Defending Texas UIL state champion Carthage announces 2025 football schedule

Carthage (Texas) may have won a state football championship last season, but the Bulldogs immediately have revenge on their minds entering this season.

That’s because the Bulldogs will kick off the upcoming season by taking on the only team that beat Carthage last season. In a matchup of two teams that made it all the way to Arlington in December, defending UIL 4A Division II champion Carthage travels on Aug. 29 to face Kilgore, which reached the 4A DI championship game.

Carthage QB Jett Surratt giving encouragement to the Kilgore Bulldogs before they take the stage. That bEAST Texas camaraderie.🙌🏾🏆🫡

#bEasttexas #UILState @carthagedawgs @kytxcbs19 pic.twitter.com/eJKX8UwgkL
— Serenity Douglas (@_serenityd) December 20, 2024

It’s part of the 2025 football schedule for Carthage, which was announced Tuesday on the Facebook page of the school’s athletic department.

Last season in the opening game for both teams, Kilgore defeated Carthage, 20-15, which was the first loss for Carthage at its home field since 2016. But Carthage went on to win its next 15 ballgames, including the state championship.

Following an off week, Carthage will have its home opener on Sept. 12 against Texarkana Liberty-Eylau and is at home the following week against Tyler Chapel Hill.

Another highlight to Carthage’s schedule is an Oct. 3 game against San Benito for the second straight season. The two teams will play at Bay City in a neutral-site game just like last year, as both schools are more than 460 miles apart.

Then on Oct. 10, Carthage will open its district schedule with a game at nearby Center.

Carthage, which beat Waco La Vega in last season's 4A DII championship game, will be going for its 11th state title this season - all coming since 2008 and all coming under coach Scott Surratt. With the return of key players like quarterback Jett Surratt, tailback and recent Texas A&M commit KJ Edwards and linebacker DaQuives Beck, one of the top recruits in the nation, the Bulldogs are a prohibitive favorite to return to AT&T Stadium this December and play for yet another championship.

Carthage (Texas) 2025 football schedule

Aug. 29 at Kilgore

Sept. 5 Open

Sept. 12 Texarkana Liberty-Eylau

Sept. 19 Tyler Chapel Hill

Sept. 26 at Jasper

Oct. 3 San Benito (at Bay City)

*Oct. 10 at Center

*Oct. 17 Athens

*Oct. 24 at Bullard

*Oct. 31 Rusk

*Nov. 7 at Brownsboro