This was expected to be a battle of undefeated teams with the District 3-5A Division I championship on the line.
However, Denton Ryan (5-1, 4-1) had a little something to say about that as the Raiders spoiled the perfect run of Burleson Centennial (5-1, 3-1) with a 35-14 victory in Denton last Friday, Oct. 6.
Meanwhile, the Aledo Bearcats (7-0, 5-0) kept up their end of the bargain by winning 71-0 over Fort Worth South Hills at Clark Stadium on Oct. 5. It was the Bearcats’ 21 straight victory dating to the third game of the 2022 season.
While the Centennial loss does make things more interesting across the district race, Aledo coach Robby Jones said it doesn’t deter the Bearcats from their, which is to keep winning and capture a 16th straight district title.
Aledo has also won 116 consecutive games in league play, a national-record streak that goes back to 2007.
Still, he warns his team to be wary of the Spartans, who are still a good ballclub.
“It’s not a game we can overlook. That’s a really good program,” Jones said. “Our kids have gone against them since middle school, so there’s familiarity. Our kids realize this is a big opportunity for them.”
A loss would almost certainly eliminate Centennial from any hope of a district championship. Sure, there are probably some wild scenarios where they could still wind up in a tie, but given Aledo’s history, losing one - much less two in a row - seems a longshot at best.
Meanwhile, the victory over the Spartans keeps Ryan, which comes to Aledo on Oct. 20, in position for at least a share of the district championship should they pull off an upset that night.
Centennial defense
Much has been made of the Centennial triple-option offense, which has been successful, but Jones noted the Spartans 3-3-5 defense is equally as dangerous. It features three linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs.
“It’s different than the normal fronts you have rules for. That defense is one thing that’s made them a better football team,” Jones said. “The triple option is always going to be tough, but that defense has helped make them a more dangerous team.”
The Spartans switched to the flexbone triple-option offense has been a challenge for many teams, including the Bearcats in the opening quarter of their 2022 matchup. On their first couple of possessions the Spartans had success going down the field to the tune of a 14-14 tie after the first quarter.
Then, the Bearcats made some adjustments and outscored them 50-7 the rest of the way.
In their state quarterfinals matchup, the Spartans overcame a 21-0 deficit to tie the game at 21. Again, Aledo adjusted on its way to a 42-21 victory.
Those two games, along with facing a similar offense against Midlothian in the third round of the playoffs (a 27-21 come-from-behind Aledo win) has Jones believing his players won’t be surprised by what they face Friday.
“We saw it basically three times last year, which should be beneficial to us,” Jones said. “It’s all about assignment football when you’re covering the triple option offense.”
With the triple option, the quarterback has to be covered in case of a run, the trailing running back has to be covered in case of a pitch, and there’s always the option of the quarterback throwing downfield.
“If you’ve got something different it causes problems,” Jones said the triple option.
The Bearcats are 6-0 against the Spartans since 2014. The average score has been 56-23.
A season ago the Spartans were 12-2, with both losses coming to Aledo. The Bearcats won 64-21 at Burleson in the regular season and 42-21 in the regional final on their way to the 11th state title in program history.
While it was the best season in Centennial history, no doubt the Spartans would love nothing more than some payback.
Aledo has had some of the best offenses in the history of high school in the United States, including the greatest of all time (see next category). This season they are having another prolific season.
Through seven games the Bearcats have outscored their opponents 387-114, an average of 55.3 to 16.3. The least they have scored in a game was a 38-13 victory against Northwest, while they are coming off their largest offensive output.
The Bearcats have scored in 24 of 28 quarters this season, including 18 of the 20 they’ve played in district.
Last week’s victory was the 290th consecutive game in which Aledo has scored.
Sophomore defensive end Carson Dempsey is expected to return to the lineup Friday night against Centennial. This will be his first action in district as he suffered appendicitis and had his appendix removed following the 48-45 win at Denton Guyer in the season’s second week.
At the time he left Dempsey led the team in tackles for loss with four. He is still the Bearcats’ sack leader with three.
“We’re working him in. It’ll take him a while conditioning-wise,” Jones said. “But it’ll be great to have him back.”
Also on Friday, two of the greatest teams in Aledo history will be honored. The 1998 and 2013 state championship teams will be recognized.
The 1998 Bearcats brought the program the first state championship in its history, winning the Class 3A title. They finished 13-1, dropping their second game to Bridgeport, 21-14, and then reeling off a dozen straight wins.
In the state championship game, the Bearcats defeated the Cuero Gobblers 14-7.
The 2013 Bearcats made history as the highest scoring offense in football history. They outscored their opponents by an average of 64-9.
The Bearcats finished 16-0 and scored more than 60 points or more nine times.
In running through the postseason, Aledo outscored its foes 341-64 in six games.
In all, the Bearcats scored in almost every quarter they played that season.
Jones was not around for the 1998 title, but was the offensive coordinator in 2013.
The Bearcats remained at the top of the Class 5A Division I state rankings in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. They remain the lone team from their district to be ranked.
Aledo ranks seventh among all Texas teams at all levels, according to MaxPreps. Nationwide, they are No. 38.
Last week's results
Aledo 71, South Hills 0
Northwest 64, Saginaw 0
Ryan 35, Centennial 14
The Colony 43, Brewer 36
Azle bye
Friday, Oct. 13
(All at 7 p.m.)
Centennial at Aledo
Northwest at The Colony
Azle at Saginaw
Brewer at South Hills
Ryan bye
Aledo 5-0 (7-0)
Ryan 4-1 (5-1)
Centennial 3-1 (5-1)
Northwest 3-1 (5-1)
The Colony 3-2 (3-4)
Brewer 2-2 (2-4)
South Hills 0-4 (0-6)
Azle 0-4 (1-5)
Saginaw 0-5 (0-7)
Burleson Centennial Spartans (5-1, 3-1 in District 3-5A Division I) at Aledo Bearcats (7-0, 5-0).
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Tim Buchanan Stadium.
Returning starters: Centennial 1 offense/4 defense, Aledo 7 offense/5 defense.
Last week: Aledo won 71-0 at South Hills, Centennial lost 35-14 at Denton Ryan.
Last season: Aledo, 14-2, 8-0 district, 5A Division I state champions. Centennial 12-2, 7-1, regional finals. Aledo won 64-21 at Burleson and 42-21 at the Star in Frisco in the regional final.
Aledo offensive players to watch: QB Hauss Hejny (71% completion, 1,469 yards, 17 TD, 0 interceptions passing; 34 carries, 303 yards, 5 TD rushing), RB Ray Guillory (81-612, 11 TD rushing; 8 catches, 137 yards, 3 TD), RB/WR Hawk Patrick-Daniels (42-245, 5 TD rushing; 13-172, 1 TD receiving).
Centennial offensive players to watch (no statistics available): QB Iverson Moore (moved over after playing defensive back last season), WR Damien Long, RB Keyshaun Tucker.
Aledo defensive players to watch: LB Davhon Keys (49 tackles, 7 for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 1 TD), S Jake Gillespie (28 tackles, 2 for loss, kick return threat); LB Ben McElree (19.5 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack).
Centennial defensive players to watch: Lineman Jack Long, LB/S Brandon Sexton, DB Aidan Hicks.
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