The Aledo Bearcats clinched their 17th consecutive district championship last week with a 77-14 win at Azle. Now, as they prepare for their 29th straight postseason appearance, they have one more task in the regular season
The Bearcats (8-1, 7-0 in District 3-5A Division I) host the Denton Broncos (2-7, 1-6) Friday night at 7 at Tim Buchanan Stadium. A win will give Aledo its 127th straight league victory dating to 2008, a national record.
In a game such as this, with all due respect to Denton, a complete mismatch, the greatest risk is avoiding injury. Also, Aledo coach Robby Jones doesn’t want his team to get lethargic one week before facing Saginaw Chisholm Trail (7-2) at home in bidistrict on Nov. 15.
“It’s our opponent this week. We have to prepare like we would for anyone else, but we’re also preparing for beyond,” Jones said.
The Broncos, meanwhile, are playing out a season that saw them take a step backward. After reaching the postseason a year ago, albeit with a 4-7 record, they have half as many victories this season with their lone league victory coming last week against last-place Granbury.
The previous two contests between the Bearcats and Broncos were anything but close. However, both were area (second round) playoff games.
Aledo won 49-17 in 2014 and 52-3 in 2015.
The Bearcats come into the game having outscored their opponents 474-155 this season, an average of 52.7 to 17.2. They have scored at least 30 points in every game and in 14 straight games dating to last season.
On the other hand, the Broncos have been outscored 378-159, an average of 42-17.7. In defeating Granbury 37-21, they scored 30 points for the first time in 13 games.
Also, the Bearcats are coming off their highest scoring game since defeating Dallas Hillcrest 77-0 in a bidistrict game in 2021 - a week after they ended the regular season by defeating Cleburne 77-7.
“I think it was our kids being more focused,” Jones said of the win at Azle, which was 7-1 coming into the game. “They took going to overtime against Richland (a 49-42 victory) to heart. They wanted to make sure when they stepped on the field the next time they were prepared. Also, the coaches amped up practice and that helped.”
Several milestones are within reach for the Bearcats in this game. Wide receiver Kaydon Finley needs 110 yards to reach 1,000. He has 54 catches for 890 yards with 13 touchdowns.
On defense, linebackers Owen Henderson (45.5) and Chase Wilburn (44) can reach 50 tackles with a big game.
Last week, running back Raycine Guillory surpassed 1,000 yards (1,039) and quarterback Gavin Beard’s four touchdown passes surpassed 20 TD mark (21) despite missing two games with an injury.
The Bearcats are set to host Chisholm Trail and fourth-place Azle (7-2) or Richland (7-2) will face District 4-5A Division I champion Saginaw (9-0). The Hornets and Royals are playing Friday night in Richland with the winner facing the winner between Fort Worth Arlington Heights (8-1) and Paschal (7-2).
Denton Ryan (8-1) will face the Heights-Paschal loser.
The Aledo junior varsity A and B combined to defeat Azle 40-6. The freshmen A won 41-14 over the Hornets, while the freshmen B defeated Granbury 49-0.
Both Aledo JV teams are undefeated at 9-0, as are the freshmen B. The freshmen A are 8-1 and have won eight straight since falling to Denton Guyer in the season opener.
Once again the Bearcats are the No. 1 team in Texas in Class 5A Division I. Ryan is No. 3 again this week and Richland remained No. 10.
Nationally, the Bearcats slipped two spots to No. 79.
District Overall PF/PA
X-Aledo 7-0 8-1 474-155
Y-Denton Ryan 6-1 8-1 408-163
Y-Richland 5-2 7-2 426-226
Y-Azle 5-2 7-2 356-336
Brewer 3-4 3-6 216-283
Birdville 2-5 3-6 249-380
Fossil Ridge 3-5 3-7 229-407
Denton 1-6 2-7 159-378
Granbury 0-7 1-8 133-327
X = Clinched district championship
Y = Clinched playoff berth
Aledo 77, Azle 14
Fossil Ridge 44, Birdville 31
Denton 37, Granbury 21
Ryan 31, Brewer 7
Richland bye
(All at 7 p.m.)
Friday, Nov. 8
Denton at Aledo
Birdville at Ryan
Brewer at Granbury
Azle at Richland
Fossil Ridge season over
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