FORT WORTH
It was 1989.
Former White Settlement Brewer head football coach Ben Davis led the Bears to a win in the area round over Stephenville. It was the crowning achievement in a 25-year, hall of fame career at Brewer High School.
But since that day, Brewer has gone 37 years without a playoff victory, despite some close calls.
Davis, 89, cheers on Brewer football from the stands and serves as vice president for the White Settlement ISD Board of Trustees. He said he’s hopeful this could be Brewer’s year to end the drought.
Brewer prepares to play North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Longtime supporters like Davis have good reason to be excited during the 2026 season. Brewer head coach Marte Amrine Jr. said a roster packed with upperclassman leadership stands out.
“We’ve got a big senior group,” Amrine said. “They’ve come to work every day. They want to change the narrative and do something that hasn’t been done here in a really long time.”
Brewer lines up for the National Anthem before the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Bears are talented and have been in recent years. But sometimes, in Texas high school football, programs just need to be put on a level playing field.
The 2026 University Interscholastic League realignment was favorable for the Bears, as they were previously grouped with Class 5A state powers Aledo, Denton Ryan and Richland. Now, Brewer is in District 4-5A Division I alongside Fort Worth ISD Class 5A squads, which include Fort Worth Wyatt and Fort Worth Arlington Heights.
“It’s one of those deals where we can’t control [realignment],” Amrine said. “ … But if we can just take a step forward every week as a program, the rest will take care of itself. We don’t care who we play. We don’t ever worry about that. We’re just trying to get our guys ready to be their best at all times.”
Brewer wide receiver Braylen Reed (11) runs the ball down the field to score a touchdown during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The competition is more manageable, compared to playing 12-time state champion Aledo, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be tough. Arlington Heights has already proven itself against Brewer, taking down the Bears 36-23 in the 2025 bi-district round; it was a one-score game until the final minute.
“It was a learning opportunity for us,” Amrine said. “We made some mistakes and Heights took advantage of it because they’re a good football team. They proved that going to the third round. For us, it comes down to control what we can control and play hard at all times. And if we do that, we’ve got a chance.”
Brewer wide receiver Braylen Reed (11) catches the punt during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Brewer’s next opponent, Fort Worth Wyatt, is undefeated heading into Week 5 and won a share of the district title with Heights last season. The Chaparrals could be a contender in what should be a tight district title race.
“I think [Heights and Wyatt] are going to be competitive,” Amrine said. “They’ve got a lot of really good football players. And Paschal plays hard. …. We’ve got to be ready to go. All three of those teams play really good defense. They’re coached well. They’re sound, and we got to not make mistakes and not beat ourselves.”
Brewer won a share of a district title in 2021 but hasn’t won an outright title in 29 years. But what’s arguably more important is the playoff placement that top finishers receive. An easier first-round matchup could be the difference-maker in making program history.
Working toward the ultimate goal
Brewer has talked about and addressed long-term goals. But the Bears don’t dwell on it, according to Amrine. He said the team “can’t get too far ahead of itself” and needs to stay locked in on the weekly process.
That’s what it’ll take to deliver for a one-school-district, one-high-school town Amrine said yearns to celebrate football success.
“Our kids want that, too, and our superintendent wants it,” Amrine said. “And [winning] is something our kids are starting to believe in. It took us a while to get them to believe they could. And now that they believe, we’ve got to take that step and just keep developing. You’ve just got to push forward.”
Brewer head coach Marte Amrine Jr. talks to linebacker Christopher Blake (27) during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Brewer suffered its first loss of the season in Week 3 against Richland, the No. 9-ranked squad statewide in Class 5A Division I. The Royals pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 51-32 win, but the Bears gave them a fight, cutting the lead to 5 points with seven minutes remaining.
“They’re a really good football team,” Amrine said. “Coach [Ged] Kates does a great job with that group, and we made too many mistakes.”
Despite the loss, Brewer was able to showcase it can go toe-to-toe with a top-tier squad and stay competitive. That’s a good sign for Brewer as it now looks to build momentum in district play. The Bears (4-1) were able to flex their talent in a 62-0 drubbing of Fort Worth North Side Thursday at Farrington Field to move to 2-0 in District 4-5A Division I.
Brewer defense takes down North Side during the game on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Bears are led by senior running back Kameron Coleman, who earned second-team All-Area honors in 2025, rushing for 1,804 yards on 272 carries while adding 133 yards as a pass catcher. He recorded 21 total touchdowns.
Now, he’s averaging 118 yards per game and will carry a heavier workload when the Bears face squads like Heights, Paschal, and Wyatt.
“He comes to work every day and works hard,” Amrine said. “I love him. He’s a great kid. We know what he can do. And he’s gotten so much better. He’s gained about 15 pounds from last year. He runs stronger and runs harder.”
Brewer running back Kameron Coleman (9) runs the ball to score a 39-yard touchdown during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Coleman’s production could be the driving force in a special season. He and his teammates have a good shot at erasing a drought that started long before they were born — that possibility is exciting to the community.
“They’re pretty good,” Davis said. “ … We’ve got several kids with speed, and we’ve got some good size. We play defense decently, so we’ve got a little bit of it all. … We love Brewer High School. And we love what it stands for. Hopefully, we can get to the playoffs and win.”
Brewer wide receiver Braylen Reed (11) fields the opening kickoff during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram 
Brewer quarterback Isaiah Foster (9) celebrates after his teammate scores a touchdown during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram 
Brewer players rest on the sidelines during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram 
Brewer wide receiver Braylen Reed (11) runs the ball down the field during the game against North Side on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram
.jpg)
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.