THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Aledo Athletics

The Aledo Bearcats ended their 2018 season in dominant fashion, routing the Fort Bend Marshall Buffaloes, 55-19 in the teams’ Class 5A, Division II state finals at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium. The win notches Aledo a record seventh state title in 10 years, while joining Richland Springs (six-man), Katy, Southlake Carroll and Celina as the only programs in Texas high school football history with eight state championships. Tailback and Oklahoma commit Jase McClellan took the lead against Fort Bend Marshall, gashing the Buffaloes for 147 yards and three rushing touchdowns (all in the first half) on 23 carries en route to Offensive MVP honors. McClellan also added a 23-yard TD reception in the second quarter. The Bearcats dominated in time of possession (29:22 to the Buffaloes’ 18:38). Unable to negate Aledo’s run game, Fort Bend Marshall was repeatedly forced to choose between getting beat up the middle by McClellan and change-of-pace back JoJo Earle (63 rushing yards on seven carries), or risk getting burned deep by an efficient Bearcats’ passing game. Quarterback Jake Bishop completed 82 percent (14-of-17) of his passes for 175 yards and three scores, hitting a different receiver with each, while adding 69 yards and a score on the ground. Not to be outdone, Aledo’s defense also produced a championship-caliber performance, holding Marshall to 2-of-11 on third down, recovering a Marshall fumble and racking up three sacks of Buffaloes’ quarterback Malik Hornsby. Out of 10 total drives, Fort Bend Marshall’s offense, which came into the contest averaging 49 points per game, was forced to punt on five, while losing two additional drives to a fumble and a turnover on downs. After scoring their second touchdown of the night early in the second quarter (10:23 remaining in the frame), the Buffaloes were kept off the board until late in the fourth quarter, with 1:51 left in regulation. Bearcats’ linebacker Wyatt Harris was named the game’s Defensive MVP, notching six tackles, including four solo. The game proved a sweet end to a long year following Aledo’s loss to College Station in the Class 5A, Division II state finals a season ago, Bearcats’ Head Football Coach Steve Wood said. “I don’t want to minimize what last year’s team did and I don’t want to take anything away from College Station, but this has been a long year for our kids,” Wood said. “I may sound selfish here, but we feel like it (state championship trophy) belongs in Aledo and we got it back. “I am so proud of our defense. Our first-team defense only gave up six points against a pretty explosive football team. We have had injuries on defense, but it is next man up here and the kids just bowed up.” “Our offensive line (Colby Thomas, Cameron Callaway, Logan Escamilla, Cooper Thompson, Chandler Knandel and tight end Devan Daugherty) got after it – they brought their A game – and Jase got after it. Our kids wanted this and went through a tough offseason to get back here. They are coachable and a hard-working team. We have a special group of kids in Aledo, Texas, for sure. They were on a mission.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Aledo Athletics

ALEDO BEARCATS ARE STATE CHAMPS

FORREST MURPHY

Weatherford Democrat | 12/24/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Russek