The District 3-5A Division I football race got a little more interesting this past Thursday.
Oh, the Aledo Bearcats are still the overwhelming favorites to run the table and win yet another league championship, something they've done ever since George W. Bush still held the presidency.
But The Colony Cougars grabbed the attention of folks throughout the league when they went into Denton and stunned the Ryan Raiders 27-20 on Thursday, Sept. 21. The Raiders were previously undefeated and ranked No. 6 in the state in Class 5A Division I.
Among those who stopped and took a closer look is Aledo head coach Robby Jones. His top-ranked Bearcats take on those same Cougars this Friday, Sept. 29, in the Colony at 7 p.m.
“There’s not going to be an intimidation factor. They’re coming off a big victory against their neighbors and friends,” Aledo coach Robby Jones said. “I’m sure those kids know each other very well. Those towns aren’t very far apart.”
The Bearcats (5-0, 3-0 in District 3-5A Division I) ran their win streak to 19 games this past Friday with a 70-0 shellacking of Saginaw in Aledo's homecoming - the first in the newly named Tim Buchanan Stadium. It ran their district winning streak to 114 dating to 2007, a national record.
The Colony (2-3 overall, 2-1 in district) is just a few plays away from being 4-1, with their only big loss coming to undefeated Burleson Centennial. The Cougars went toe-to-toe for most of the game in losses to unbeaten Red Oak (19-16) at home and at Royse City (49-35).
In defeating Ryan the Cougars overcame a 20-7 second-quarter deficit. They entered the game with an 0-7 record previously against the Raiders.
“No matter the circumstances we’re competing against ourselves,” Bearcats quarterback Hauss Hejny said. “That’s how you get better.”
Jones noted that the Trophy Club roster, which consisted of a lot of sophomores last season, has gained valuable experience. After losing 52-7 in Aledo last season to fall to 1-5, the Cougars rebounded to finish 4-6 and narrowly miss the playoffs. This season, after starting 1-3, thanks to the win at Ryan they find themselves right in the postseason chase.
“When you’ve got a young team like that, there will be bumps along the way,” Jones said. “But they have valuable experience now and they are coming off their first really big win.”
The Colony’s upset of Ryan could throw things in district into a tizzy. The Cougars have already lost to Burleson Centennial, but along with the Bearcats tonight, they host Northwest in a key game on Oct. 13.
“It could throw playoff seedings into a big mess,” Jones said. “We’ve got to make sure we take care of business so the scenarios don’t affect us.”
Other key district matchups have Aledo hosting both Centennial and Ryan on Oct. 13 and 20. Ryan and Centennial play Oct. 6 in Denton, with Ryan traveling to Northwest on Nov. 2 and Centennial hosts Northwest on Oct. 27.
For a second consecutive week the Aledo offense and defense clicked together. Over the past two games the Bearcats have outscored Azle and Saginaw by a combined score of 120-7. Throw in the district-opening 38-13 win at home over Northwest and they have outscored their foes 158-20 in league play.
“The last two weeks our defense has smothered their offense and our offense has moved the ball at will,” Jones said. “When one side’s not playing well, there’s stress on the other side. It’s nice to see both playing really well.”
Offenses don’t come much more balanced than they do in Aledo. The Bearcats are averaging 239 yards rushing and 235 yards passing.
Led by newcomer Ray Guillory (535 yards), 11 different Bearcats have carried the ball this season. Nine different Bearcats have caught a pass, led by Trace Clarkson (20 catches, 390 yards).
“That’s a lot of credit to the fact we have receivers we can count, and a quarterback who knows where the ball has to go,” Jones said.
So far this season Hejny has rushed for 222 yards on 27 carries while completing 70% of his passes for 1,066 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. However, Jones can see the time coming when his star QB will tote the ball more.
“If you don’t have to use the quarterback in your running game early in the season that’s good,” Jones said. “As we get into big games later in the season and some big playoff games we’ll have to use his legs more.”
After being out briefly with an injury, Kadon Finley made a successful return against Saginaw. He hauled in two passes for 73 yards, including one that he broke for 70 yards and his first touchdown of 2023.
Finley entered the game with four catches for 25 yards.
“We misfired on a couple of plays trying to get him the ball early, but then were able to and you saw what he can do when he gets it,” Jones said.
Jones noted that in last year’s game against The Colony, Finley was in a similar situation after catching a pass. Only that time he was caught from behind.
“He said he wasn’t going to let that happen again, and he didn’t,” Jones said.
In their lone meeting, which was last season, the Bearcats won 52-7 in Aledo. It was Aledo's fourth straight win en route to an eventual Class 5A Division I state championship.
The loss dropped the Cougars to 1-5. They rebounded to win three of their final four, outscoring their opponents 176-79, and narrowly missing the playoffs.
While Aledo's postseason success is extremely well documented, the Cougars haven't been to the playoffs since 2019. They haven't won a postseason game since 2016 when they went to the second round.
The Bearcats remained atop the Class 5A Division I state rankings in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football this week. However, they are now the only team in the district to be ranked as Denton Ryan, previously No. 6, tumbled out after their loss to The Colony.
Aledo also remained fifth among all high schools in Texas, trailing only defending 6A Division I state champion Duncanville, Humble Atascocita, defending 6A Division II champion DeSoto and Houston North Shore.
Last week's results
The Colony 27, Ryan 20
Aledo 70, Saginaw 0
Centennial 56, South Hills 0
Brewer 30, Azle 13
Northwest bye
Thursday, Sept. 28
Ryan at South Hills
Friday, Sept. 29 (all games at 7 p.m.)
Aledo at The Colony
Northwest at Azle
Brewer at Saginaw
Centennial bye
Aledo 3-0 (5-0)
Centennial 3-0 (5-0)
Ryan 2-1 (3-1)
The Colony 2-1 (2-3)
Northwest 1-1 (3-1)
Brewer 1-1 (2-2)
South Hills 0-2 (0-4)
Azle 0-3 (1-4)
Saginaw 0-3 (0-5)
Aledo Bearcats (5-0, 3-0 in District 3-5A Division I) at The Colony Cougars (2-3, 2-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Tommy Briggs Cougar Stadium, The Colony.
Returning starters: Aledo 7 offense/5 defense, The Colony 7 offense/7 defense.
Last week: Aledo won 70-0 over Saginaw at home, The Colony won 27-20 at Denton Ryan.
Last season: Aledo, 14-2, 8-0 district, 5A Division I state champions. The Colony, 4-6, 4-4 in district. Aledo won 52-7 at home.
Aledo offensive players to watch: RB Ray Guillory (71 carries, 535 yards, 10 TD rushing; 7 catches, 132 yards, 3 TD receiving), QB Hauss Hejny (56-of-80, 70%, 1,066 yards, 11 TD, 0 interceptions passing; 27 carries, 222 yards, 2 TD rushing).
The Colony offensive players to watch: QB Carson Cox (796 yards, 9 TD, 5 interceptions passing; 45 carries, 178 yards, 3 TD rushing); RB Kendrick McClodden (63 carries, 415 yards, 4 TD).
Aledo defensive players to watch: LB Davhon Keys (37 tackles, 33 solo, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, one returned for TD); DB Boogie Owens (19.5 tackles, 17 solo, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery returned for TD).
The Colony defensive players to watch: Statistics not available.
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