their neighbors to the west. The matchups usually occur in the bi-district round gifting the Wildcats an easy path to a second round playoff berth. Kennedale asserted their dominance at the line of scrimmage, unleashing Riley Bingham for a quick answer to the Highlanders’ high-octane offense. The Highlanders set the tone early and kept the Wildcats at bay, though they had no answer to Kennedale’s rushing attack. Riley Bingham notched 221 of the Wildcats’ 363 rushing yards. Bingham added 12 receiving yards and 27 kick return yards, bringing his all-purpose yard total to a whopping 360.
Of the five FWISD schools in the 2025 UIL football playoffs, Eastern Hills and Arlington Heights are the only two who made it to the second round. Eastern Hills faces a defiant Celina team, who, though embroiled in scandal, look to defend their 2024 championship at AT&T Stadium next month. Arlington Heights faces a determined Monterey team out of Lubbock in what should be another good duel on the gridiron.
Check back for our game recaps and coach interviews as continue our playoff coverage. As Heights and Hills move on into the second round, re-visit our 4A, 5A, and 6A playoff brackets to keep up with all the action on the gridiron.
