The Aledo Bearcats were finishing the regular season at press time, hosting the Brewer Bears. The Bearcats (7-2 overall, 7-0 in District 3-5A Division I) had already secured the league championship, while the Bears (2-7, 2-5) will start focusing on next season this weekend.
So, while on paper the game may not seem like much more than a fine-tuneup for the Bearcats before moving on to bi-district next week, it was also Senior Night. Yes, the Bearcats will host a first-round playoff game next week, but this week was the final district game, the final regular-season game for the 45 seniors on the roster.
And head coach Tim Buchanan had a message for them, not just for last night but also for as far as the Bearcats advance in the postseason.
“They need to enjoy what they have left of their football season. They’ll never get this back,” he said. “Ninety-five percent will never put on a football uniform after this season. They put so much into it, they work so hard during the season, during the offseason.
“It’s really tough on kids when they finish playing high school football. They don’t have a next week, a next year. So make sure you do everything you can to make your senior year your best year.”
The Bearcats’ opponent in the first round in the playoffs is still up in the air as the final week of the regular season is being played. They will face the fourth-place team from District 4-5A Division I.
But who that will be is a complete mystery entering the weekend.
Killeen Shoemaker and Lake Belton are both 5-2 and tied for third, with Killeen Ellison a game behind at 4-3. Shoemaker travels to Granbury (2-5) while Ellison and Lake Belton will play in Belton.
Then, there’s Red Oak, currently second at 7-1 (8-1 overall). The Hawks travel to district-leading Midlothian (9-0 overall, 7-0), with a Red Oak win giving them the district title and a loss creating a possible three-way tie for second.
So, the only thing the Bearcats know for sure is they won’t be playing Midlothian or Red Oak, who have secured the top two seeds, (Red Oak owns a tiebreaker in a three-way tie). However, it will definitely be this weekend before Aledo can zero in on who exactly to prepare for.
“You don’t worry about what you can’t control,” Buchanan said. “You can’t control the weather, officials, and you can’t control your opponent.”
Whoever settles into the fourth spot has the unenviable task of trying to end the Bearcats’ streak of 25 consecutive bi-district victories dating to 1996.
Buchanan said the Bearcats’ open week was “Uneventful, how you want your bye week to be.”
Of course, they were coming off back-to-back emotional wins, their two biggest of the season. On Nov. 14 they defeated Burleson Centennial 64-21 in Burleson, followed by a 35-21 win at Denton Ryan that clinched the district championship.
And, as the team took on Brewer in the final regular-season game, he said the focus was “Continue getting better. We’re still young. We didn’t grow up overnight. Getting back in the swing of things isn’t always easy.”
Clay Murador, the Bearcats’ top kicker and punter last season, has returned to the team. He had not played this season because he was focusing on getting a scholarship to play soccer in college.
Buchanan said the University of Indiana made an offer to Murador and he’s expected to accept it on early signing day in December.
Last season, Murador scored 75 points. He was a perfect 63-for-63 on extra points and was 4-for-5 on field goals, with a long kick of 49 yards.
He also averaged 39.7 yards per punt with a long kick of 62 yards, along with 55.6 yards per kickoff.
“I asked the captains because I didn’t want it to just be my decision — but I definitely welcome him back — and everyone said certainly,” Buchanan said. “He’s a little rusty. He hasn’t kicked since the South Oak Cliff game last year (third round of the playoffs and the Bearcats’ final game).
“We’re going to still utilize what Cole (Crawford) and Nathan Wood can do as well. We are very fortunate.”
Crawford has scored 40 points this season on 34 PATs and two field goals. He’s also averaging 53.1 yards on kickoffs. Wood is averaging 37.7 yards punting.
The Bearcats remained No. 3 in Class 5A Division I in both the Dave Campbell’s/AP state rankings and MaxPreps. Burleson Centennial is not in the top 10 for Dave Campbell’s/AP and is No. 9 in MaxPreps.
As the Bearcats chase their 11th state championship, the road will not be easy. Possibly waiting in the postseason in Region I are Midlothian (No. 5 in Dave Campbell’s/AP and No. 8 in MaxPreps), along with Red Oak (No. 20 in MaxPreps). Of course, there’s always the possibility of a rematch with Centennial and/or Denton Ryan.
Beyond their own region but still in the Metroplex are Mansfield Timberview (No. 2 DC/AP, No. 7 in MaxPreps), Lancaster (No. 4 DC/AP, No. 2 in MaxPreps) and Frisco Reedy (No. 7 DC/AP, No. 6 MaxPreps).
The No. 1 team in the state in both polls is Longview.
| Team | District | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| x-Aledo | 7-0 | 7-2 |
| y-Burl. Centennial | 6-1 | 8-1 |
| y-Justin Northwest | 5-2 | 6-3 |
| y-Denton Ryan | 5-2 | 5-3 |
| The Colony | 4-4 | 4-6 |
| Azle | 3-4 | 3-6 |
| FW Brewer | 2-5 | 2-7 |
| FW South Hills | 0-7 | 1-8 |
| Saginaw | 0-7 | 0-9 |
x = clinched district championship
y = clinched playoff berth
Last week’s results
This week’s games (end of regular season)
All at 7 p.m.
Thursday
Brewer at Aledo
Friday
Azle at Centennial
Northwest at Ryan
Saginaw at South Hills
The Colony season over
Brewer Bears (2-7, 2-5 in District 3-5A Division I) at Aledo Bearcats (7-2, 7-0)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Bearcat Stadium
Brewer offensive players to watch: QB Chris Wigington 453 yards, 4 TD, 2 int. Passing, 11 carries, 33 yards rushing; RB Mehki Elmore 66 carries, 645 yards, 8 TD; WR Tre King 19 catches, 180 yards, 2 TD.
Aledo offensive players to watch: QB Hauss Hejny 61-for-102, 1,242 yards, 13 TD, 3 interceptions passing, 61 carries, 643 yards, 8 TD rushing; RB Hawk Patrick-Daniels 114 carries, 842 yards, 12 TD, 4 catches, 33 yards; WR Jalen Pope 36 catches, 698 yards, 10 TD; RB Caleb Pope 47 carries, 299 yards, 9 TD, 4 catches, 59 yards.
Brewer defensive players to watch: ATH Cameron Clay 55 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery; DB Dakories Moment 30 tackles, 4 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery.
Aledo defensive players to watch: LB Dahvon Keys 52 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1 interception returned 73 yards for a touchdown; LB Andrew Parkhurst 33.5 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks; S Jake Gillespie 39 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery; S Boogie Owens 30 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 interception, 2 fumble recoveries; CB Chris Johnson 22 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 interceptions returned a total of 60 yards, 1 fumble recovery.
Team rushing yards per game: Aledo 262.0, Brewer 170.4.
Team passing yards per game: Aledo 188.4, Brewer 83.9.
Team rushing yards surrendered per game: Aledo 117.6, Brewer 174.7
Team passing yards surrendered per game: Aledo 160.0, Brewer 129.0.
Turnovers: Aledo 11, Brewer 7.
Takeaways: Aledo 15, Brewer 24.
All-time record: Aledo leads the series 16-2 and has won the past 14 meetings. Their last meeting was in 2017, a 59-7 Bearcats victory.
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