If you sign up to play football for Aledo High School, expect to be wearing the uniform for a long time. Not only does the team make the playoffs every season, they advance with as much regularity than the sun rising each day.
When the Bearcats (9-1), No. 1 in the state in Class 5A Division I and champions of District 3-5A Division I, take the field at home Friday night at 7 p.m. against Saginaw Chisholm Trail (7-3), fourth in 4-5A Division I, they will be seeking to extend another mind-boggling streak. They’ll be going for a 29th consecutive bi-district victory dating to 1996.
“It shows consistency within the program - and sometimes you’ve got to be lucky as well,” Bearcats head coach Robby Jones said. “Plus, it helps greatly when there’s not too much turnover in the program.”
Tim Buchanan was the head coach from 1996-2013, then Steve Wood, who was defensive coordinator coached the team from 2014-18, Buchanan returned from 2019-2022 before Wood took over last season after being an assistant for two decades, including offensive coordinator since 2009.
“You keep consistency within the program for years and years and it pays off with consistent success,” Jones said. “Of course, you also need talented football players who put in the work, and guys who won’t mess it up when they go in the game. We’ve had plenty of both in Aledo.”
In fact, one has to go back to 1988 for the last time Aledo lost in bidistrict, 38-22 to Decatur. They didn’t reach the postseason from 1989-95, with Buchanan being hired in 1993.
The Rangers are not only in the playoffs for the first time in their short history. They are enjoying their first winning season.
The school opened in 2012.
The seven victories in this first season under head coach Rickhlan Holmes match the total from the four previous seasons combined. The most victories in a season before this was in 2019, when the Rangers finished 4-6, a mark they equaled in 2016.
“He got them going in his first year, but Holmes has turned around programs before,” Jones noted. “He took several Tyler (John Tyler) teams deep in the playoffs.”
One of those deep runs was ended with a 44-14 loss to Aledo in the 2014 Class 5A state semifinals. The Lions also reached the semifinals under Holmes in 2012.
The teams are almost even in both turnovers and takeaways. Aledo has 10 turnovers (5 fumbles, 5 interceptions) and 16 takeaways (5 fumbles, 11 takeaways).
Meanwhile, the Rangers have turned the ball over nine times (6 fumbles, 3 interceptions) and have 17 takeaways (10 fumbles, 7 interceptions).
This will be the third meeting between the Bearcats and Rangers, with Aledo holding a 2-0 advantage. The teams were in the same district at the time of the first two meetings.
Aledo won 41-0 in 2016 and 56-7 in 2017.
While the Bearcats will host Chisholm Trail, the rest of bi-district matchups involving fellow league teams includes:
Denton Ryan (9-1, No. 3 in the state), 3-5A Division I runner-up, hosts Fort Worth Paschal (7-3), third in 4-5A Division I.
Richland (8-2), third in 3-5A Division I, hosts Fort Worth Arlington Heights (9-1), second in 4-5A Division I.
Azle (7-3), fourth in 3-5A Division I, visits Saginaw (10-0), champions of 4-5A Division I.
While no coach likes to look beyond the next opponent, should the Bearcats win they will face the winner between Abilene (7-3) and El Paso Parkland (3-7). Those teams were playing at press time.
A possible third-round rematch with Azle could be on the horizon. The Bearcats defeated the Hornets 77-14 in Azle on Nov. 1.
In fact, it is possible that all four teams in the Region I semifinals are from District 3-5A Division I, with Ryan and Richland meeting in the other semifinal.
Rankings
Once again the Bearcats are the No. 1 team in Texas in Class 5A Division I. Ryan is No. 3 again this week and Richland moved up from 10 to ninth.
Nationally, the Bearcats moved up a spot to No. 78.
DistrictOverallPF/PA
X-Aledo 8-0 9-1 536-155
Y-Denton Ryan 7-1 9-1 464-177
Y-Richland 6-2 8-2 484-254
Y-Azle 5-2 7-3 384-394
Brewer 4-4 4-6 245-305
Birdville 2-6 3-7 263-436
Fossil Ridge 3-5 3-7 229-407
Denton 1-7 2-8 159-440
Granbury 0-8 1-9 155-356
X = Clinched district championship
Y = Clinched playoff berth
Aledo 62, Denton 0
Ryan 56, Birdville 14
Brewer 29, Granbury 22
Richland 58, Azle 28
Fossil Ridge season over
Thursday
FW Paschal at Ryan
Chisholm Trail at Aledo
Azle at Saginaw
Richland vs. Arlington Heights at Farrington Field
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