Recapping Arlington Heights’ Bi-district Championship

Arlington Heights took on Brewer in a slugfest at Farrington Field last week. With a bi-district championship and second round berth on the line, both teams played a tough four quarters, gifting fans an instant classic at Fort Worth’s historic Farrington Field. The SMG Report captured the clash up close and what a game it was! Congratulations to Coach James and the Yellowjackets. We’re pulling for Heights, this weekend as they face Lubbock Monterey. Read the full box score, here.

Carson James is ‘One of them Ones’

Heights tailback Carson James was featured in our first round recap. When Heights called his name, he made a house call, ending the game with four touchdowns, gaining 290 rushing yards on 36 carries. The defense put forth a stout effort, stifling Brewer’s offensive momentum. Notable performances by Joseph Johnson and Isaiah Schuman bolstered the defense as they finished the night with. 12 and 10 solo tackles, respectively.

Coach Curtis James’ halftime adjustment broke the game open for the Yellowjackets, who couldn’t break through. “I told the guys at halftime, I said, guys, he’s had five or six yards per carry. Let’s make them tackle him! Why we gonna stop now? We’ve been doing it all season. Make them tackle him!” Heights has a formidable foe in Monterey, and Coach James knows this. While he did make time to celebrate, he jumped into film study to prepare his team for this weekend in Abilene. “I’m a “film-aholic!” I get in there and take a “No-Doz” so I can watch more film. I’m going to celebrate with the team and I’llfind out who we’re playing in the morning!” Surely Coach James and his staff have prepared the team for the trip out west and the tussle on the gridiron in what should be another exciting game for the team on the northern end of Hulen!

The Heights/Brewer clash was the second of three FWISD first round home games this year. Last Thursday night, Carter-Riverside fell to Alvarado 77-0. FWISD’s first-round record has been abysmal for years and with Brewer coming to town, many thought the trend of losing to nearby schools in neighboring districts would continue. Heights’ defensive coordinator Patrick Jones thought otherwise and relayed the message to his players. “We have this motto that we work harder than anybody else. We preach that you are not about to let anybody walk into our house and take what belongs to us! We were already claiming the first round championship. So all we’re doing is getting our guys together, getting them riled up and letting them know that we’re not about to let anybody come in our house and take what belongs to us.” While protecting what they believed belonged to them, Jones’ defensive unit sealed the win with a takeaway. Reflecting on that, Jones said, “One thing we tell our defense is to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready and we live with that mentality so that really carries over to the field to help us make plays.”

Heights ended the regular season with a 9-1 record. With their bi-district championship, the team moves to 10-1 and ready themselves to face Lubbock Monterey tomorrow night at Abilene’s Shotwell Stadium.