Which Fort Worth ISD football teams can make the playoffs? Half are already eliminated
Fort Worth ISD football teams, for the most part, haven’t had much playoff success lately.
Arlington Heights was the only Fort Worth ISD team to win a playoff game in 2022. Arlington Heights beat Frisco Independence 40-21 before falling to Canutillo 21-14 in the next round.
The playoffs didn’t work out well for the other Fort Worth ISD teams. Wyatt lost 63-0 to Argyle, Dunbar lost 56-20 to Stephenville and Western Hills lost 72-7 to China Spring.
The numbers confirm what the playoff results suggest: Fort Worth ISD football teams tend to have trouble against other school districts.
Wyatt and Arlington Heights are two of the premier Fort Worth ISD teams in 2023 with 6-2 overall records ahead of week 10. All of their district wins, however, have come against other Fort Worth ISD teams.
So far in 2023, Fort Worth ISD football teams have won 46 games and lost 66, posting a winning percentage below 40.
Of the 46 wins, 22 have come from wins over other Fort Worth ISD teams. And 22 wins have also come in non district play, which doesn’t count toward the playoff race.
There are two weeks left in the Texas high school football regular season. Can any teams make a run and bring playoff success to Fort Worth ISD football? There are a few strong candidates.
These seven Fort Worth ISD teams are already eliminated from playoff contention ahead of week 10: Carter Riverside (3-5, 0-5), Southwest (2-6, 1-4), Paschal (3-5, 1-4), Polytechnic (2-6, 1-4), Trimble Tech (1-7, 0-5), South Hills (0-8, 0-6) and Diamond Hill Jarvis (0-8, 0-5).
Here’s a breakdown of every team and what situation they’re in as week 10 gets underway.
Fort Worth Dunbar
The Dunbar Wildcats (6-2, 5-0 District 6-4A D1) are undefeated in district play and have already clinched a spot in the playoffs. Even if they lost their next two games to Lake Worth and Kennedale, they would still have a spot secured due to a tiebreaker over Eastern Hills.
Kennedale (5-3, 5-0) and Lake Worth (6-2, 4-1) are the second and third ranked teams in District 6-4A D1. Dunbar is playing both of those teams to end the regular season; how the Wildcats perform against elite competition will be a good indicator of potential playoff success.
Fort Worth Western Hills
Western Hills (4-4, 3-2) needs one more win to earn a playoff spot. They also have a tiebreaker over Eastern Hills, the team that is ranked fifth in District 6-4A D1. This week, they’ll have a tough matchup against Kennedale (5-3, 5-0).
In week 11, however, they’ll face Fort Worth Diamond Hill Jarvis, a winless team that has lost every district game by 30 or more.
Fort Worth Eastern Hills
Eastern Hills (3-5, 2-3 District 6-4A D1) has a tough challenge ahead of them. In order to make the playoffs, they’ll have to beat Castleberry (2-6, 1-4) and Lake Worth (6-2, 4-1). They’ll also need Western Hills to lose both games.
The Bullfrogs took down Western Hills 49-21. Eastern Hills, a team that lost to Western Hills, will have to play two weeks of elite, near perfect football to avoid elimination. It’ll be an uphill battle, but Eastern Hills is still alive.
Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights (6-2, 4-1 District 4-5A D2) needs one more win to lock up a playoff spot. In week 10 they’ll face Grapevine, a team that beat the Yellowjackets 28-7 last season.
If they fall to the Mustangs, Wyatt and North Side could be in a position to jump them if they secure victories. With a win over North Side to close the season, the Yellowjackets will secure a spot.
Fort Worth Wyatt
Wyatt (6-2, 3-2 District 4-5A D2) is sitting at fourth in the district standings after a loss to Grapevine. The good news for the Chaparrals? They have a tiebreaker win over Fort Worth North Side.
One more win will lock up a playoff spot, so the regular season finale against Colleyville Heritage, the No. 1 team in the district, may not be a huge factor in the race. This week, the Chaparrals face Trimble Tech (1-7, 1-5).
Fort Worth North Side
Fort Worth North Side (4-4, 2-3 District 4-5A D2) side no longer controls its destiny. The Steers will have to hope Wyatt falls to Trimble Tech and Heights loses to Grapevine.
Regardless of the other teams’ results, the Steers need to take care of business against Southwest on Friday. If Arlington Heights can’t overcome Grapevine, North Side will have an opportunity to match the Yellowjackets’ record and secure a tiebreaker in the regular season finale.
Benbrook
Benbrook (6-2, 2-1) has already secured a playoff spot out of District 4-4A D2. The Bobcats face Glenrose and Godley, two top teams in the district, to close the season, but they have tiebreakers over Ferris and Venus.
Even if they lose both games, the Bobcats have a spot locked. After a 1-9 record in 2022, head coach Cody Slater and Co. have constructed an impressive year to year turnaround.
What happened to eliminated teams?
Carter Riverside started the season with three non-district wins but hasn’t seen any District 6-4A D1 success.
Southwest took down Trimble Tech and lost a close one to Arlington Heights, but they couldn’t come close to Grapevine and Colleyville Heritage, scoring 14 points to their opponents’ 88.
Paschal has a tough time in District 3-6A, facing some of the most elite competition in the area. The Panthers’ opponents have outscored them 233 to 73.
Polytechnic has struggled in district play with the exception of a win over Trimble Tech (1-7, 0-5), a team that has one non district play win on the year.
South Hills and Diamond Hill Jarvis have yet to win a game this season.
