The Aledo Bearcats have been nothing short of a powerhouse program in Texas high school football. They’ve amassed 12 state championships, good for the most in Texas history. Entering this season they’re riding a record-setting 135-game win streak in district play dating back to 2007.
But there’s one stat the Bearcats look to change in 2026, and it’s the most important of them all. Aledo hasn’t won a state championship since 2023. Moving up to Class 6A will make the path harder, but head coach Robby Jones insists the preparation will still be the same.
“It doesn’t matter the classification. Here in Aledo our expectations are always the same,” Jones said. “They were the same expectations when we were 3A. We want to go compete for a state championship every year; we want to start out with a district championship and then go on a long playoff run and turn that into a possible state championship. Our kids aren’t thinking ‘Oh, we’re 6A; we’re just gonna go out and see if we can win.’”
The Bearcats will have to deal with an adjustment to their roster, returning just five starters from last season. Only 322 rushing yards and 196 receiving yards return offensively, marking almost a complete transition on that side of the ball.
“We don’t ever wanna lose a football game. But, when you only bring back 300 rushing yards and under 200 yards passing, it makes it where it’s a totally new team,” Jones said. “But, we’ve got really good kids, and that’s what’s gonna make the difference for us. We had really good kids that were sitting there waiting their turn; now it’s their turn, and they’ve gotta go out and make plays.”
Defensively, Aledo returns players defensive lineman Tymon Meeks (an Oregon State-commit), defensive tackle Omari Din-Mbuh, and defensive end Max Forman. Another player to watch is junior cornerback Jordan Hill, who has multiple offers from teams in the Big 12.
Jones is counting on the efforts of individual players to help the Bearcats in 2026.
“Tre Williams, it’s his first year in Aledo, but he has experience at the highest 6A level; so that’s gonna help a little bit. Jeremiah Johnson, right now the running back spot is his to lose. He’s a big old kid, he’s 6-foot and 220 pounds, and he needs to use that to his advantage. Then, we have two really talented tight ends, Caden Palmquest and Colby Thompson. Those two guys make it to where we can get in formations that will give some people a hard time. Offensive linemen up front, you gotta start with our returning starter, Grant Foreman. Grant was an all-district starting center last year.”
The Bearcats open the season with a non-district road matchup with North Crowley. Other non-district opponents will be the Waco Midway Panthers on Sept. 4 and the Euless Trinity Trojans on Sept. 11.
District play for the Bearcats begins on Sept. 18 in a road matchup against Granbury. Afterwards, they’ll meet Arlington Martin, Arlington Bowie, Weatherford, and Arlington Lamar at home, Arlington on the road, and Sam Houston in a neutral-site matchup at Choctaw Stadium.
The road back to AT&T Stadium this December will be a long one, but the Bearcats aim to achieve their goal of winning state championship number 13.
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