Football Game Preview: Fossil Ridge Panthers vs. Birdville Hawks + How To Watch

The Fossil Ridge Panthers will take on the Birdville Hawks at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Fossil Ridge has now lost seven straight, leaving the team hunting for their first win since September 4.

On Thursday, Fossil Ridge lost to Brewer on the road by a 45-27 margin. While losing is never fun, the Panthers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 564th, while the Bears are ranked 171st).

Despite the loss, Fossil Ridge got top-tier performance from Benjamin Riley, who picked up 233 receiving yards and one score. Riley's longest reception was for an incredible 72 yards. The team also got some help courtesy of Malaki Lockhart, who threw for 408 yards and a pair of TDs.

Meanwhile, Birdville was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap last Friday as they fell 32-27 to Brewer.

Fossil Ridge will need to focus on slowing down Triston Spain, one of several Birdville players who made an impact when they last played. He picked up 86 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Zach Wells was another key player, throwing for 177 yards and four TDs.

Fossil Ridge's defeat dropped their record down to 1-8. As for Birdville, their loss dropped their record down to 4-4.

Fossil Ridge was able to grind out a solid victory over Birdville when the teams last played back in November of 2024, winning 44-31. Will the Panthers repeat their success, or do the Hawks have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.