SNYDER - The Aledo Bearcats once again made short work of their opponent as they continued their March through the Class 5A Division I playoffs, disposing of Amarillo Tascosa 62-7 at Grant Teaff Tiger Stadium.
This is the 12th consecutive season in which the Bearcats (12-1) have advanced to at least the third round of the playoffs. They are 10-1 in the previous 11, the only loss being 33-28 to Dallas South Oak Cliff in 2021.
This victory ensured an all-District 3-5A Division I Region I final as Denton Ryan (12-1) defeated Richland (10-3) 48-35 in the other semifinal on Saturday. The Region I final will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium.
The Rebels, (7-6) overcame a sluggish start and got on a late season roll to reach the third round, disposing of previously unbeaten Saginaw in the second round. But from the outset they proved no match for the Bearcats.
The Bearcats came in averaging 55 points per game and Tascosa was averaging 33 points. The Rebels offense ran through dual threat junior quarterback Coltyn Fulton, who accounted for 157 of their 362 yards per game before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in their win over Saginaw.
The Bearcats average over 460 yards per game with an offense that is very balanced. Junior quarterback Gavin Beard is averaging over 210 yards in the air and his leading receiver is junior Kaydon Finley, who came into the game with over 1,200 yards and 19 TD catches.
The duo connected twice for scores in this contest from 40 and 23 yards. Beard also threw for touchdowns of 31 and 15 yards to senior Blake Burdine, giving him 34 touchdown passes on the season.
Aledo’s running game starts with junior running back Ray Guillory Jr. He came into the game averaging 118 yards per contest and having scored 26 touchdowns. However, he left the game against Tascosa in the first half with an ankle injury, according to Bearcats head coach Robby Jones, and his status going forward was still being determined entering the weekend.
Aledo wasted no time in jumping out to a 21-0 lead early in the first quarter. The first score came just four minutes into the game when Beard hit Burdine on a 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth down and 8.
The next score came three minutes later on a 57-yard touchdown run by junior running back Kaden Winkfield, who would add a 3-yard score with a minute left in the first quarter.
But Winkfield wasn't finished. Early in the second quarter he scored again from 56 yards out and Aledo was up 28-0. Then, Burdine caught his second TD pass from Beard, followed by the two TD connections between Beard and Finley gave the Bearcats a 49-0 halftime advantage.
In the second half, junior running back Brady Powell wrapped up the Aledo scoring with touchdown runs of 3 and 8 yards.
Aledo was less than 10 seconds away from a shutout when the Rebels were able to score with a Reese Cabe 18-yard touchdown run. Still, it was the seventh game this season in which the Bearcats gave up a TD or less, which includes three shutouts.
This was also the first time this season the Aledo defense faced a Flexbone offense. They dominated the option-oriented offense the whole night.
“I feel pretty good about it. The offense came out and executed extremely well," Jones said. "The defense did a really good job against the triple option, which has given us some hard times through the years. We had a really good week of preparation and the players were ready for that scheme.”
The Bearcats got a scare from both Ryan earlier this season. It’s the second straight season the Raiders came into Tim Buchanan Stadium and almost pulled off the upset.
Ryan built a 27-8 first-half lead. However, after Adrian Fuller returned a kickoff for a touchdown as the first half neared a close, it sparked an Aledo rally for a 42-27 victory.
Class 5A Division I Region I semifinal
At Grant Teaff Tiger Stadium, Snyder
Aledo 21 28 6 7 - 62
Tascosa 0 0 0 7 - 7
A -Blake Burdine 31-yard pass from Gavin Beard (kick good), 8:49 first quarter.
A - Kaden Winkfield 57-yard run (kick good), 5:38 first quarter.
A - Winkfield 2-yard run (kick good), 1:57 first quarter.
A - Winkfield 56-yard run (kick good), 10:34 second quarter.
A - Burdine 15-yard pass from Beard (kick good), 7:00 second quarter.
A - Kaydon Finley 40-yard pass from Beard (kick good), 4:13 second quarter.
A - Finley 23-yard pass from Beard (kick good), 0:33 second quarter.
A - Brady Powell 3-yard run (kick failed), 4:45 third quarter.
A - Powell 8-yard run (kick good), 3:47 fourth quarter.
T - Reese Cabe 18-yard run (kick good), 0:06 fourth quarter.
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