No. 1 Aledo dominates No. 15 Richland in 72-10 demolition

Coming in fresh off their bye week, the No. 1 Aledo Bearcats entered their high-stakes matchup with the No. 15 Richland Royals with health, energy, and diligent preparation on their side. It all came to fruition Thursday night (Oct. 23), since the game was rescheduled ahead of incoming inclement weather. When the dust settled, Aledo emerged victorious with the District 5-5A Division I trophy in their hands following an astonishing 72-10 blowout victory.

The victory gave Aledo (8-0, 6-0) its 133rd consecutive district win, which dates back to 2007. Additionally, it was the most high-powered offensive performance the Bearcats have put on display this season as Aledo had more than 500 yards of offense and a 51-7 lead in the first half alone.

“I think we got good quarterback play out of Lincoln Tubbs in the first half. I think that was kind of what we’ve been missing most of the year was a quarterback coming out throwing the ball down the field like he was,” Bearcats head coach Robby Jones said. “He was doing all the things that we need a quarterback to do. The thing was what we were wanting to be from the beginning of the year, so we finally got to that point. Now, we’ve got to continue that and work on it, not just have it in one game. All the preparation that we did in the bye week and the practices we had this week really paid off for us.”

Tubbs dazzled both with his arm and his legs Thursday night in Birdville. The senior quarterback accounted for 408 yards of offense and five touchdowns by himself, and the timing he and his receivers displayed was the best the 2025 season has had to offer.

“Coming off a bye week and preparing for this big game, this district championship, we all just bought in as a team,” Tubbs said. “I would say that was a huge part of tonight. Everyone was focused on their job, and I think everyone executed their jobs very well. You know, all credit to the O-line, the running backs, the receivers and mostly the defense for helping us out.”

Furthermore, the Bearcats tallied 28 first downs and collected 647 yards of total offense without any personal foul infractions. The consistent, stingy defense held Richland to 191 yards of offense and forced quarterback Brett Kates into three interceptions while limiting him to 114 yards on 11-for-31 passing (35.5 completion percentage). While the defense remained stellar, Jones was pleased to see his offense showcase what Aledo’s true potential could look like.

“It was a good performance again by our defense. They had the one long run on us, and we had a guy that missed his assignment – I’m not going to point him out, he knows who he is,” Jones said, with a chuckle. “If he hadn’t missed his assignment, he probably tackles the guy on the line of scrimmage or for a one-yard gain. Those things happen, we’ve got to overcome them. Good job by our guys regrouping after that and not allowing it to happen again.”

Aledo raced out to a 17-0 first quarter lead after an opening-drive touchdown run by Kaden Winkfield from 44 yards out, a 24-yard field goal by Payton Shaffer, and a 51-yard touchdown pass from Tubbs to star senior wideout Kaydon Finley. The Bearcats notched up their intensity and production in the second quarter, where they outscored the Royals 34-7. Bayne Martin caught a 43-yard scoring pass from Tubbs before the quarterback called his own number from three yards out at the 4:15 mark of the second quarter that concluded a 10-play, 92-yard march on the following scoring drive. Then, Ryland Haley picked off a pass that set up Winkfield for a 22-yard housecall. Star Richland running back Jayshaun Gipson scored Richland’s only touchdown on the next series, before Tubbs added an 11-yard scoring run to the tally before halftime.

“It all goes back to focus and preparation. I think that was huge for us tonight, and this game gives us huge confidence,” Tubbs said. “Richland’s a great team, and I think it just proves what we can do and how we can progress as a team. I think we put an emphasis on it today, and it just goes to show what we’re fully capable of.”

Finley was another player who showed what he was capable of Thursday night. The game helped Finley enter a level of focus to where he was running with great power and speed with the ball in his hands.

“Coming into this game, I just thought about the season and my production so far, and just something switched before the game,” Finley said. “It was like a switch turned on and I just went out there and whoever stood in front of me, I just made it my goal to try to run through them and catch every ball that came to me. We can always keep working, keep improving. So I think if we just keep doing that, we’ll be a really good team.”

To his credit, Finley hauled in seven receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns – by far his best outing of the regular season that led a receiving corps that hauled in a total of 307 yards through the air.

“Definitely helps me just a little confidence booster, just getting back to my own self,” Finley said. “But, the team overall, it was a big win. Coach (Jones) had harped on the fact that this team was going to be, you know, a potential fourth- or fifth-round playoff matchup, so that was always in the back of my mind. A challenge is never to big for an Aledo Bearcat, so I think that just put a different mindset and drove us. We had to come out here and show them what Aledo football is all about.”

Aledo outscored Richland 21-3 in the second half to keep the Royals at bay, to preserve the national-record district winning streak and, most importantly, to avoid a potential three-way tie with Denton Ryan and Richland for district bragging rights.

Tubbs led Aledo’s offensive efforts with a magnificent performance that showcased his dual-threat abilities. The senior signal-caller completed 12 of his 19 pass attempts for 270 yards and four touchdowns to go with 138 rushing yards and a score on 12 carries, good for an astonishing 11.5-yard-per-carry average.

Along with Finley’s efforts out wide, Bayne Martin hauled in three receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown while Jamal Hollister and Christian Aaron each caught two passes and combined for 50 yards. Winkfield had 85 yards and two touchdowns while Brady Powell had 12 carries for 42 yards. In relief, Rudy Moya had three carries for 38 yards and a touchdown while Jeremiah Johnson added 31 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

Defensively, Carson Dempsey was a disruptive force with three tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one sack. Alex Patton, Kaeden Weaver, and Ryland Haley each hauled in an interception while combining for nine tackles. Cole Cox impressed with seven tackles, two passes defended, and one tackle for a loss, and Kam Hall had five tackles with one tackle for a loss. Ethan Marchilinski registered two tackles, two tackles for a loss, and one sack while Ashton Hebel had three stops and one tackle for a loss.

Now, Aledo will march forward with the same methodical mindset with valuable experience in tow.

“We treat each opponent like they’re a playoff team,” Jones said. “So, we’re going to go into those games and work on ourselves, get better and also make sure we got to go in a game plan for those guys and get used to the game plans and go attack those guys like we do any opponent.”

Next, the Bearcats will square off against Azle (2-6, 2-4) at 7 p.m. on Halloween Night.