Bearcats had a record-breaking season

As the calendar turned to 2022 and we looked back on the year that we had in 2021, it was an eventful 365 days of sports in Aledo. Most strange was how the football team played two different seasons in one calendar year. On Jan. 15, 2021, the Bearcats defeated Crosby 56-21 for their record breaking tenth state title. Seven months later, the football season started on normal time to kick off another record breaking season.

The season started off at home with a win over cross-county rival Weatherford 47-7. In front of a sold out crowd, the Bearcats proved that they do not rebuild, they reload. That became even more evident the next week against Frisco Lone Star. Aledo jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead before Lone Star stormed back to pull within three. But a late touchdown pass from Brayden Fowler Nicolosi to Hauss Hejny widened the gap, and a forced fumble by Cap Mooney was recovered by Sammy Steffe to seal the 45-35 win.

In the final week of non-district play, the Bearcats shutout Fort Worth Arlington Heights to advance to 3-0. The next week brought an anticipated match up with Burleson. Despite Burleson having a rather underrated team, the Aledo defense stood tall. The game was epitomized by a 99-yard interception return by Taylon Kessler. After beating Burleson 56-14, the Bearcats continued their roll with a 51-7 homecoming win over Everman. Despite not having Nicolosi at quarterback, Hejny and Brant Hayden combined to lead the offense to the win.

Coming out of a bye week at 5-0, Aledo got right back into it by shutting out Joshua 55-0. The win put the Bearcats district winning streak at 99 games. One week later, the Bearcats fought tooth and nail against Mansfield Timberview. Despite having the running game held, the Bearcat defense made the clutch stops, and the passing game was run to near perfection to reach the record setting 100 win mark.

The final three games of the regular season flew by with ease as Aledo defeated Waco University, Arlington Seguin, and Cleburne to finish at a perfect 10-0.

In the playoffs, the Bearcats easily defeated Dallas Hillcrest at home in the Bi-District round to mark the 26th consecutive year that Aledo has made it past the first round. The next week, in Denton, the Bearcats played a highly touted Frisco Liberty team, and once again stood tall winning 57-14.

The next week, the run came to an end to eventual state champion Dallas South Oak Cliff. The Bearcats trailed 27-14 at halftime, but fought back to take a 28-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. South Oak Cliff mounted one last drive to retake the lead. Aledo almost put together a game winning drive, but it was not to be. For the first time since 2012, Aledo was held out of the regional final, and the month of December.

Despite an earlier exit than hoped for, the Bearcats had a great season and honored the season with a banquet at Christ Chapel West in Willow Park on Monday, Jan. 3. The event was complete with dinner, a silent auction, a live auction, team awards, and a video presentation commemorating the season.

On Thursday, Feb. 3, the new season will take shape as the UIL will realign, the 2022 schedule will be made, and the community can look forward to another great season of Aledo Bearcat football.