In February, when the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment moved Aledo up to Class 5A Division I and put the Bearcat in the same district with fellow powerhouse Denton Ryan, folks everywhere circled Nov. 21 on their calendar.
However, with all due respect to Aledo and Ryan, another team was looming in the shadows, taking advantage of being out of the spotlight — Burleson Centennial.
Well, the Spartans aren’t in the shadows any longer. They took care of Ryan last Friday at home, 23-16, and Friday night they will play arguably the biggest regular-season game in their short history since the school opened in 2011. The Bearcats are coming to town for a showdown that could decide the District 3-5A Division I championship.
A Centennial win would certainly give them the inside track to the program’s first league title as the Spartans’ remaining games are at home against Brewer (1-5, 1-3 in district)), at Northwest (4-2, 3-1) and home against Azle (1-5, 1-3).
Meanwhile, a Bearcats’ win over the Spartans, combined with a win the following week over Ryan in Denton, would secure a 15th consecutive district championship for Aledo.
The Bearcats bring a state-record 108-game district winning streak into the contest at Burleson. Not since 2007, when they started 0-2 in district with losses to Stephenville and Everman, has Aledo dropped a league contest.
To put that in greater perspective, none of the players in Friday’s game were in school yet when the streak started.
“Heck, some of them weren’t even born,” Aledo coach Tim Buchanan said. “We’ve been tested before, (Mansfield) Timberview in 2020, Midlothian in 2019.
“I don’t think about it (the streak) a whole lot, it’s been going on so long, but it is pretty neat.”
In 2019 visiting Midlothian took the Bearcats to overtime before Aledo survived 34-28.
The Aledo defense will be going up against a Centennial team that operates out of a wishbone offense, also sometimes referred to as a triple option.
The quarterback runs down the line of scrimmage with a running back trailing slightly to his left or right (depending on QB’s direction). Depending on the defense, the quarterback can pitch to the running back, stop and throw a pass, or keep the ball himself and run.
“You get a lead and you can run the clock out,” Buchanan said. “I love watching it. It’s fun and it’s hard to simulate.”
So what’s the key to stopping it?
“Staying disciplined,” Buchanan said. “Definitely, with the wishbone, discipline is the most important thing. If ever a player was going to their job, this is the week.
The Bearcats moved up a notch to No. 5 in Class 5A Division I in this week’s state rankings from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and the Associated Press. Also, MaxPreps has the Bearcats No. 3.
Centennial moved up to No. 6 in Dave Campbell’s and No. 4 in MaxPreps. Denton Ryan, which lost to Centennial 23-16 last week, fell out of the state’s top 10.
Team |
District |
Overall |
|---|---|---|
| x-Aledo | 5-0 | 5-2 |
| Burleson Centennial | 4-0 | 6-0 |
| Denton Ryan | 4-1 | 4-2 |
| Justin Northwest | 3-1 | 4-2 |
| The Colony | 2-3 | 2-5 |
| Azle | 1-3 | 1-5 |
| FW Brewer | 1-3 | 1-5 |
| FW South Hills | 0-4 | 1-5 |
| Saginaw | 0-5 | 0-7 |
Team District Overall
x-Aledo 5-0 5-2
Burleson Centennial 4-0 6-0
Denton Ryan 4-1 4-2
Justin Northwest 3-1 4-2
The Colony 2-3 2-5
Azle 1-3 1-5
FW Brewer 1-3 1-5
FW South Hills 0-4 1-5
Saginaw 0-5 0-7
Aledo 68, South Hills 0
The Colony 30, Brewer 7
Centennial 23, Ryan 16
Northwest 70, Saginaw 0
Azle bye
Friday, all at 7 p.m.
Aledo at Centennial
The Colony at Northwest
Saginaw at Azle
South Hills at Brewer
Ryan bye
Aledo Bearcats (5-2, 5-0 in District 3-5A Division I) at Burleson Centennial Spartans (6-0, 4-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Burleson ISD Stadium.
Centennial players to watch (stats not available): QB Phillip Hamilton, RB Elijah K Zeh, FS Chapman Lewis.
Aledo offensive leaders: QB Hauss Hejny 48-for-88, 970 yards, 9 TD, 3 interceptions passing, 36 carries 335 yards, 4 TD rushing; RB Hawk Patrick-Daniels 92 carries, 765 yards, 11 TD; WR Jalen Pope 23 catches, 487 yards, 7 TD; WR Kaydon Finley 9 catches, 245, 3 TD; TE Tyson Timms 16 catches 232 yards, 3 TD; RB Ryan Cox 53 carries, 238 yards, 1 TD; RB Caleb Pope 30 carries, 210 yards, 8 TD.
Aledo defensive leaders: LB Dahvon Keys 37.5 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 interception returned 73 yards for a touchdown; S Jake Gillespie 30.5 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception; LB Andrew Parkhurst 27 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks; ; S Boogie Owens 19 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 fumble recovery; LB Ky Howington 17 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception; CB Chris Johnson 17 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 interceptions returned a total of 60 yards, 1 fumble recovery.
Team rushing yards per game: Centennial NA, Aledo 259.4.
Team passing yards per game: Centennial NA, Aledo 181.4.
Team rushing yards surrendered per game: Centennial NA, Aledo 94.4.
Team passing yards surrendered per game: Centennial NA, Aledo 174.9.
Turnovers: Centennial NA, Aledo 8 (4 fumbles, 4 interceptions).
Takeaways: Centennial NA, Aledo 11 (7 fumbles, 4 interceptions).
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