Texas high school football: Defending state champions Carthage unveils 2025 football schedule

The Carthage Bulldogs won the 2024 Texas high school football Class 4A Division II state championship over La Vega 28-14. It’s their sixth state title in nine years and tenth overall under head coach Scott Surratt, who has never lost a state championship game. In addition to another title, the Bulldogs ranked 22nd in the end-of-season Texas On3 Composite Team Rankings.

That said, three words best summarize their 2025 script: run it back. Winning it again at AT&T Stadium gives them their first back-to-back state titles since winning three straight from 2008 to 2010. But before reaching the state championship game, they will open the season at Kilgore on August 29.

Kilgore was the only team that defeated Carthage in the 2024 Texas high school football season. Since that defeat, the Bulldogs went on a 15-game winning streak, including the state championship victory over the Pirates. After that season-opening game, Carthage will have a bye week before playing its nine remaining regular-season matches.

Carthage’s 2025 Texas high school football schedule is the same as last year, save for venue changes. In 2024, the Bulldogs faced Liberty-Eylau and Chapel Hill on the road. This year, Carthage will open its September schedule at home against the Leopards during Homecoming Week (September 12) and versus Chapel Hill (September 19).

After those games, the defending state champions will travel to face Jasper on September 26. Then, the Bulldogs will welcome their October schedule with a game against the San Benito Greyhounds in neutral territory (Bay City).

Finally, the second half of their 2025 Texas high school football regular season will pit them against district opponents. Carthage will alternate between away and home matches for their last five games, starting with a visit to the Center Roughriders on October 10. A week later, they will welcome Athens at home before hitting the road again versus Bullard on October 24.

Carthage will close the regular season with a home game against Rusk (October 31) and a road game versus Brownsboro (November 7). Leading the way for the Bulldogs’ 2025 campaign are quarterback Jett Surratt, running back KJ Edwards (Texas A&M), wide receiver Keymian Henderson, and linebackers DaQuives Beck and Carson Crawford (Texas State).

Here’s Carthage’s upcoming Texas high school football schedule, as posted on their athletic department’s official Facebook page.