Remember that time when Fort Worth Country Day football beat Saint Mark’s School of Texas on a last-second blocked extra point? Then the very next year, FWCD blew out Saint Mark’s in the rematch of that rivalry game?
You probably think I’m referring to the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In 2024, FWCD beat Saint Mark’s for the first time in 14 years. Luke Mitchell ’24, at the last-second, blocked an extra point for the Falcons to win 35-34. The next year there would be a rematch of that game, where Saint Mark’s claimed to be out for vengeance after that crushing defeat last year.
Not so fast.
The Falcons crushed the Lions 44-14 on Friday, Aug. 29 this season. Freshman quarterback Hayes Casey ’29 passed for 291 yards in what is likely FWCD’s most dominant win in the rivalry’s history.
But when speaking of that time when FWCD football beat Saint Mark’s School of Texas on a last-second blocked extra point and a win in consecutive years, I could also be referring to over 10 years ago, to the 2009 and 2010 seasons. In 2009, FWCD upset Saint Mark’s 21-20 after Keller Reese ’09 blocked an extra point last-second. In 2010 it was much less close, as FWCD’s offense dominated the Lions in a 42-26 win.
Those are FWCD’s only four victories in this rivalry in the past 20 years, and they were both split into two-year streaks with wins in a similar fashion. That’s a funny coincidence, isn’t it?
Saint Mark’s didn’t find it funny when their defense allowed six touchdowns, and their offense scored just one, in garbage time, during the August 29, 2025 game. The Lions’ other touchdown came off a special teams play, when the Falcons ran a surprise onside kick. A Lions player caught the kick, found a hole in the coverage, and took off down the sideline for a TD.
“That’s my fault,” FWCD Head Football Coach Keith Burns said. “I didn’t account for that and didn’t prepare us for that scenario.”
Prior to the onside kick debacle, freshman quarterback Casey had led an 8-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in a 35-yard TD pass to Canaan Factor ’26 – the first TD of Casey’s varsity career. On the point-after attempt, the Falcons decided to go with a trick play instead of the normal extra point. Owen Bloemendal ’27 received the ball on a jet sweep before throwing the ball out to Factor in the end zone for two points. However, the referees incorrectly called a double forward pass penalty, claiming Bloemendal had received a “forward handoff,” which does not exist. This meant the two points were called back, meaning the Falcons were only up 6-0.
Burns wanted to catch the Lions off guard with the onside kick, but it instead backfired. Now it was a 6-7 game, and the momentum had shifted to the Lions’ side.
But Burns had more special teams tricks up his sleeve. On the kick return, Will Bloemendal ’27 faked a reverse to his brother Owen before cutting upfield and returning the kick for 63 yards. Four plays later, running back Fox Burton ’26 was in the end zone for a rushing touchdown that, after Luke Vincent ’26 nailed the extra point, made it a 13-7 FWCD lead.
The offense didn’t look back as they continued to impose their will on the Saint Mark’s defense all night long. Casey had a day during his high school debut, going 18/26 for 291 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs. His performance earned him a nomination for DFW high school player of the week.
“I was trying to find Hayes after the game but couldn’t find him,” Price Carter ’26 said. Casey was getting swamped in the crowd by family and friends and it was impossible to reach him. The coaching staff had nothing but positive things to say about Casey.
“I’m so proud of that man right there,” Burns said in his post-game speech, pointing at Casey.
In the Monday film session, the team reviewed a play where Casey pump-faked to make the pass rusher right in front of him hesitate; this gave him enough time to duck out of the way and then deliver the throw to Factor for a first down.
“We didn’t coach him to do that,” offensive coordinator TJ Millweard said, admiring the play. As Burns likes to say: “That’s just big-time players making big-time plays.”
It wasn’t just Casey making big-time plays for this offense. Burton was unstoppable, carrying the ball 24 times for 112 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and 3 TDs. He was the embodiment of physicality in that game, often breaking multiple tackles in one carry. On one play late in the second half, Burton took the handoff and bounced outside, carrying multiple defenders on his back as he powered forward and was eventually shoved out-of-bounds. Burns, walking along the sideline beside the play, exclaimed “Now that’s football!”
Casey also had plenty of weapons in the passing game. Factor was uncoverable, catching 7 passes for 114 yards and 2 TDs. Harrison Homan ’27 caught it twice for 39 yards, including a 27-yard catch on a screen play. Owen Bloemendal had a 50-yard touchdown catch… in an unusual manner.
Early in the third quarter, on the first play of a drive, Casey took the snap and threw it out to Will Bloemendal on a hitch route. Will caught it and the defense immediately ran after him; however, they didn’t notice Owen Bloemendal sneaking behind Will. After the defense began to run at him, Will pitched it behind himself, where Owen could catch it while already running at full speed. The defense was unable to change direction quickly enough, and Owen used his extraordinary speed to run all the way to the endzone untouched. Football enthusiasts will know this as the “hook-and-ladder” play.
While all the skill players were exceptional, let’s not forget a huge factor in the game: the offensive line. The biggest question heading into the game was if FWCD’s inexperienced line could hold the massive St. Mark’s defensive line. They certainly proved themselves, as they did not allow a single sack. They dominated the run game, too, and were a big factor in Burton’s 4.7 yards per carry. The overall team effort resulted in a whopping 417 total yards.
While the offense seemed unstoppable, the defense was the deciding factor. As Burns likes to tell his players, “No matter how many points your team scores in a game, you can still lose if the other team scores one more. If your defense gives up 0 points, you cannot lose.”
The Falcons didn’t pull off the shutout, but it was certainly a shutdown of the Lions’ offense. The Falcons only allowed 174 yards the entire game. In the passing game, St. Mark’s was a measly 8/25 (32% of passes completed) for 68 yards. The Lions only had one 3rd-down conversion the entire game. The Falcons forced two turnovers, as well as six punts. Needless to say, it was a total domination.
There were great individual performances, too. Fulton Weaver ’26, making his first start at the “Bandit” position, picked up a team-leading six tackles and forced a fumble. James Hanson ’28, making his first varsity start at cornerback, picked up five tackles and caught the attention of the crowd by defending two deep shots.
A big problem arose on the defense this Thursday, when Scottie Huffman ’27 suffered an injury after tripping over another player in a walkthrough. Huffman would be fine, but he would be forced to miss the game. Needing to find a new safety, Burns quickly assembled a gameplan. In place of Huffman, Major Factor ’28 would fill in at safety while Weaver occasionally rotated back from the bandit position. If Weaver slid back to safety, William Stadler ’28 would fill in at bandit.
All three did a great job fulfilling their duties despite the sudden arrangement. Factor didn’t record a defensive stat but had exceptional coverage and recorded a catch on offense. Stadler picked up three tackles as well as a catch on offense.
“I’m super proud of all three of you,” Burns said in his post-game speech, referring to that rotation of players. “You all did a great job of filling in. Sometimes the man in front of you goes down, and that’s football. It’s unfortunate for [Huffman] that it happened on a Thursday walkthrough, and I know he’d love to be out there playing with you all tonight. But you have to take advantage of that because it’s an opportunity for you, and you three did a great job.”
While special teams had some hiccups in the game, you can’t forget the impact of kicker Vincent. Vincent went 5/5 on extra point attempts and got the opportunity to kick a field goal late in the game. He nailed it, right down the middle for a 27-yard field goal.
Even JV players got a shot late in the game. Lane Mitchell ’29 got two carries and a five-yard run. JV quarterback Chase Hatfield ’28 came in for the final kneel that ended the game.
The Falcons were by far the most physical team on Howard Family Field that night, and that’s what won them the game.
“I’ve coached at all levels, you guys know,” Burns said. “High school, college, NFL: this is probably the most proud I’ve ever been of a football team.”
The biggest problem with the team throughout summer practices was inconsistency. One day they would have a great practice, and the next day they would struggle. But as assistant coach James Rains put it, “The locomotive is on the tracks now.”
A locomotive headed… straight for the SPC championship?
Remember that coincidence I mentioned earlier? There’s more to it.
In 2024, the team went 7-2 and fell just short of the championship. In 2009, the team went 7-2 and fell just short of the championship. In 2010, following a blowout of St. Mark’s, the team went 11-0 and won the SPC championship.
Well, step 1 is complete in 2025. So… will history repeat itself?
The Falcons have a chance to prove themselves when they take on Colleyville Covenant on Friday, September 12.
“I’ve had to deal with everyone in the SPC saying the only reason our offense was good is because St. Mark’s sucks,” Millweard said. “I want to prove them wrong.”
