{"id":426929,"date":"2026-09-05T07:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T07:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/426929\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T07:08:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T07:08:00","slug":"a-last-ride-for-fort-worth-arlington-heights-james-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/426929\/","title":{"rendered":"A last ride for Fort Worth Arlington Heights\u2019 James family"},"content":{"rendered":"

FORT WORTH<\/p>\n

Fort Worth Arlington Heights head coach Curtis James has been coaching his kids for over a decade.<\/p>\n

But now, since his twin sons Carson and Carter James are seniors, the 2026 season will be their last sharing the field together. He said he tries not to think about a special chapter in his life coming to a close.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just try to take advantage of every single day, every practice, every moment, every film session and community service,\u201d coach James said. \u201cI understand that I\u2019ve been blessed to coach all five of my kids. … And so, I try to embrace it, love it and enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights defensive tackle Carter James (2) and Arlington Heights running back Carson James (1) break on the sidelines in between plays during the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

To Carson James, a UTEP pledge, contributing to Arlington Heights football with his family is something he\u2019s looked forward to his \u201centire life.\u201d It\u2019s been a lifelong dream and goal. He and Carter said they\u2019re trying not to take it for granted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I\u2019m enjoying every second I can,\u201d Carson James said. \u201cDoing as much as I can and having as much fun as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights football faces Cleburne during the coin toss on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram Fresh off a historic season<\/p>\n

The moments are fleeting, but the James family still has a lot of football in front of them. And it\u2019s a big year for Arlington Heights, as the school took a huge step for Fort Worth ISD football in 2025, posting what was arguably the district\u2019s best season in decades.<\/p>\n

\"Fort Fort Worth Arlington Heights head coach Curtis James holds up the trophy after the UIL Class 5A DI area-round football playoff game against Lubbock Monterey Thursday Nov. 20, 2025 at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

Heights won an area round game for the first time since 1973; it was Fort Worth ISD\u2019s first second-round win in the UIL\u2019s second-largest classification since the 2000 season. For the effort, coach James was named the 2025 Star-Telegram Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n

Is there pressure to live up to the high standard set? The team won\u2019t focus on the future and will have a \u201cclip-for-clip\u201d mentality \u2014 that\u2019s taking it one play at a time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really try to preach that,\u201d coach James said. \u201cAnd the good things will come if you do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s in store for Heights?<\/p>\n

Heights lost a strong bunch of seniors to graduation but reloaded with young players coach James expects to contribute in a big way.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s the great thing about high school football is every year you watch new kids grow up,\u201d coach James said. \u201cNew kids have a great summer, have a great offseason, and they go in, and they make plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights Head Coach Curtis James watches the game against Cleburne from the sidelines on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

And Heights has some phenomenal returners, too.<\/p>\n

That includes running back Carson James, who rushed for 2,352 yards and had 30 total TDs en route to Star-Telegram All-Area first team and district MVP honors. He\u2019s been starting since his freshman year, garnering a reputation as a physical force who plows through defenders; that\u2019s why his twin brother sometimes calls him freight train around the house.<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights running back Carson James (1) runs the ball during the first half of the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

How can Carson James, the Star-Telegram Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, top one of the most statistically dominant seasons in Dallas-Fort Worth? His dad said he wants him to \u201ckeep building on what he\u2019s already learned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUse your vision to make sure you get better and better and better every game,\u201d James said. \u201cAnd don\u2019t just go in and try to be a bruiser. But be that guy that can be skillful, a bruiser, fast and tough. Be Carson James.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights running back Carson James (1) during the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

Against Cleburne on Thursday at Farrington Field, Carson tallied 178 total yards and scored five times to lead the Yellow Jackets to a dominant 63-0 victory. Four first-half TDs from Carson James gave the Jackets a 53-0 lead at the break.<\/p>\n

Carter, a standout defensive lineman with an offer from Carnegie Mellon, made a big impact as well, forcing a fumble with a big hit.<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights defensive tackle Carter James (2) knocks the ball out of the hands of Cleburne quarterback Dax Stewart (6) during the game on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Arlington Heights recovered the fumble. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

As a junior, Carter posted 86 tackles and 32 tackles for a loss. Now, he is leading the defensive line following the graduation of his brother Caynan James, who tallied 101 total tackles.<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights defensive tackle Carter James (2) celebrates after the play against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

Next up, the Yellow Jackets (2-0) will face Class 4A power Alvarado. The Indians are the Star-Telegram\u2019s No. 4 squad in the Class 4A area rankings. Heights is the No. 4 Class 5A squad. Coach James said he wants his defense to learn from going against Alvarado\u2019s pass-heavy offense.<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll be a tough challenge, but Heights has looked more than capable early in the season.<\/p>\n

In Week 1, Carson James posting 246 yards and three TDs on 23 carries against a solid Mansfield Legacy squad that dropped to Class 5A in the 2026 UIL realignment. The Jackets seized a dominant 40-9 victory.<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights running back Carson James (1) before the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

That realignment shake-up also makes Heights and White Settlement Brewer foes in District 4-5A Division I. The two rising programs put on a competitive, entertaining bi-district round game in 2025 with Heights taking a 36-23 victory.<\/p>\n

Coach James said he wants to win a district championship, but the main goal is finishing in the top two. That\u2019ll give Heights a first-round playoff advantage, which could be a difference maker in advancing to the area round in a bracket packed with talent.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got so many new kids, and so many new moving pieces,\u201d James said. \u201cYou want to make sure that you have something that the kids can really focus on, just in case something does go wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

James recognizes one of high school sports\u2019 most important lessons: winning is great, but it\u2019s not the sole reason to play. It\u2019s fighting for a shared goal \u2014 that develops work ethic, character and resiliency in young athletes.<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights football runs onto the field before the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

\u201cChampionships \u2014 everybody wants to win them,\u201d James said. \u201cI want to win it just as bad as the next man. But my goal is to be a difference in these kids\u2019 lives, and I know I am. I see it. I have kids coming back, saying, \u2018Coach, thank you so much for everything,\u2019 and that\u2019s the real win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The separation between Texas\u2019 great squads and championship level programs can be daunting. Before moving to Class 6A, the Aledo Bearcats eliminated Heights in 2025 with a 55-0 shutout in the regional round.<\/p>\n

\"Fort Fort Worth Arlington Heights head coach Curtis James congratulates Aledo head coach Robby Jones after the UIL Class 5A Division I Regional on Friday Nov. 28, 2025 at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

Moving forward, Carter James said they\u2019ll continue believing in one another and stacking wins. And with that mentality, anything is possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe take every game like we\u2019re playing the toughest opponent in Texas,\u201d Carter James said. \u201cSo every week we come in like we can do it all. We\u2019re trying to play fast, violent, and physical every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

They weren\u2019t the ultimate victors, and winning a state championship is a tall task. But the Yellow Jackets have something that is just as valuable as any trophy: representing your community somewhere it hasn\u2019t been in generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust in case something doesn\u2019t go the way we want, you got to teach them how to live with that,\u201d James said. \u201cIt\u2019s a very strong 5A division. Only one team wins state. You\u2019re probably going to lose one day. So, let\u2019s have fun in the moment. Let\u2019s play every clip. Let\u2019s win as many games as possible, and let\u2019s try to rewrite history.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Arlington Arlington Heights wide receiver Derrick Petite (31) intercepts the ball during the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram \"Arlington Arlington Heights running back Jaquan Evans (14) runs the ball during the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram \"Arlington Arlington Heights running back Carson James (1) runs the ball during the first half of the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram \"Arlington Arlington Heights wide receiver Derrick Petite (31) runs the ball during the game against Cleburne on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 at Farrington Field in Fort Worth. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n

This story was originally published September 4, 2026 at 5:00 AM.<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Charles Baggarly<\/a><\/p>\n

Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n

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\u2019s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360\u2019s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FORT WORTH Fort Worth Arlington Heights head coach Curtis James has been coaching his kids for over a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":426930,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[116,118,117],"class_list":["post-426929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fort-worth","tag-fort-worth","tag-fort-worth-headlines","tag-fort-worth-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426929\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/426930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=426929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=426929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}