Defending the throne is something the Aledo Bearcats have gotten quite used to over the years. In fact, they’ve sat at the helm of their district every season since 2008.
So, while they’ve clinched a postseason berth, with all due respect to all other playoff teams, that’s become as common as a heat wave in August to folks in these parts. District championships - nay, state championships - are the measuring stick in Aledo.
Friday night at 7 p.m. at Tim Buchanan Stadium, the Richland Royals (7-1, 5-1 in District 3-5A Division I) assume their place as the next in line to try and knock Aledo (6-1, 5-0) off its perch. Their goal is to end the Bearcats’ 124-game district winning streak, a record that dates to 2007.
If the Bearcats extend that streak, they would be a victory at Azle from clinching yet another title. If, however, the Royals pull off the upset, it would leave four teams (Aledo, Richland, Denton Ryan, Azle) tied atop the league standings with a single loss with two weeks left in the regular season.
“They’re a good solid football team,” Aledo head coach Robby Jones said of Richland. “They’re the type of team you’d normally meet in Round 3 or 4 of the playoffs.”
Ironically, the only previous meeting between the teams was in 2017, when the Bearcats defeated the Royals 43-7 in the state quarterfinals (fourth round).
District 3-5A’s tiebreaking procedure works off of positive points, then head-to-head. If Aledo wins Friday and again at Azle, it’s a moot point where the Bearcats are concerned.
However, if they were to get upset in either of those games, the tiebreaking plan will include them.
At the moment, despite their loss to Aledo, Ryan holds the tiebreak advantage with a plus-25 points by virtue of their 44-19 win over Richland. The Bearcats are next at plus 15 after defeating Ryan 42-27.
Richland and Azle are at zero on the scale.
In the case of a three-way tie (a four-way tie is unlikely since Azle and Richland have yet to play), after the district champion is decided the rest comes down to head-to-head.
“If we lose, we could end up in third place,” Jones said.
The solution? Just keep winning, like the Bearcats have done for 17 years.
Each of the past two seasons the Bearcats’ bye week was after the ninth game, so they had the league title sewn up. This year, however, it came a little earlier.
Jones said he’s fine with the timing, though.
“It’s about the right time of the year, getting a bit of a break before those last few games and the playoffs.”
Richland’s bye week comes after this contest before ending the regular season at home against Azle on Nov. 8.
It’s not likely the football will be dropped often in Friday’s contest. Both teams have some of the most accurate quarterbacks around.
The Royals feature Drew Kates, who is completing 72% of his passes for 2,087 yards. He has 22 touchdown passes opposite a pair of interceptions.
Meanwhile, Aledo’s Gavin Beard is completing 68% of his passes for 992 yards despite missing two games with an injury. He has 15 TD and three picks.
The backups are pretty accurate as well. For Richland, Brook Kates has six TD with a single interception. For Aledo, Nash McElree is 25-of-35 for 361 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Royals had to make some serious offensive adjustments when all-everything running back Michael Turner went down with an injury after only two games. Turner accounted for almost 1,800 yards and 24 TD last season in helping the Royals reach the third round of the postseason.
However, the Royals have relied on 13 different runners to average 119 yards rushing per game. Drew Kates leads that contingent with 65 carries for 350 yards and five TD.
“They run the quarterback more than if they had Turner,” Jones said. “They have three or four guys who rotate in, they put their slots in motion and pitch to them - which is technically a pass - but it’s not like they are without a running game.”
Aledo, likewise, features a plethora of backs able to break for yardage. The crew is led by Raycine Guillory, who has accounted for 799 yards and 14 TD (735 yards, 13 TD rushing).
The Bearcats are averaging 6.4 yards per carry, including six players who are averaging 6 yards or more with each tote.
The secondaries of both teams are in for a test as both teams have receivers who can get open and score in the blink of an eye.
Richland is led by Xavier Johnson (34 catches, 832 yards, 9 TD) and Deon Jones (26 catches, 574 yards, 5 TD). However, the Royals have 14 players who have caught a pass this season, with four having 18 or more receptions.
“This is going to be one of the bigger tests for them,” Jones said of his defensive backs who came into the season as least experienced part of the team. “They have grown throughout the season.
“Their receivers can take it to the house any time. We’ve got to make sure if there a catch that we are good tacklers.”
Aledo’s passing attack features Kaydon Finley (43 catches, 696 yards, 11 TD, who has only two drops in 60 targets. Five different Bearcats have caught a TD pass this season.
To counter, the Aledo defense has five interceptions and Richland defenders have eight.
“They have a good secondary. Gavin’s going to have be smart with the football and make the decisions he’s been making recently, getting the ball in the hands of our playmakers.”
Aledo would appear to have an advantage here as the Bearcats’ defensive line is the most experienced part of their squad.
The Bearcats have 33 tackles for loss, led by linebacker Chase Wilburn with 7.5 and defensive end Cooper Cyphers with 4.5. They also have nine sacks, again paced by Cyphers with 3.5.
Royals linebacker Roddrick Roberts leads his team with four of their five sacks and 14 of their 28 tackles for loss.
“We’ve got to get a good push up front. We rotate those guys so they’re fresh,” Jones said. “We have to keep him (Kates) contained in the pocket. He does a lot of damage out of the pocket and their receivers are good at coming off their routes and getting open.”
Both teams are winning the turnover/takeaway battle this season. Through eight games the Royals have forced 13 turnovers (8 interceptions, 5 fumbles), while giving the ball up just six times (3 interceptions, 3 fumbles).
The Bearcats have taken the ball away eight times (5 interceptions, 3 fumbles) and given it up seven times (5 interceptions, 2 fumbles).
District Overall Points for-against
Aledo 5-0 6-1 348-99
Richland 5-1 7-1 384-177
Azle 4-1 6-1 314-245
Denton Ryan 4-1 6-1 322-142
Birdville 2-4 3-5 218-346
Fossil Ridge 2-4 2-6 178-359
Brewer 1-4 2-5 252-252
Denton 0-5 1-6 108-302
Granbury 0-5 1-6 98-262
Richland 51, Granbury 14
Ryan 62, Azle 20
Fossil Ridge 42, Denton 40
Brewer 53, Birdville 21
Aledo bye
Thursday, Oct. 24
Fossil Ridge at Brewer
Friday, Oct. 25
Richland at Aledo
Azle at Granbury
Denton at Ryan
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here