North Crowley looks to take next step, become Texas high school football powerhouse

North Crowley wears 817 on its helmets, representing Fort Worth-area football as the No. 5 ranked team in Texas high school football’s largest classification.

The Panthers have been ascending under head coach Ray Gates, and they made a deep playoff run to the state semifinal in 2023. North Crowley was ousted by Duncanville, the eventual Class 6A D1 State Champion .

North Crowley is looking to take the next step to become a Texas football dynasty and isn’t wasting any time looking for a dogfight early in the season. Gates scheduled one of the toughest non-district slates in Texas.

On Saturday, the Panthers will face Lancaster in the Jerry Jones Classic at the Ford Center with a 2 p.m. CT kickoff. The game will be nationally broadcast on NFL Network.

Week two will see North Crowley face DeSoto, the defending Class 6A D2 state champion . In week three, the Panthers will take on Denton Guyer, a consistent powerhouse.

“We needed a challenge early in the season,” Gates said. “We need to find out who we are early in the season and find any weaknesses that we may have – hopefully those are something that we can overcome. Put things in place in order to turn weakness into a strength.”

North Crowley is returning 13 starters which includes the 2023 Star-Telegram Player of the Year : Senior quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr.

Despite the Panthers’ extremely talented team, Gates said he wants his team to go out and prove they deserve to be at the top. Last season was a successful one, but results aren’t guaranteed; they are earned.

“We’re fortunate to have a lot of guys back that played a lot of football for us last year,” Gates said. “So, we’re really excited about the group. We have to go out and prove again that we’re worthy of being a top five ranked team in the state of Texas. Hopefully, we will find ourselves getting over the hump this year and having an opportunity to make it to AT&T Stadium.”

The hump Gates refers to is Duncanville, one of the best programs in Texas football history. To reach this point, North Crowley is focusing on its core values, which includes selflessness. Gates said that talent is great, but maximizing potential can only occur if the Panthers rely on trust and unity.

“It’s not that they can go out in the field and perform to their God given abilities,” Gates said. “It’s also an ability to manage the talent and the egos that come with it. Preaching that brotherhood for us, it’s going to be important. Being excited for your teammates and understanding that what we have here is a true family type atmosphere.”

They’ll focus on the little things: operating as a team, being there for each other and celebrating teammates accomplishments as if they’re your own.

“We’re trying to look in all areas -- microscopic wins to make sure that we’re not leaving any stone unturned,” Gates said.

North Crowley has a plethora of talent. Jimerson Jr., a four-year starter, will once again be at the forefront following an incredible 52 touchdown junior season. Gates said he expects “greatness every week.”

For Jimerson, and the rest of the senior class, Gates says this upcoming senior season is about the legacy they leave behind at North Crowley High School.

“It’s what they can leave here for the next group,” Gates said. “And the future groups that will roll through North Crowley. It’s about cementing this program as a household name.”

When it comes to taking the next step, the offensive line is at the forefront of the charge. Gates called the unit the “emphasis of the program.”

Gates said Kevin Park, a former Lucas Lovejoy assistant, is making swift improvements to the offensive line with an elite coaching presence. Gates expects the unit to be physical but also smart and disciplined.

Junior John Turntine III, a 6-foot-4 left tackle and No. 2 overall tackle in the country, will help set the tone. Also keep an eye out for Henry Fenuku, a 6-foot-4 left guard committed to Missouri.

The entire offensive line, not just those two, will be effective.

“We have the size,” Gates said. “We have the length. We have the toughness, the grittiness. Most importantly, it’s a smart group. The running backs’ job will be a lot easier this year.”

North Crowley will have two elite running backs. Cornelius Warren III, a UNLV commit, is returning and will look to be a consistent force following some injury trouble last year. Despite the setback, he was a focal point of the offense throughout the 2023 playoff run .

Daniel Bray, a senior transfer from Abilene Cooper, will also be a force with a 10.38 in the 100-meter dash.

“When (Bray) steps on the field every week, he’ll be the fastest player on the field,” Gates said. “We’re excited about him and what he’s able to do for our offense.”

North Crowley graduated a fair amount of receivers last year. Gates said the next generation is rising, and to keep an eye out for senior Quinton Gibson who is “super explosive and can move all over the field.”

Also inserting himself into the Panther offense is Kevin Moore, a transfer from Grand Prairie who has been “phenomenal” according to Gates.

Fans should expect more receivers to be productive. The Panthers will have lots of options and opportunities can be seized.

“I could go on and on about that -- the amount of talent we have at the receiver position,” Gates said.

Defensively, Jonathan Cunningham, a Texas commit and the Star-Telegram Preseason Defensive Player of the Year , will make an impact.

“He is a very special player,” Gates said. “Very talented. Lots of upside. We still haven’t seen the best football of his high school career. We’re really excited about him.”

When it comes to leadership, senior linebacker Jabrelle Asberry “runs the show.”

“You don’t get an opportunity to coach a lot of guys like him,” Gates said. “He has that true, schizophrenic type of nature that you look for in a football player. He is nasty and aggressive on the football field. Once he is off, he is laid back and down to Earth.”

The rest of the defense is stacked as well and Gates is confident in the unit to execute the scheme.

At the end of the day, North Crowley isn’t focused on the talent levels within the team. They know that many programs in Texas are blessed with athleticism and speed.

“This team is hungry,” Gates said. “We’ve heard a lot of the talk. We hear what people say about what we can and what we can’t do. We’re looking to show people we’re here to take the next step. Most importantly, we’ll strive to play our best football when it matters most.”