Fort Worth-area football: Keep tabs on these five Week 8 games. Undefeated Keller and Southlake Carroll battle for District 4-6A supremacy.
Abigail Dollins
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Week 8 of the Texas high school football season is here.
Check out the Star-Telegram’s five games to watch:
Keller vs. Southlake Carroll, 7 p.m. Friday at Dragon Stadium
Keller has been on a roll in 2026, including a 28-point, fourth-quarter comeback win over Trophy Club Byron Nelson last week. The Indians have averaged 51.5 points per game on the season, but has allowed 34.3 per contest, including 47.0 per game in three district games.
The last time Keller (6-0 overall, 3-0 District 4-6A) went 7-0 to start a season was 1967 when the Indians won 11-consecutive before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs. Keller went 10-1-1 in 1993, with a tie against Abilene Cooper (39-39) in Week 3, before bowing out in the second round of the playoffs.
Southlake Carroll (4-2, 3-0), No. 20 in Class 6A in the latest Dave Campbell’s Texas Sports state poll, has been Keller’s nemesis, however, winning the past 16 meetings in 22 seasons between the two schools, that sit just four miles apart. Keller started 5-0 in 2021, 2022, and 2023, but each time ran into Carroll to end the streaks.
Carroll is winning its district games, 43-10 by average, so the Dragons have found their defense, something Keller will have to do to stay in the game. This game could be extremely high scoring as both teams posses high-powered offenses.
Carroll quarterback Hudson Tomcheck has thrown for 1,308 yards and 14 TDs this season including a 19 of 21, 249-yards and five touchdown performance last week. Blake Gunter (5 catches-103 yards, 1 TD last week) and Brody Knowles (6-81, 3 TDs) are Tomcheck’s top targets.
Keller will counter with quarterback Matt McCroskey, 1,380 yards and 16 TDs on the season, with a 20 of 30 performance last week for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cash Erdmann, Chris Hanson, Graham Kaler and Rhett Crosby provide plenty of targets for McCroskey.
Both teams have solid running backs as well with Keller’s Blake Dyniewski (119 carries-1,005 yards, 13 TDs) carrying most of the load and Carroll’s Dez Bryant, Jr. (37-385, 4 TDs) recently taking over the bulk of the Dragons’ rushing game.
If Keller can stay within striking distance, then watch out.
Aledo vs. Arlington, 7 p.m. Friday at Maverick Stadium
Aledo continues to experience ‘firsts’ as its District 3-6A season continues after moving up to Class 6A. The Bearcats find themselves in another key district matchup meeting Arlington High (4-2 overall, 2-1 district) to try to get a leg up and break a four-way tie for second place in district.
Aledo (3-3, 2-1) is meeting all the Class 6A Arlington ISD schools for the first ever time during the season and will visit Maverick Stadium in Arlington for the first time when its meets the Colts. The Bearcats rebounded with a 45-7 win over Arlington Bowie last week after losing to Arlington Martin.
Aledo quarterback Tre Williams had a solid game last week against Bowie hitting 14 of 19 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The Bearcats will also need to continue to rely on running backs Wyatt Dorsey and Izzy Roberts.
Canon Cambron (5 of 8 passing, 148 yards and 2 TDs last week) and Braden Elkins lead the Arlington attack with Kason Brown (2 catches-83 yards, 2 TDs last week) and Jackson Nelson at receivers.
Keller Central vs. Keller Timber Creek, 7 p.m. Friday at Keller ISD Stadium
Another big District 4-6A game will take place at Keller ISD Stadium on Friday as Keller Central (4-2 overall, 1-2 district) tries to climb out of a four-way tie for fourth place facing third-place Keller Timber Creek (3-3, 2-1).
Central has an easier road ahead as the Chargers have already faced Southlake Carroll (35-17 loss), Trophy Club Byron Nelson (47-34 win) and Haslet Eaton (28-27 loss). Timber Creek faced Keller (55-46 loss) to open district play and followed that with wins over Justin Northwest (29-24) and Fort Worth Boswell (35-21).
Central relies on running back Spencer Martin and quarterback Isaiah Taylor (157.5 yards passing per game) to lead the offense. Timber Creek quarterback Lane Brinkley had 14 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns last week and has thrown for 887 yards (76 of 133) and 11 touchdowns on the season.
South Grand Prairie vs. Haltom, 7 p.m. Friday at Birdville Stadium
Haltom has started off District 8-6A play with three straight victories, including a 24-17 win over Hurst L.D. Bell last week, to share the district lead with Euless Trinity. The Buffalos got 328 rushing yards on 36 carries and a pair of touchdowns from running back K.J. Parks last week.
Haltom (3-3 overall, 3-0 district) loves to run the ball, averaging almost 300 yards per game. The Buffalos defense has only allowed 17 points so far in district play behind linebackers Yurem Ortiz and Demian Ramirez.
South Grand Prairie (4-2, 2-1) suffered its only district loss at the hands of Trinity, 24-17 two weeks ago. The Warriors will look to quarterback Ryan Goss, running back Joshua Armendarez and receiver Amari Wyatt to carry most of the offensive load.
Dallas Episcopal at Arlington Oakridge, 7 p.m. Friday
The top two teams in Class 3A of the Southwestern Preparatory Conference, both undefeated in conference play and overall, meet in Arlington on Friday night in what should be a knock down, drag out battle.
Arlington Oakridge (6-0 overall, 4-0 conference) will host the Episcopal School of Dallas (7-0, 4-0) with the winner having a leg up to home-field advantage in the playoffs. Quarterback Hunter Squires leads the Owls with 964 passing yards (160.7 per game) on the season with 14 touchdowns
Squires had a 15 of 18 passing performance for 118 yards and two TDs last week. Running back Isaac Bly went 23 for 281 yards rushing a week ago with three touchdowns.
Bly has rushed for 1,128 yards this season (188 per game) and 13 touchdowns. Former Aledo wide out Kingston James leads the Owls in receiving with 24 receptions for 367 yards and eight scores.
Easton Jefferson and Joshua Dees anchor the defensive line for the Owls with linebacker Dylan Goodrich leading the team in tackles. Oakridge will have to try to slow down ESD quarterback Miles Link, who has thrown for 1,568 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.
Nicholas Marquez keeps defenses honest for the Eagles, rushing for just under 100 yards per game. Curtis Mathes and Wayte McKnight are Link’s main targets.