When the 2022 football season began there were questions surrounding what kind of quarterback Hauss Hejny would be for the Aledo Bearcats. After all, he'd never started a game behind center in coach Tim Buchanan's system.
Now we know. Hejny is the kind of quarterback that can lead to a state championship and be named MVP of the state championship game.
And Duke University wants him to be their signal caller in the future. In fact, they made a scholarship offer to the junior this past weekend.
"Their offensive coordinator, Kevin Johns, he started recruiting me a few months ago. He was a real genuine dude. From the get-go, he said you're our No. 1 quarterback," Hejny said.
"I just got back from their Junior Day over the weekend. Getting on campus I just felt at home. Having a coaching staff that's all in on me, it's just a real special moment."
After a bit of a rough start to the season, Hejny began to settle into his role. By the time the Bearcats' two biggest games of the season rolled around — at Burleson Centennial and at Denton Ryan in Games 8 and 9 — he demonstrated just how good he could be.
In those two wins, 64-21 over Centennial and 35-21 over Ryan, Hejny was unstoppable. He accounted for 735 yards and nine touchdowns in those wins, rushing for 308 yards and four TD while passing for 427 yards and five scores.
It was the kind of performance that reinforced the Bearcats’ faithful that perhaps another state title could arrive this year, which it did. In the title game, a 52-14 victory against College Station, Hejny again was at his best as he rushed 10 times for 142 yards and a pair of TD while completing 11 of 14 passes for 176 yards and two more.
In all, Hejny rushed 122 times for 1,276 yards (10.5 per carry) and 15 touchdowns during the season. He completed 63% of his passes for 2,092 yards with 20 TD and seven interceptions.
Hejny was also named the MVP of District 3-5A Division I after leading Aledo to its 15th consecutive championship dating to 2008.
"I'm really happy for Hauss. Duke is a great university and the Duke offense is a really good fit for Hauss' skill set," Bearcats coach Tim Buchanan said.
Duke's starting quarterback in 2023 is once again expected to be junior-to-be Leonard Riley. He led the Blue Devils to an 8-5 record in 2022.
Hejny is also going to be pursuing a degree from one of the nation's most prestigious universities.
"It's the best of both worlds," Hejny said. "Life after football will be so much better coming out of Duke."
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