Northwest quarterback Ryder Norton rushes in for 10-yard touchdown run during the first quarter of the Texans’ 23-7 District 4-6A win over Keller Sept. 13. The Texans (3-0) are the visiting team against Eaton in Week 4 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Northwest ISD Stadium. JODI PFUEHLER | FOR THE MESSENGER
An early start helped the Northwest Texans claim their first district win as a 6A program last week.
The Texans (3-0, 1-0) racked up 292 total yards and reached the end zone three times in a 23-7 win over Keller in the team’s 4-6A opener Sept. 13 at Northwest ISD Stadium.
After a scoreless first frame, Northwest quarterback Ryder Norton gave the Texans the lead in the first two minutes of the second quarter, reaching pay dirt on a 10-yard run. About 8 minutes later, Northwest running back Tristan Saddler broke through the Indians’ defense for a 7-yard scoring run, giving the Texans a 13-0 lead at halftime.
Norton led Northwest’s ground attack with 97 yards on 15 carries. He also completed nine of his 18 passing attempts for 100 yards, with one interception.
Out of the break, Keller found its way across the goal line, as quarterback Beckham Robinson located wide receiver Will Adams for an 18-yard touchdown throw.
Northwest added a pair of scores in the final 12 minutes. Wide receiver Kobey Wall carried the ball into the end zone from 20 yards out, and added a 38-yard field goal.
The Texans’ top receiver was Tyler Singer, who grabbed six passes for 76 yards.
For Keller, Robinson was 12-of-23 for 140 yards, with Adams amassing 86 yards on six catches. Kyle Owens led Keller’s run game with 23 carries for 84 yards.
In Week 4, Northwest will be the visiting team for an inter-school district matchup against Eaton 7 p.m. Friday at Northwest ISD Stadium.
Coming off of their bye week, the Eagles (1-1) claimed their first win in Week 2 over Braswell, 49-42.
Archer City 37, Alvord 32
Alvord wide receiver Colt Manning attempts to escape from defenders on a big gain in the Bulldogs’ 37-32 homecoming loss to Archer City Sept. 13 at Bulldog Stadium. MACK THWEATT | WCMESSENGER
Behind 421 yards on the ground, Archer City came into Bulldog Stadium and spoiled Alvord’s homecoming in Week 3.
Despite holding a 5-point lead in the middle of the third quarter, the Bulldogs could not withstand the Wildcats’ 16-6 run in the final 17 minutes, allowing Archer City to claim a 37-32 win.
The loss dropped Alvord to 0-3.
After trading touchdowns to open up the contest, Archer City quarterback Landon Smith crossed the goal line in the opening seconds of the second quarter to put the Wildcats ahead, 13-12.
Smith racked up 285 rushing yards on 23 attempts, and was 3-of-8 under center for 18 yards, with one pick.
Alvord retook the lead midway through the second frame, as quarterback Dalton George found wide receiver Colt Manning — Alvord’s 2024 homecoming king — open for a 25-yard touchdown pass. But the Wildcats responded with a 96 yard Smith touchdown run 23 seconds later, putting Archer City ahead at the break, 21-4.
In the second half, Alvord’s offense caught fire for two straight passing scores by George — a 42-yard pass to Brayden Clark and a 20-yard toss to Beckham Taylor — giving the Bulldogs a 26-21 advantage.
George completed 19 of his 24 passes for 241 yards, with one interception. Clark was his top receiver with two catches for 80 yards, and led Alvord’s rushers with 47 yards on three carries.
Archer City running back Noah Cornell started the Wildcats’ comeback rally midway through the third quarter with a 17-yard touchdown run. About 4 minutes later, he tacked on a 1-yard scoring run, putting the Wildcats ahead 37-26.
The Bulldogs’ final score of the game was a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Cutter Hamilton.
Still searching for their first win of the season, Alvord will host Windthorst in Week 4 7 p.m. Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
The Trojans (2-1) suffered a 56-21 Week 3 loss to Muenster. In their most-recent meeting, Windthorst defeated Alvord 49-21 in Week 9 of the 2017 season.
Eagle Mountain 20, Paradise 13
Paradise’s Logan Lampley tallied 113 yards and one touchdown on six catches in the Panthers’ 20-13 Week 3 loss to Eagle Mountain Sept. 13 at Knight Stadium. MIKE HALL | FOR THE MESSENGER
Facing off against newly-opened Eagle Mountain in Week 3, the Paradise Panthers could not contain Knight running back Terry Starks.
Starks rushed for 224 of the team’s 235 rushing yards on 23 attempts, as Eagle Mountain handed the Panthers (1-2) their second straight loss in a 20-13 defeat Sept. 13 at Knight Stadium.
Paradise held an early 7-point lead thanks to a 33-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Logan Lampley from quarterback Ayden Olalde. But Eagle Mountain responded 70 seconds later with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brycen Vindiola, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 1, 7-6.
Olalde was 12-of-21 under center for 177 yards, and rushed 15 times for 71 yards. Lampley led Paradise’s receivers with 113 yards on six catches.
Starks made his presence known for the Knights in the second quarter, as he broke through Paradise’s defense en route to a 61-yard rushing score. But the Panthers held a 13-12 lead at halftime thanks to a pair of 37-yard field goals by kicker Cooper Woodard down the stretch.
Vindiola put the Knights ahead for good in the third quarter, hitting wide receiver Kathen Middleton with a 26-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful run for the 2-point conversion.
Paradise looks to end its 2-game skid, as the team returns home in Week 4 to host Millsap for homecoming 7 p.m. Friday at Panther Stadium.
The Bulldogs (1-2) fell to Tolar in Week 3, 36-20. In Week 4 of the 2023 season, Paradise claimed a 47-9 win over Millsap.
Henrietta 23, Boyd 19
Boyd linebacker Cael Anthony leaps to alter a pass thrown by Henrietta quarterback Chaden Clark in the Yellowjackets’ 23-19 homecoming loss in Week 3 Sept. 13. KELLY BASTING | FOR THE MESSENGER
Hosting Henrietta for a Week 3 matchup, the Boyd Yellowjackets could not overcome the Bearcats’ big early lead.
Henrietta scored the first 20 points in the game, and held on during a 19-3 Boyd run in the final 31 minutes to ruin the Yellowjackets’ homecoming with a 23-19 victory.
The Bearcats jumped ahead to a 13-0 lead with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns — a 65-yard bomb from quarterback Chaden Clark to wide receiver Cruse Coleman, and a 1-yard scoring run by running back Landen Ramos.
Henrietta opened the second quarter with Clark’s second touchdown pass of the game, finding wide receiver Devin Franke for a 72-yard score.
Clark finished 4-for-8 under cetner for 182 yards. Cooper Coleman led all Bearcat receivers with 72 yards on one catch.
The Yellowjackets’ offense woke up midway through the frame, as quarterback Will McIntire connected with wide receiver Drew Brinkley for a 10-yard score, followed by a 7-yard touchdown run by McIntire. Boyd trailed Henrietta at halftime, 20-13.
After a 26-yard Henrietta field goal by Clark, Boyd found the end zone again through the air with Brinkley’s second scoring reception from McIntire from 13 yards out. Boyd was unable to retake the lead in the final 10 minutes of the game.
McIntire competed 16 of his 37 passing attempts for 213 yards, with one interception. He connected with wide receiver Major Jennings on five passes for 76 yards, while wide receiver Hunter Etter tallied four catches for 46 yards.
Collecting 181 yards on the ground, Boyd’s rushing attack was led by Garrett Hunt, racking up 74 yards on 16 carries.
Boyd hits the road in Week 4, traveling to face Callisburg 7 p.m. Friday at Wildcat Stadium.
The Wildcats (1-2) fell to Collinsville in Week 3, 28-14. In their last meeting, the Yellowjackets claimed a 41-27 District 5-2AI win over Callisburg in Week 7 of the 2013 season.
Munday 28, Chico 10
The Chico Dragons fell short in mounting a second-half comeback against Munday last week.
The Dragons (1-2) outscored the Moguls 10 in the third quarter, but ultimately fell in a 28-10 loss.
Munday took a 15-0 lead into the locker room at halftime after a pair of first-half passing touchdowns by quarterback Haiden Bowman — a 28-yard reception by wide receiver Ayden Montanez and a 47-yard connection with wide receiver Josh Dockins.
Chico got on the board through the air, as quarterback Hayden Johnson found wide receiver Zane Watson open for a 35-yard scoring pass. Johnson’s 2-point conversion pass to wide receiver Cole Barnett trimmed Munday’s lead to 7.
Johnson’s nine passing attempts produced just two catches for 38 yards. Watson’s touchdown catch led all Chico receivers in yardage.
Munday tacked on a 12-yard pass from Bowman to wide receiver Israel Carranza, but the Dragons managed to block the extra-point attempt. Chico’s Aron Mendona picked up the loose ball and returned it 90 yards, limiting the Moguls to a 21-10 advantage.
Bowman went 5-of-14 under center for 98 yards, with two interception. He added 11 rushing attempts for 84 yards.
Holding the Dragons scoreless in the final 12 minutes, Munday sealed the win with a 34-yard touchdown run by running back AJ Diaz.
Chico’s Karrington Ransom and Johnson combined for 231 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
The Dragons travel to battle non-district rival Petrolia in Week 4 7 p.m. Friday at Pirate Stadium.
Last week, the Pirates (2-1) claimed their second straight win with a 22-6 victory over Quanah. Chico fell to Petrolia 42-18 in the teams’ last contest in Week 7 of the 2021 season.
Saint Jo 33, VCA 30
Holding a 30-25 lead late in the fourth quarter on the road, the Victory Christian Academy Patriots’ hopes for a third straight win were dashed. 
Saint Jo quarterback Devin Stewart connected with wide receiver Lee Yeley for a 65-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left, allowing the Panthers to knock off the 2023 TCAF state champion Patriots, 33-30.
VCA struck first in the game with a 25-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Dryce Neeley from quarterback Layton Huddleston. Saint Jo responded with three straight scores — a pair of 6-yard runs by running back Wyatt Lucas and Yeley, and a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stewart to wide receiver Jayden Curry to take a 19-8 lead.
Near the end of the opening frame, the Patriots trimmed the Panthers’ lead to 3 with Huddleston’s second scoring pass — a 46-yard bomb to wide receiver Jerran Martin. VCA held a 24-19 lead at halftime after Martin broke through for a 6-yard rushing score midway through the second quarter.
Martin was VCA’s rushing leader with 86 yards on 10 carries. He also led the Patriots’ receivers, grabbing four catches for 99 yards.
Saint Jo started the second half with a 13-yard touchdown toss from Stewart to Yeley, but the Patriots answered 11 seconds later with a 55-yard touchdown sprint by Martin.
Under center, Huddleston completed 12 of his 19 passing attempts for 223 yards. For Saint Jo, Stewart was 9-of-15 for 205 yards, with two interceptions.
VCA hosts Wylie Prep for a Week 4 Battle of the Patriots homecoming showdown 7 p.m. Friday at Patriot Field.
Wylie Prep (2-1) defeated Savoy 58-6 for its second straight win last week. The two teams last met in Week 8 of the 2021 season, as Wylie Prep defeated VCA 52-6.
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