Football: Beard leaving Bearcats

One season after being the starting quarterback for the Aledo Bearcats, Gavin Beard is leaving the program to transfer to Fort Worth All Saints, Bearcats head coach Robby Jones announced.

Beard, a junior, previously attended All Saints for one year in the eighth grade, but returned to Aledo his freshman year. He could not be reached for a comment about his decision to leave the Aledo program.

All Saints won the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Division II state championship last season, finishing 14-0.

Beard quarterbacked the Bearcats into the Class 5A Division I state quarterfinals this season. Despite missing two games early in the season with a back injury, he completed 69% of his passes for 2,573 yards with 35 touchdowns and five interceptions.

He was named first team Class 5A Division I All-State by the Padilla Poll.

Beard was key in Aledo finishing 12-2 and winning the District 3-5A Division I championship. It was their 17th consecutive league title dating to 2008 as they extended their national-record district winning streak to 127 games.

With Beard leaving, the starting quarterback position is going to feature several players battling for the position come spring ball. Jones noted two strong quarterbacks who will be vying for the starting job.

Lincoln Tubbs, who will be a senior next season, came into games throughout the season as a wildcat quarterback to give the team an additional running threat.

“Lincoln just ran a 4.57 40 (yard dash) time in our first offseason test, so he would bring quite a bit of speed back to the quarterback position,” Jones said. “Lincoln has provided some early leadership this offseason with his tremendous work ethic.”

In limited play at the position in 2024, Tubbs rushed for 48 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries.

Nash McElree, who will be a junior next season, started the two games Beard missed and led the Bearcats to two victories. For the season he was 37-of-49 (76%) passing for 500 yards with seven touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, along with rushing 22 times for 75 yards.

“Nash McElree has a very strong arm and proved last year that he can win games with starts against Lancaster and Brewer,” Jones said. “Nash has been in basketball for the first part of the offseason and we look forward to getting him back with us as subvarsity basketball season comes to a close.

“Spring ball is going to be extremely important for us this year to see which quarterback establishes himself as the frontrunner. It could even be something that will continue into the start of the season because both players are very talented.”