The Crandall Pirates will get their first opportunity to line up against another program Thursday, Aug. 13, when the Pirates travel to Mesquite Horn for a full slate of football scrimmages involving freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams.
For the varsity Pirates, the matchup provides an early test against a Class 6A opponent as Crandall begins preparations for a 2026 season that will feature several experienced players returning from last year’s playoff team.
Thursday’s Scrimmage Schedule
The scrimmages will be held at Mesquite Horn on Thursday, Aug. 13.
- Freshman Black — 5:30 p.m.
- Freshman Gold — 6:00 p.m.
- JV Black — 6:00 p.m.
- JV Gold — 6:00 p.m.
- Varsity — 6:00/7:00 p.m.
Crandall Returns Several Key Offensive Weapons
Crandall enters its second season under head coach Darrell Lewis after finishing 7-4 overall and 4-3 in district play in 2025.
The Pirates opened last season with six consecutive victories before encountering a difficult late-season stretch. Crandall recovered with a 46-21 victory over Greenville to earn a playoff berth before falling 49-18 to South Oak Cliff in the bi-district round.
Several of the players responsible for Crandall’s offensive production are back.
Junior running back Darrik Ward Jr. returns after rushing for 1,246 yards and 18 touchdowns on 200 carries as a sophomore. Ward averaged more than six yards per attempt and became the centerpiece of the Pirates’ ground game.
Senior wide receiver Jeremiah Douglas also returns following a breakout junior season. Douglas caught 63 passes for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging more than 16 yards per reception.
Senior quarterback Isaac Briones gained substantial experience last season, completing 69 of 101 passes for 789 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. His return gives Crandall an experienced option at quarterback entering the new season.
Senior Christian Ingram provides another experienced option in the backfield after rushing for 351 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Experienced Senior Class Leads Pirates
Crandall’s current varsity roster includes 17 seniors and nine juniors, giving Lewis a substantial group of upperclassmen heading into the season.
Among the seniors are Douglas, Briones, King Franklin, Cayson Hardman, Jayden McCleary, Christian Ingram, Micah Wright, Colton Craft, Justiz Prox, James Jackson, Jayden Hurtado, Andrew Acosta Nieto, Jonathan Flipyap, Brent Starr, Carlos Ruiz, Kevin Ramirez and Edmundo Aguirre.
The junior group includes Ward, Brody Moore, Josiah Anderson, Logan Roberts, Maurice Jones, Davyn Davis, Colton Braswell, Gauge Sims and Khylan Dyer.
Hardman is listed at linebacker, McCleary in the secondary and Craft at defensive end, giving Crandall experienced players at multiple levels of the defense.
The Pirates also have size returning along the offensive line, including senior Brent Starr at 5-foot-9 and 240 pounds and junior Khylan Dyer at 6-foot-3.
New Era Begins at Mesquite Horn
Thursday’s scrimmage will also be an important early evaluation for a Mesquite Horn program beginning its first season under head coach Robert Boone.
Horn finished 2-7 overall and 2-5 in district competition last season.
Boone was hired in March after former Horn coach Vernon Hughes departed after one season to become the head coach at Converse Judson.
Boone arrives at Horn after serving as head coach at Carrollton Newman Smith. He led Newman Smith to three consecutive playoff appearances and helped the program establish the highest winning percentage in school history during his tenure.
Horn enters the season with considerably more experience than its 2025 record might suggest. Preseason information for the Jaguars lists 32 returning lettermen, including five returning offensive starters and six defensive starters.
Horn Has Playmakers Returning
One of Horn’s most intriguing returning players is senior Kai Furtch.
Furtch produced more than 400 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season and is expected to make the transition from wide receiver to quarterback in Boone’s offense.
The move would put one of Horn’s top athletes in position to handle the football on virtually every offensive snap.
Senior running backs Radarrius Wilson and MacArius Johnson give the Jaguars additional experience in the backfield, while senior receivers Derick Anaba and Jayden Boyd provide veteran targets.
Horn also returns experience along the offensive line with seniors Connor Gibb, Malaki Sanchez-Burroughs, Bo Owoniyi and Kaleb Terry.
Junior Chaska Martin is another player to watch in the trenches. Martin is regarded as one of the Jaguars’ top young linemen and is part of an offensive line group that includes several college prospects.
Horn Defense Features Veteran Upperclassmen
Horn’s current roster includes 18 seniors and 12 juniors.
Senior defensive back Ja’varris Williams is one of the Jaguars’ notable returning defenders. The 6-foot-2 senior is joined by senior linebacker Keyandre Sheffield and defensive linemen John Harris, Alberto Payne and Kangar Bright.
Other Horn seniors include Kai Furtch, Derick Anaba, Jayden Boyd, Norjain Gonzalez, MacArius Johnson, Radarrius Wilson, Deandre Bess, Maurice Gindratt, Bryson Culberson, Connor Gibb, Malaki Sanchez-Burroughs, Bo Owoniyi and Kaleb Terry.
Horn’s junior class includes Omari Samuels, Kevin Edwards Jr., Peter Okafor, Casey Webster, D’Iris Patterson, Miguel Najera-Rodriguez, Joshua Hamilton, Amari Luster, Lamar Luster, Kaiden Stephens, Chaska Martin and Liam Mejia.
Early Test for Both Programs
Thursday’s matchup gives Crandall an opportunity to measure itself against a 6A roster before the Pirates begin their regular season Aug. 28 at Braswell.
For Crandall, the scrimmage should provide an early look at how an experienced group of returning offensive players performs together while giving coaches an opportunity to evaluate the defense and determine roles throughout the depth chart.
For Horn, it represents one of the first competitive tests of the Boone era and an opportunity to begin installing a new identity around a roster that brings back experience on both sides of the football.
The results will not count in either team’s record, but Thursday night should provide both coaching staffs with valuable information before the 2026 season officially begins.
