Aledo kick-returner Cooper Hull hadn’t had a kickoff return for a touchdown all season.
That changed Friday night, Nov. 13, when Hull returned a Keller Central kickoff 97 yards for a TD in the second quarter, giving the Bearcats a two-score lead en route to a 53-20 bi-district win at Knights Stadium.
“It put so much excitement in me,” Hull said of his kick-return touchdown. “I haven’t had a kickoff return [for a touchdown] this year, and seeing that open hole mid-run had so much excitement going through me.”
Hull provided some more excitement when he returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to widen Aledo’s lead to 30-14.
After stalled drives by both teams to start the game, Aledo got its first big break when cornerback Jordan Hall intercepted a Central pass and returned it to the Chargers’ 33 yard line. Two plays later, Aledo quarterback Elijah Pinnick rushed for a 31-yard touchdown to start the scoring for the night.
Toward the end of the first quarter, the Chargers muffed a punt at their own 31. Aledo scored again three plays later when Pinnick rushed for his second touchdown, this one from the 15 yard line.
Central got on the board with a 19-yard rushing touchdown by running back Spencer Martin on the next drive, but Hull’s ensuing kickoff return touchdown increased Aledo’s lead to 20-7 with 8 minutes left in the first half.
On the Chargers’ next drive, quarterback Isaiah Taylor connected with wide receiver Gavin Smith for a 45-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-14.
Aledo kicker Hudson Parks made a 33-yard field goal on the Bearcats’ next drive, increasing the lead to 23-14.
With four minutes left in the first half, Aledo got another special teams contribution when its defensive line blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt.
Hull’s punt return touchdown opened the scoring for Aledo in the third quarter, and Parks added on with a 23-yard field goal with 4:50 left to make the score 33-14.
In the fourth quarter, running back Wyatt Dorsey increased Aledo’s lead to 39-14 with a 14-yard rushing touchdown.
The Chargers scored a touchdown on the next drive to cut it to 39-20. they recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Aledo cornerback Blaine Fisher ended Central’s threat with an interception in the red zone he returned deep into Charger territory.
Aledo running back Izzy Roberts rushed for a four-yard touchdown, and the Bearcats led 46-20 with 4:20 left.
Aledo’s final points of the game came when quarterback Tre Williams threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mason McCadam with 2:19 to play.
With the win, Aledo clinched a spot in the area round against Eastwood High School.
“It feels great to get a win like this one,” Hull said. “We came into the game as underdogs. We saw some videos on the internet, and I took that as a challenge for us, and that gave me the energy to play the best that I could.”
Aledo head coach Robby Jones said he looks forward to the second round.
“It’s the first time we’ve played an El Paso school in a long time,” Jones said. “We’re excited about going to the second round and getting the opportunity in 6A football.”
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