CROWLEY - In a reversal of their regular-season encounter, the Denton Ryan Raiders defeated the Aledo Bearcats 31-21 in their Class 5A Division I Region I final at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 7.
This time it was Ryan (13-1) who rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half to advance to the state semifinals against Dallas Highland Park (13-1) next weekend. The Scots defeated Frisco Lone Star (12-2) 41-28 in the Region 2 final the night before.
During the regular season, the Bearcats (12-2) overcame a 27-8 deficit to defeat Ryan 42-27 in Aledo on Oct. 4 en route to Aledo's 17th consecutive district championship. However, this time it was the Raiders who provided the late heroics for their fans by outscoring Aledo 21-0 in the final 15:12 to overcome a 21-10 deficit in a game that featured a constant downpour of rain throughout.
Aledo, which was seeking a third consecutive state championship and 13th overall, had won 14 consecutive regional finals dating to the 2006 season. Ironically, this is the third time the Raiders have defeated them in the regional final dating to 2002.
In fact, the teams are 3-3 against each other all time, with Aledo holding a 3-0 advantage in the regular season and Ryan having won all three playoff meetings.
"We're very disappointed. We didn't play like we know we can play," Aledo head coach Robby Jones said. "Hats off to them. They're a great team and they have a chance to win another state championship. They're going to have a tough time with Highland Park, but they've got the talent to win it all."
Following their two previous playoff meetings in 2002 and 2003, Ryan went on to win state. In 2022 and 2023 Aledo won regular-season meetings and went on to win state.
The Raiders won their most recent state title in 2020 with Seth Henigan at quarterback. He's now playing at Memphis, but his younger brother Quin is carrying the mantle.
The younger Henigan threw two touchdown passes in the rally. The first went for 80 yards as he threaded the needle to Tre'Vaughn Reynolds to pull the Raiders to within 21-17 with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter.
Ryan took the lead for good on Nemo Warmate's second touchdown run of the game, this one from 27 yards out just seven seconds into the fourth quarter. His first TD, a 30-yard run gave the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.
Then after a series of punts, two by Aledo and one by Ryan, Henigan connected with Braeden Mussett on a short pass that Mussett turned into a 65-yard touchdown. It was the final score of the night, with the Ryan defense stymieing any rally by the Bearcats with two interceptions.
Warmate (122) and Reynolds (101) each rushed for over 100 yards in the contest.
The Ryan defense also tightened in the second half with three sacks, all by defensive lineman Kha'Ron Freeman Wade. Still, three times in the fourth quarter the Bearcats reached the Ryan 45, their own 46 and their own 47 before punting twice and throwing an interception.
After giving up the opening touchdown, the Bearcats appeared to take control of the contest. Junior quarterback Gavin Beard drove Aledo 69 yards in nine plays, capping the drive with a 1-yard run of his own for a 7-7 tie at the 4:38 mark of the first quarter.
The score was set up after Beard found Lincoln Tubbs for a pinpoint 32-yard pass to the Ryan 1.
Ryan regained the lead on a 27-yard field goal, but again the Bearcats responded with a touchdown. Following a short Ryan punt that gave Aledo the ball at the Ryan 42, Aledo used seven plays before junior running back Raycine Guillory scored from 2 yards out, carrying what seemed like half the Raiders defense into the end zone to put his team up 14-10 at the half.
At the 4:02 mark of the third quarter, Beard threw his 35th touchdown pass of the season. He found Blake Burdine for a 43-yard score and a 21-10 advantage.
Beard completed 16 of 28 passes for 205 yards. Of those, nine were to junior Kaydon Finley for an unofficial 95 yards.
Finley ended the season with 80 catches for 1,429 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Junior running Kaden Winkfield led Aledo in rushing with an unofficial 37 yards on 10 carries. He finished the season with 892 yards and 13 TD.
This was Guillory's final game as a Bearcat. He announced he is graduating early and has signed a letter-of-intent to play for the University of Utah next season.
Battling an ankle injury, Guillory saw limited action, gaining 19 yards on 13 carries. He ended the season with more than 1,500 yards of offense (1,322 rushing, 180 receiving) and 27 touchdowns (25 rushing, 2 receiving).
For his high school career, he accumulated 3,800 all-purpose yards (3,327 rushing, 509 receiving) and scored 60 touchdowns (51 rushing, 9 receiving).
Along with Guillory suiting up as a Bearcat for the final time were more than 40 seniors. Among highlights in their final performances were kicker Cole Crawford being a perfect 3-for-3 on extra points and cornerback Kai Taylor recovering a fumble.
Despite Saturday's loss, the Bearcats had what most teams would consider a very successful season. They won a dozen games, captured yet another district championship, while extending their national-record district winning streak to 127 games, and they held the No. 1 spot in the state rankings for much of the season.
"It's a successful season, but with Aledo standards it's not," Jones said. "These guys are all winners. We just didn't come out on the right end tonight."
Aledo 7 7 7 0 - 21
Ryan 10 0 7 14 - 31
R - Nemo Warmate 30-yard run (Daniel Rodriguez kick), 8:23 first quarter.
A - Gavin Beard 1-yard run (Cole Crawford kick), 4:38 first quarter.
R - Rodriguez 27-yard field goal, 0:24 first quarter.
A - Raycine Guillory 2-yard run (Crawford kick), 4:09 second quarter.
A - Blake Burdine 43-yard pass from Beard (Crawford kick), 4:02 third quarter.
R - Tre’Vaughn Reynolds 80-yard pass from Quin Henigan (Rodriguez kick), 3:12 third quarter.
R - Warmate 27-yard run (Rodriguez kick), 11:53 fourth quarter.
R - Braeden Mussett 65-yard pass from Henigan (Rodriguez kick), 5:22 fourth quarter.
First downs: Aledo 16, Ryan 15.
Rushes-yards: Aledo 30-36, Ryan 40-273.
Passing yards: Aledo 205, Ryan 151.
Caught-thrown-intercepted: Aledo 16-28-2, Ryan 7-10-0.
Punts-average: Aledo 5-29.4, Ryan 4-29.5.
Fumbles-lost: Aledo 1-0, Ryan 3-1.
Penalties-yards: Aledo 4-25, Ryan 3-33.
Rushing: Kaden Winkfield 10 carries, 37 yards; Guillory 13 carries, 19 yards, TD.
Passing: Beard 16-of-28, 205 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions.
Receiving: Kaydon Finley 9 catches, 95 yards; Lincoln Tubbs 3 catches, 55 yards; Blake Burdine 2 catches, 51 yards, TD.
Tackles: Lamel Swanson 9, Ben McElree 7, Owen Henderson 6, Chase Wilburn 5.5.
Sack: Decker Sanders 1.
Tackles for loss: Cooper Cyphers 1, Tymon Meeks 1, Wilburn 1, Sanders 1.
Fumble recovery: Kai Taylor 1.
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