Decatur wide receiver Wyatt Dunn (5) is lifted in the air by offensive lineman Castin Padron (78) during a touchdown. celebration in the Eagles’ 63-14 4A Division I bi-district win over Castleberry Thursday at Birdville ISD’s Fine Arts/Athletic Complex. MICAH MCCARTNEY | WCMESSENGER

Behind a well-balanced offensive attack, the Decatur Eagles clinched their fourth consecutive first-round playoff trophy under coach Steve Huff. 

The Eagles (7-3) racked up 524 total yards — 266 on the ground and 258 through the air — en route to earning a 63-14 4A Division I bi-district win over Castleberry (6-5) Thursday at Birdville ISD’s Fine Arts/Athletic Complex. 

Decatur’s senior running back duo of Jamari Fletcher and Jake Milligan had no trouble finding the end zone in the first half. Fletcher rushed across the goal line on 20 and 62-yard sprints, while Milligan punched in a pair of scores from 1 and 13 yards out. 

Fletcher led the Eagles in rushing yards, amassing 130 on six carries — averaging more than 21 yards per attempt. Milligan toted the ball eight times for 64 yards. 

A 13-yard touchdown pass from Decatur sophomore quarterback Rhys Ragan to senior wide receiver Chase Berg late in the second quarter gave the Eagles a 35-7 lead at halftime. 

Starting in his first playoff game, Eagle sophomore wide receiver Wyatt Dunn continued Decatur’s momentum in the second half by grabbing a pair of touchdown passes from Ragan totaling 97 yards (34, 63). Ragan also threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jett Jenkins. 

Under center, Ragan was 13-of-15 for 258 yards, and tallied four touchdowns — all coming on consecutive passes. Dunn was the top Eagle receiver behind a 6-catch night for 180 yards. 

Decatur capped off the contest with a 13-yard run by sophomore running back Cooper Duncan in the fourth quarter. 

The Eagles will await the winner of the Dallas Lincoln/Paris bi-district game in the area round. Lincoln (8-1) and Paris (6-4) are slated to play their first-round game 7 p.m. Friday at Paris High School’s Wildcat Stadium. 

Key takeaways

Eagles’ young stars shine bright in first postseason game

Decatur’s sophomore trio of Ragan, Dunn and Duncan accounted for five of the Eagles’ nine touchdowns against the Lions in their first taste of the postseason in their careers. Between the three first-year varsity players, they combined for 278 total total yards in the first-round win. 

Penalties prove costly despite win

Although the Eagles’ 49-point win led to a gold ball trophy, Decatur had a pair of touchdowns called back due to penalties. Ragan had a 55-yard scampering score negated due to a holding call, while his 48-yard touchdown pass to Berg was canceled out by an offensive pass interference penalty assessed to Berg. 

Decatur defense tested by Ford’s big night

The Eagles’ defensive unit worked all night to bring down Castleberry running back Isaiah Ford, who totaled 169 of the Lions 296 yards of offense on 42 carries, resulting in a pair of short-yardage touchdown runs (3, 1). Castleberry quarterback Ethan Chappell also threw for 112 yards against Decatur, completing 9 of his 21 passing attempts. Chappell tossed eight of his passes to wide receiver Brian Ceniceros, who finished with 106 receiving yards.