Irving ISD Teams Wrap Up Non-District Play as District 8-6A Schedule Looms
IRVING, Texas - Irving ISD's three varsity football teams wrapped up their non-district schedules this week, with MacArthur's high-powered offense nearly producing a shootout victory while Irving and Nimitz continued searching for answers ahead of District 8-6A play.
All three teams will now get a week off before beginning district competition Sept. 25.
Granbury hands Irving third straight loss
The Irving Tigers' difficult start continued Friday night at Joy and Ralph Ellis Stadium as the Granbury Pirates defeated Irving 55-20.
The loss dropped Irving to 0-3.
The Tigers have struggled defensively through their non-district schedule. Irving opened the season with a 56-14 loss to Corsicana before Denton shut out the Tigers 56-0.
Friday's 20 points against Granbury marked Irving's best offensive output of the young season, but the Tigers again couldn't keep pace with an opponent on the scoreboard.
Irving will have two weeks to prepare for a difficult District 8-6A opener against Euless Trinity on Friday, Sept. 25, at Pennington Field.
Trinity enters district play at 1-2 after falling 31-7 to Aledo in its final non-district game.
Nimitz ground game can't overcome South Garland
Nimitz closed its non-district schedule Thursday with a 28-14 loss to South Garland.
Running back Jaylen Harris remained the bright spot for the Vikings' offense, rushing for 188 yards.
While Nimitz found success on the ground, its passing attack struggled to get going. The Vikings finished with just 9 passing yards against the Colonels, leaving the offense heavily dependent on Harris and the running game.
Defensively, Ja'khi Morton led Nimitz with 9.5 tackles.
The Vikings will open District 8-6A play Sept. 25 against Hurst L.D. Bell.
Bell also enters district competition at 1-2 after a 15-11 loss to Sachse in its final non-district matchup.
MacArthur piles up 600-plus yards but falls to Azle
MacArthur came closest to finishing the week with a victory, but the Cardinals fell 49-41 to Azle in an offensive shootout Thursday.
The two teams traded scores throughout the game before MacArthur scored late and attempted an onside kick in hopes of getting one more possession. The Cardinals were unable to recover it.
MacArthur finished with more than 600 yards of total offense despite the loss.
Running back Jayden Burnett rushed for 162 yards, while quarterback Brock Casas-Willis threw for 202 yards.
Wide receiver Derrick Washington was Casas-Willis' leading target, finishing with 81 receiving yards.
The problem for MacArthur came on the other side of the ball.
Azle quarterback Auston Morgan threw for 419 yards and five touchdowns as the Cardinals struggled to slow the Hornets' passing attack.
Despite the loss, MacArthur finishes non-district play with the best record among Irving ISD's three teams at 2-1.
The Cardinals begin their District 8-6A schedule against South Grand Prairie on Sept. 25 at the Gopher-Warrior Bowl.
South Grand Prairie enters the matchup at 2-1 after edging Plano East 14-13.
All three Irving ISD teams kick off their District 8-6A schedules at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.
