Entering the 2025 campaign, the highly-motivated No. 1 Aledo Bearcats squad is eager to get back on the gridiron to chase the same golden trophy they have already captured 12 times in program history.
“It was a very disappointing ending. Of course, our expectation is to go 16 games and win a state championship, and we fell short of that last year,” Bearcats head coach Robby Jones said. “I felt like, for the most part, it was a successful season. For a lot of schools, a lot of programs, a 12-2 season would be their best season they’ve ever had, but the standard here is little different, so our kids were very disappointed. The group we have coming back has taken that to heart and they’ve established a theme of, ‘Unfinished Business’ for this year. They want to experience winning a state championship again, and they are making sure they are present, putting in the work and eliminating anything that would prevent them from winning a state championship.”
The work ethic and goals remain high within the Bearcat program, but the increased drive this offseason was something noticeable.
“One of our performance course guys is Calvin Loftis, who is an ex-Bearcat,” Jones said. “He said at the beginning of the summer that he saw a little bit of a different fire with the guys. When you slip up and let someone take away something you feel like you deserve, it’s going to cause you to go and work a little harder.”
The Bearcats are riding a district winning streak of nearly 130 consecutive games into this season. With stronger league foes such as Denton Ryan and Richland in the fold, the Bearcats know the upcoming challenges they must face but are keeping the scope of their mission on the main goal.
“District is going to be difficult, and we know that – a lot of people have picked Denton Ryan to beat us this year,” Jones said. “Dave Campbell’s is the only one I’ve seen having us ranked ahead of Denton Ryan. Richland is going to be talented again – they’re always going to be talented. We prepare for that district, but the most important thing to us is going out and playing each game the right way on our way to winning another state championship. We know we have to take care of district first to give us a good road through the playoffs as the district champion.”
Jones’ roster will boast an experienced offensive line, led by three-year starter Payton Williams, who Jones expects to be an anchor and dominant force. Additionally, returning starters in Trinity University-commit Ryan Campbell, Kruger Summers, and Amari Denbow – the glue-guy to the offensive line – will bring experience and physicality up front along with Grant Foreman, who started several games last season.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Bearcats will see all four of last year’s returning starters on the defensive line suit up for Jones and his staff once more. Carson Dempsey and Cooper Cyphers, two four-year varsity players and talented edge rushers, are expected to produce at a high level. Jones said Dempsey’s offseason workload and effort was larger than he’s ever seen while Tymon Meeks, who is weighing Power-5, Division I offers from the likes of Colorado and Miami (FL), is described as an explosive, difficult player to block. Meanwhile, Decker Sanders rounds out the defensive trenches as a returning three-year varsity starter. Sanders is also a two-time, first-team all-district selection.
Star senior wideout and team captain Kaydon Finley, who committed to Notre Dame during the offseason, will be called upon for another productive season as a pass catcher and will be aided by the return of fellow starting receiver Jamal Hollister. While last year’s signal-caller Gavin Beard transferred for his final year of high school. Jones is looking to Nash McElree and Lincoln Tubbs to fill in behind center. McElree proved himself as a capable player to fill the position in several instances last season while Tubbs, a speedy Army-commit, will showcase his quick legs and surprising arm as a strong dual-threat and a key cog to the Aledo offense.
Jones will see Skyler Kirk and Kolby Thompson get reps from the tight end position while senior running back Kaden Winkfield, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2024, is expected to emerge as the alpha in the running back room, accompanied by Brady Powell, Jeremiah Johnson, and Rudy Moya.
Jones also expects big things from players like Chase Wilburn, Kam Hall, and Lamel Swanson on the defensive side of the ball. Wilburn, who was the defense’s leading tackler a season ago, was moved from the outside to inside linebacker position for more playmaking opportunities while returning starting safeties and college-commits Hall (Lamar) and Swanson (Army) will anchor the back line defense and provide playmaking in special teams.
With pre-district games against Denton Guyer and Lancaster ahead of the district slate, Jones said the fans should be excited to see this quality group compete for another title.
“The Aledo Bearcats bring an exciting brand of football – we are going to be faster and more physical than most teams,” Jones said. “If I was going to watch a team play, I would want to watch a team like the Aledo Bearcats because they are going to go out there and do things right, they’re going to be disciplined, they’re going to handle the situations that are in front of them and they’re going to outplay the opponent – that’s the main thing.”
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