LD Bell Clinches Playoff Spot, Sets Up District Title Showdown vs Trinity

For the first time since 2013, LD Bell is headed to the playoffs — and the Blue Raiders aren't just punching their ticket, they're playing for a district championship.

A Halloween night matchup at Pennington Field against Irving MacArthur turned into a statement game for Bell, who rolled to a 64-10 victory. The win ended an 11-year postseason drought and sets up a winner-take-all district title clash with rival Trinity next week.

The game was tied early after MacArthur sophomore running back Jayden Burnett showed why he's one to watch, racking up 230 rushing yards including a 28-yard touchdown to knot the score at 7-7. But Bell's defense made a key play before that, with Paul Watkins Jr. picking off a tipped pass and returning it to the 3-yard line to set up the Blue Raiders' first score.

From there, Bell took over completely. Jeremiah Houston punched in a score from the 1-yard line and finished with 142 rushing yards on the night. Roland Taylay added a highlight-reel 76-yard touchdown run, capping a dominant performance that saw Bell score 57 unanswered points.

Next week's game against Trinity carries full district title implications — a rivalry matchup that now means everything in the standings.