Playoffs Becoming the Norm for CISD Fall Sports

CISD Athletics

TAKES A BIG JUMP TO 5A IN STRIDE

In just its second year of 5A competition, athletics programs have become a regular playoff presence.

Growth has been good for the Crandall Pirate athletics program. Crandall High School began its second stint in UIL Class 5A-Division II as school kicked off in August. The district jumped into 5A just two years ago with the 2020 UIL realignment.

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country competed at seven varsity meets, hosting the Pirate Invitational for the second-consecutive year. CISD also hosted the 14-5A district meet where six Pirates finished in the top 15, including first- and second-place finishes by Caden Floyd and Walker Cox. The Lady Pirates also fared well at the district meet with two finishing in the top 15—Reyna Vargas (2) and Cassie Vargas (12). Floyd and Reyna Vargas both went on to finish in the top 30 at the 5A-Region 2 meet in Grand Prairie. Football advanced to the playoffs for the second-consecutive year after finishing 8-2 in the regular season, good enough for a third-place finish in District 7-5A. That regular-season record matches its best since 2000. The Pirates, who finished 9-3 overall, claimed the bi-district championship after knocking off Marshall, 48-47, in a first-round playoff road win. A 37-45 loss to Midlothian Heritage in the 5A-Division II Region II Area round finished Crandall’s season.

Crandall’s offense totaled more yards (5,666) than any other Dallas-area 5A team through the second round of playoffs. The Pirates also ranked fourth in rushing yards per game (291), 12th in passing (224), and third in scoring (47) Tennis also advanced to the playoffs for the second-straight year. The team narrowly missed a third-place finish in the district after dropping its last regularseason match to Forney, ultimately finishing fourth. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Lovejoy. Nicole Giles won first place in the consolation bracket of Kaufman’s Invitational Tournament in November, which builds momentum heading into the team’s spring season.

Volleyball advanced to the playoffs for the first time since joining 5A. The Lady Pirates finished fourth in District 14-5A with a 6-6 record before finishing their season against Lovejoy in a first-round bi-district exit. Arianna Gonzalez and Kennedi Holmes earned first-team all-district honors while Leah Gardner was named 14-5A Hitter of the Year. Freshman Chika Abba also earned 14-5A Newcomer of the Year honors. Nine of the 12

FOOTBALL TENNIS