Being ranked No. 1 in the state is not surprising for those connected to or familiar with the Aledo Bearcats football team.
And, sure enough, that's exactly where the team sits as they prepare to defend their back-to-back Class 5A Division I state championships.
"Dave Campbell's Texas Football," the premier magazine concerning football at all levels in Texas, has the Bearcats picked as the top team in the state in their preseason rankings. As they noted, "When in doubt, go with the most decorated program in Texas High School history. The Bearcats are just that dominant."
The Bearcats have amassed a dozen state championships since 1998, including 11 since 2009. This includes going 16-0 in 2023, the first under head coach Robby Jones, who was offensive coordinator for 13 seasons previously.
Jones, who is also 'Dave Campbell's' preseason choice as coach of the year in Class 5A, admitted to a little surprise that his team is ranked No. 1 heading into the season. While they are expected to return three offensive and four defensive starters, including preseason District 3-5A MVP junior running back Ray Guillory, the Bearcats will have to fill some gaps for the coming season.
"Denton Ryan, sitting there with all the returners they have and the lack we have, I thought they'd be ahead of us," Jones said.
Fact is, the Raiders, also a perennial power, are ranked second in the state preseason. They return eight offensive and seven defensive starters from a team that finished 8-3 and reached the second round of the playoffs.
The Raiders also came perilously close - for Aledo, that is - to ending what is now a 119-game district winning streak last season. They led 19-17 in the closing moments before Bearcats quarterback Hauss Hejny - now at TCU - broke free for a long run in a 25-19 Aledo victory.
The teams will meet Oct. 4 at Tim Buchanan Stadium.
The Bearcats might well be playing in the toughest Class 5A league in the state. Not only does it feature themselves and Ryan, there's Richland.
The Royals return eight offensive and eight defensive starters from a team that finished 12-1 and advanced to the third round of the playoffs before losing to Forney. The Jackrabbits (13-2) were ousted by the Bearcats in the state semifinals.
Brewer (3-7 last season) is the district's fourth pick for the playoffs.
Keller Fossil Ridge (4-6) is dropping down from Class 6A and expected to challenge for a playoff berth after being in a district with powerhouse Southlake Carroll, Keller and Trophy Club Nelson. Also looking to make a move up from their prediction are Birdville (4-6), Denton (4-7, bidistrict), Azle (3-7) and Granbury (3-7).
"We knew this district was going to be really tough and it's going to be a real challenge," Jones said.
Along with having Ryan at home, the Bearcats will host Richland Oct. 25. They travel to Brewer on Sept. 13 to open league play.
Other district games are at Birdville at home on Sept. 20, Fossil Ridge on Sept. 26, at Granbury on Oct. 11, at Azle on Nov. 1 and hosting Denton on Nov. 8.
The Bearcats will open the season at 6A power Denton Guyer on Aug. 30. Last season Aledo won 48-45 on a last-second field goal - ironically, only the second highest scoring game between as Guyer won 60-57 in 2019.
That will be followed by the season's first home game on Sept. 6 against Lancaster, new to 6A after reaching the 5A Division I Region I final last season before falling in double overtime to Forney.
"We have a hard time finding people to play," Jones said. "You've got to take whoever will play you."
Jones said Dallas South Oak Cliff, which won 5A Division II state championships in 2021 and 2022, along with finishing second last season, was originally slated for a third pre-district game. However, with the Bearcats being placed in a nine-team district, there was no room on the schedule for the contest.
The Kangaroos are coming off a 5-5 season that saw them narrowly miss the Class 6A playoffs. They return three offensive and five defensive starters.
"Dave Campbell's" has the challenge to reach the postseason a bit more bit more difficult for the Roos this coming season. They are picked sixth in the seven-team District 3-6A.
The league also includes, with predicted order of finish, North Crowley (14-1, Division I state semifinals), Crowley (7-4, bidistrict), Saginaw Boswell (6-4, bidistrict), Mansfield (6-4), Mansfield Legacy (3-7), with Mansfield Lake Ridge (0-10) picked seventh.
With eight offensive and eight defensive starters expected to return, the Eagles are hoping to improve from a 1-9 season and return to the playoffs. They are picked fourth in Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools District 1 Division 3.
Lubbock Christian (11-3, Division 4 state finals) is predicted to win district, followed by Fort Worth Lake Country (4-7, bidistrict) and Arlington Pantego (6-3).
The Lions are picked fourth in TAPPS Six-Man District 1 Division 2 on the heels of a 6-5 season that saw them reach the playoffs. They are planning on having four starters back on each side of the ball.
Fort Worth Covenant Classical (10-2, second round), Abilene Christian (11-3, state final) and Crowley Nazarene Christian (10-3, Division 3 state semifinals) are the top three picks.
The Colts have optimism for more in 2024 as the return four offensive and four defensive starters from a team that went 1-8. The Colts play a private school six-man independent schedule.
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