Aledo traveling to anticipated game against Denton Ryan

The team that has the most discipline wins this game, and I mean complete discipline. Protect the ball, line up right, don’t jump offsides, no stupid penalties, all the little things are going to make the difference.”

Aledo Head Coach Tim Buchanan

In February, when the University Interscholastic League did its biennial realignment and placed powerhouses Aledo and Denton Ryan in the same football district, the date Oct. 21 was immediately circled on a lot of calendars.

And now that date is almost here as the Bearcats travel to Denton to face the Raiders in the long-anticipated showdown that could decide the District 3-5A Division I championship. If Aledo wins, the Bearcats clinch the top seed in the league. If Ryan wins, the district will likely end in a three-way tie and seeding for the postseason will be determined by a tiebreaker.

“Big and fast,” was Aledo coach Tim Buchanan’s response when asked to describe Ryan. “And they are very big and very fast. Our kids ran against them in track last season, they know exactly what those guys are capable of.

“We saw them up close. You don’t try to outrun them.”

Head-to-head-to-head

One way some folks are quick to measure competition is by common opponents. In this case, Ryan lost 23-16 at Burleson Centennial on Oct. 7 and Aledo won 64-21 at Centennial this past Friday.

However, in the game against Centennial, Raiders quarterback K.M. Davis left early in the game with an injury and star running back Kalib Hicks likewise got injured. Early indications are that Davis will play this week, while Hicks is doubtful.

Tie-breaking procedure

Buchanan said the district’s tie-breaking procedure is based on points system capped at 18 points. So, as it stands currently, Aledo leads with a plus-18 based on its lopsided win at Centennial, Centennial is second at plus-7 with its win over Ryan and Ryan is at zero.

Therefore, Ryan would have to defeat Aledo by 18 points to move into a tie in the points system. If that happens, Ryan will be the No. 1 seed by virtue of their head-to-head victory against the Bearcats.

Of course, as mentioned previously, a Bearcats victory makes it all a moot point. It would also secure a 15th consecutive district championship for Aledo.

Kenneth Lohmer (45) and Matt Gonzales (91) pressure the Burleson offensive line.

Record streak once again on line

The Bearcats have won 109 consecutive district games dating to the 2007 season. While many thought the streak was in jeopardy last week in Burleson, the Bearcats made short work of Centennial.

Now, the streak will once again be challenged against Ryan, which had its own 62-game district winning streak ended the week before last by Centennial.

Rare deficit

It’s rare that an opponent has a winning record against the Bearcats, but Ryan does. In fact, the Bearcats have not beaten the Raiders.

Now, the teams have only played twice, and both were playoff meetings. Ryan defeated Aledo 34-27 in the 2002 state quarterfinals en route to a state championship. They repeated the accomplishment a year later, winning 17-0, on their way to a state runner-up finish.

There’s a real possibility the two could wind up meeting twice this season as both are expected to make deep playoff runs and would be in the same bracket.

Cole Crawford (47) kicks an extra point as Boston Epley (23) holds.

Teams of the decade — and more

The Bearcats and Raiders have combined for a 347-42 record since 2009, the season the Bearcats moved into a completely different stratosphere from -— though they were pretty darned good already, including a state championship in 1998.

Since 2009 Aledo has a record of 190-14, including this season. They’ve won nine state titles in that span and finished second another time.

In that same span, Ryan is 155-28 with a state championship in 2020.

In all, the teams have combined for 13 state championships (Aledo 10, Ryan 3) and 19 state finals appearances (Aledo 12, Ryan 7) in their history.

State rankings

The Bearcats moved up another spot to No. 4 in Class 5A Division I in this week’s state rankings from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Also, MaxPreps has the Bearcats No. 3 again.

Centennial dropped out of the Dave Campbell’s rankings, but only slipped from fourth to seventh in MaxPreps. Ryan is not ranked in either poll.

Depth

Both teams have the ability to get scores from a variety of folks.

Aledo has seven players who have rushed for a touchdown and four who have caught a touchdown. Ryan, meanwhile, also has seven players who have run for a TD, along with five others who have caught a touchdown pass.

“We both have quite a few athletes who are highly skilled,” Buchanan said. “But they’ve got more speed and they’re bigger. We are going to have play smart, disciplined football.”

Discipline could be the key

As the season has progressed, so has the Bearcats’ discipline. And it couldn’t be happening at a better time, Buchanan said.

“The team that has the most discipline wins this game, and I mean complete discipline,” Buchanan said. “Protect the ball, line up right, don’t jump offsides, no stupid penalties, all the little things are going to make the difference.”

Both teams are a plus-four in the turnover/takeaway category. 

Third-down conversions critical

The Bearcats have had success converting third downs this season. For example, they were 3-for-5 at Centennial.

“That’s key to winning. It’s frustrating to an opponent and you control the ball,” Buchanan said. “And you keep your defense from staying on the field so much.”

In contrast, Aledo has done a good job of holding opponents on third and fourth downs. Centennial was 5-for-13 on third down and 1-for-3 on fourth downs.

District 3-5A Division I standings

Last week’s results

• Aledo 64, Centennial 21
• Northwest 35, The Colony 29
• Azle 28, Saginaw 21
• Brewer 77, South Hills 7
• Ryan bye

This week’s games
All at 7 p.m.

Thursday
Northwest at South Hills

Friday
Aledo at Ryan
Azle at The Colony
Brewer at Centennial
Saginaw bye

Game at a glance

Aledo Bearcats (6-2, 6-0 in District 3-5A Division I) at Denton Ryan Raiders (4-2, 4-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday, C.H. Collins Stadium in Denton.

Ryan offensive players to watch: RB Kalib Hicks, 51 carries, 513 yards, 7 TD, 7 catches, 115 yards, 2 TD receiving (likely out for this game); RB Jordyn Bailey, 38 carries, 263 yards, 4 TD rushing, 14 catches, 202 yards, 3 TD receiving; QB K.M. Davis, 469 yards, 6 TD, 2 interceptions passing; WR Braedon Mussett, 12 catches, 270 yards, 2 TD.

Aledo offensive players to watch: QB Hauss Hejny 61-for-102, 1,242 yards, 13 TD, 3 interceptions passing, 48 carries 511 yards, 6 TD rushing; RB Hawk Patrick-Daniels 103 carries, 802 yards, 12 TD; WR Jalen Pope 31 catches, 611 yards, 9 TD; WR Gavin Olenjack, 12 catches, 277 yards, 2 TD; RB Ryan Cox 56 carries, 268 yards, 2 TD.

Ryan defensive players to watch: LB Anthony Hill, 49 tackles, 4 for loss, 2 sacks; LB Dillon Arkansas, 38 tackles, 3 for loss; CB Trae Williams, 31 tackles, 2 interceptions.

Aledo defensive players to watch: LB Dahvon Keys 45.5 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 interception returned 73 yards for a touchdown; LB Andrew Parkhurst 33.5 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks; S Jake Gillespie 31 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception;  S Boogie Owens 26.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries; CB Chris Johnson 20 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 interceptions returned a total of 60 yards, 1 fumble recovery.

Team rushing yards per game: Aledo 259.8, Ryan 229.8. 

Team passing yards per game: Aledo 193.1, Ryan 119.7.

Team rushing yards surrendered per game: Aledo 113.0, 118.8 

Team passing yards surrendered per game: Aledo 160.4, Ryan 164.

Turnovers: Aledo 9 (5 fumbles, 4 interceptions), Ryan 3 (1 fumble, 2 interceptions)

Takeaways: Aledo 13 (9 fumbles, 4 interceptions), Ryan 7 (5 fumbles, 2 interceptions).