Editor’s note: Because the Bearcats are playing on Friday, Sept. 20 and then again on Sept. 26 before our Sept. 27 issue comes out, the advance for both games is included in this story.
It’s a common phrase among coaches that once a game is over, you don’t celebrate or lament too long. You start getting ready for the next game.
Add in homecoming and the end of the first grading period and it becomes an even more interesting short stretch of time for the Aledo Bearcats. Following their game against Birdville on Friday, Sept. 20, they will immediately begin preparations for their clash against Keller Fossil Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 26 at Keller ISD Athletic Complex.
“It causes you to change what you do on Monday,” Aledo coach Robby Jones said of homecoming week, which features the annual homecoming parade on Monday of that week.
No one seems to remember the last time Aledo lost a homecoming game, and it’s a streak that’s likely to continue this season.
Since losing 35-30 at Denton Guyer, the Bearcats defeated Lancaster 37-27 at home and won 64-0 at Brewer in their District 3-5A Division I opener. The Hawks lost their season opener 50-14 at home to Crowley, rebounded to win 42-24 at Grapevine and held on for a 27-24 home win over Granbury in their league debut.
Junior Gavin Beard is expected to be back as the starter this week, Jones said. Beard has missed the past two games with an upper body injury after going 16-of-29 for 189 yards with two touchdowns and an interception at Denton Guyer.
“He’s excited about getting back on the field,” Jones said. “Gavin doesn’t show much emotion, but you can tell he’s ready to go.”
In his absence, sophomore Nash McElree has guided the team to two wins. He is 17-of-27 for 241 yards with three touchdowns and 2 interceptions. In his last start at Brewer, McElree was near perfect, finishing 11-of-13 for 202 yards with three TD and no picks.
In limited time, Tubbs has completed one pass for 3 yards, rushed three times for 19 yards, and even caught a pass for 21 yards.
Meanwhile, Birdville’s starting quarterback from a season ago, Noah Normand (21 TD passing, 6 TD rushing) was injured before the start of the season. Sophomore Zach Wells has taken over and is completing 64% of his passes with four TD and two interceptions.
In case no one noticed, Brady Powell can run with a football pretty well. The junior picked up a game-high 102 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries in the win over Brewer.
“It’s good to have that much depth,” Jones said. “We know late in the game we can move the ball. In the past we haven’t always had guys like Brady, so it’s good to know we’ve got guys like him.”
Junior Ray Guillory continues to return from his knee injury — and has looked solid in doing so. Guillory has 50 carries for 341 yards and six touchdowns so far.
Junior Kaden Winkfield has carried 38 times for 197 yards and four touchdowns.
This will be just the fifth time the Bearcats and Hawks have played, with Aledo posting a 4-0 record in the series. The Bearcats won 42-7 in 2008, 48-13 in 2009, 40-17 in 2010, and a wild 67-42 contest in 2011 when the teams were in the same district.
Aledo and Fossil Ridge have only played twice, with the Bearcats winning both times, 26-3 in 2006 and 21-7 in 2007.
Jones remembers the last time the Bearcats and Hawks played for several reasons. It was pouring rain. Aledo running back Jonathon Gray was having a great game — as he often did.
And, there is one other reason.
“It was the night the Rangers blew the World Series,” Jones said. “It was a Thursday night and they could have wrapped it up.”
The Rangers led the St. Louis Cardinals three games to two and had a two-run lead in the ninth inning in Game Six. However, Nelson Cruz misjudged a fly ball and the game went extra innings, with the Cardinals winning 10-9 in 11 innings.
The next night, the Cardinals won Game Seven and the world championship.
The Bearcats would go on to win a third consecutive state championship.
Fossil Ridge’s return to Class 5A has not been a successful one so far as they are still looking for their first win. The Panthers spent the past decade in Class 6A, posting a 49-54 record, including 0-5 in the playoffs.
The season before making the move up the Panthers were 9-4 and advanced to the third round of the playoffs, one of their most successful seasons ever.
This past week Aledo subvarsity teams won three of four contests. The junior varsity Orange won 65-0 over Brewer and JV Black defeated Midlothian Heritage 41-0.
The freshmen Orange won 37-0 over Brewer and the freshmen black fell 20-0 to Mineral Wells A team.
JV Black and Orange improved to 3-0, while both freshmen teams are 2-1.
Once again this week, the Bearcats are ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 5A Division I. District foes Denton Ryan and Richland remained No. 1 and No. 6, respectively.
On the national level, the Bearcats rose three spots to No. 82. Ryan also moved three places to No. 89.
~ ~
| District 3-5A Division I | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| District | Overall | Points for-against | |
| Richland | 1-0 | 3-0 | 137-50 |
| Denton Ryan | 1-0 | 3-0 | 126-35 |
| Aledo | 1-0 | 2-1 | 131-62 |
| Birdville | 1-0 | 2-1 | 83-108 |
| Azle | 0-0 | 2-0 | 92-62 |
| Denton | 0-1 | 1-2 | 28-111 |
| Granbury | 0-1 | 1-2 | 41-61 |
| Keller Fossil Ridge | 0-1 | 0-3 | 45-129 |
| Brewer | 0-1 | 0-3 | 27-117 |
Birdville Hawks (2-1, 1-0 in District 3-5A Division I) Aledo Bearcats (2-1, 1-0).
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 Tim Buchanan Stadium.
Last week: Aledo won 64-0 at Brewer, Birdville won 27-24 at home over Granbury.
Last season: Aledo went 16-0 and won Class 5A Division I state championship, Birdville was 4-6 and missed playoffs. Teams did not play..
All-time series: Aledo leads 4-0.
Returning starters: Aledo 3 offensive, 4 defensive. Birdville 5 offensive, 5 defensive.
Aledo offensive players to watch: QB Gavin Beard, 16-of-29, 189 yards, 2 TD, 1 interception; WR Blake Burdine, 9 catches, 147 yards, 2 TD, 4 kickoff returns for 88 yards, including a long of 40.
Birdville offensive players to watch: QB Zach Powell 64% completion, 296 yards, 4 TD, 2 interceptions, 10 carries, 99 yards rushing; WR Jadon Hicks 9 catches, 133 yards, TD.
Aledo defensive players to watch: LB Chase Wilburn 16.5 tackles, DE Cooper Cyphers 10 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss.
Birdville defensive players to watch: ATH Hunter Grant 35 tackles, sack, fumble recovery; DL Chi Ugwoegbu, 24 tackles, sack.
Aledo Bearcats (2-1, 1-0 in District 3-5A Division I at press time) at Keller Fossil Ridge Panthers (0-3, 0-1 at press time).
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at Keller ISD Athletic Complex.
Last week: Aledo won 64-0 at Brewer, Fossil Ridge lost 56-3 at home to Denton Ryan.
Last season: Aledo went 16-0 and won Class 5A Division I state championship, Fossil Ridge was 3-7 and missed the playoffs. Teams did not play..
All-time series: Aledo leads 2-0.
Returning starters: Aledo 3 offensive, 4 defensive. Fossil Ridge 5 offensive, 4 defensive.
Aledo offensive players to watch (at press time): RB Kaden Winkfield 38 carries, 197, 4 TD; OL Payton Williams continues comeback from injury.
Fossil Ridge offensive players to watch (at press time): RB Draylon Galloway 180 yards, 2 TD rushing, 2 catches, 76 yards receiving, 172 kickoff return yards; WR Jayden Cowan 12 catches, 177 yards, TD.
Aledo defensive players to watch (at press time): S Kamron Hall 12.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 pass breakups; CB Adrian Fuller 9.5 tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups.
Fossil Ridge defensive players to watch (at press time): DB/LB Javeis White 30 tackles; ATH Brady Jones 22 tackles, 6 for loss, 4 sacks.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here