Bi-district playoffs: Saginaw looks to make history, Colleyville Heritage’s test, more

The UIL Texas high school football playoffs are finally here, and multiple teams from around the Fort Worth area are embarking on what they hope will be long postseason runs.

Here are the games to watch and storylines from the area:

Class 5A championship contenders look to start strong

The harsh reality of the bi-district round is that it quickly separates the contenders from the pretenders. While some districts are loaded with elite talent, others are filled with teams that rarely advance to the area round.

This creates some incredibly challenging matchups, even with district runner-ups and third-place finishers. One example is Fort Worth Arlington Heights (9-1) vs. Richland (8-2) -- the game kicks off 7:30 p.m. Friday at Farrington Field.

Although the Royals finished third in District 3-5A D1, head coach Ged Kates has a team with the talent and discipline to make a deep playoff run. The Yellow Jackets, on the other hand, are not a state-ranked team like the Royals.

Although we’ve seen extreme upsets before, Richland will enter the bi-district round as a heavy favorite. It’s worth noting that Heights’ season is not defined by one game; the Yellow Jackets made the playoffs for the third consecutive time and battled through several close games to earn a second-place district finish.

The same can be said for Fort Worth Paschal (7-3), a team set to face Denton Ryan (9-1) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at CH Collins Stadium. The Ryan Raiders, also a title contender, will be a stout challenge in the first round.

Regardless of the outcome, Paschal fans should celebrate the appearance, given it’s the team’s first in over 28 years. Success is relative to the situation, and the Panthers had much of it after capitalizing following a favorable UIL realignment.

When it comes to success at the highest level, look to the Aledo Bearcats (9-1) to set the tone. Both Denton Ryan and Richland went toe-to-toe with Aledo but ultimately fell short.

Ryan held a 27-14 halftime lead, and Richland forced overtime, yet both teams eventually lost. There is a reason why Aledo has won 12 state championships, which is a UIL record.

The Bearcats are Class 5A D1 title favorites again and will start the playoffs against Chisholm Trail (7-3) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 at Tim Buchanan Stadium.

District 3-6A to clash with District 4-6A

Since the Class 6A division split separates schools by enrollment, North Crowley (10-0) has to face the third-place District 4-6A squad: Byron Nelson (8-2). The clash is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at Crowley ISD Stadium.

The Bobcats haven’t seen as much regular season success compared to their district title run in 2023, but they are one of those teams with the talent to play with any program.

North Crowley has high expectations and hopes to compete for a state championship following a 10-0 regular season and a victory over Crowley (6-4) to claim the District 3-6A title. The Eagles, due to the division split, have the fourth-place District 4-6A team: Justin Northwest (6-4).

The Texans moved from 5A to 6A during the recent realignment and are looking to bounce back after ending the regular season with a four-game losing streak. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at Crowley ISD Stadium.

More 3-6A / 4-6A clashes

Euless Trinity (9-1) vs. Mansfield (8-2) -- 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, Pennington Field

Southlake Carroll (10-0) vs. Mansfield Legacy (3-7) – 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at Dragon Stadium

Two competitive opening-round games

If you’re looking for competitive football, keep an eye on Saginaw (10-0) vs. Azle (7-3). It can be hard to fully judge the abilities of both teams, considering they face different competition. However, the Rough Riders are certainly capable of defeating the Hornets and extending their perfect season.

They’ve had a stellar season with a bit of magic, and they’ll need a strong showing to defeat the Hornets, their most formidable challenge yet.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Rough Rider Stadium. Saginaw is coming off a 1-9 season in 2023 and won just three games in four seasons. Now, they have a chance to win a playoff game for the first time in program history, according to Max Preps.

Another competitive game is Colleyville Heritage (8-2) vs. Anna (7-3). Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, at Mustang Panther Stadium.

Anna, the 2023 Class 4A D1 state champion, is looking to thrive after a rise to Class 5A D2. Colleyville Heritage has a strong reputation and won three playoff games in the 2023 season.

The Panthers are a tough first-round matchup for a three-seed. Anna, however, is no ordinary three-seed. The Coyotes lost two one-possession games to Melissa and Lovejoy at the beginning of district play and haven’t lost since.

More games to watch

Arlington Bowie (7-3) vs. Dallas Jesuit (6-4) – 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at Wilemon Field

Dunbar (4-6) vs. Graham (9-1) -- 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at Tim Buchanan Stadium

Eastern Hills (3-7) vs. Alvarado (10-0) -- 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 at Crowley ISD Stadium

Haltom (6-4) vs. Richardson (6-4) – 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at Birdville FA/AC