The 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Texas on Wednesday, February 6 to recognize Aledo (Texas) High School and its football team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.

Having upended Fort Bend Marshall 55-19 in the UIL Conference 5A D2 state championship contest, the 16-0 Bearcats claimed their eighth state football title and earned the No. 31 ranking in MaxPreps' National Rankings.

After arriving in time for lunch, the Tour of Champions went right to work setting up its display featuring the Army National Guard national ranking trophy, which is shaped in the likeness of a Minuteman. MaxPreps and the Texas Army National Guard were on hand to celebrate Bearcat football at the conclusion of the school's National Signing Day festivities.

While displaying the 'Minuteman' trophy, Staff Sergeant Kyle Taylor of the Texas Army National Guard was busy handing out commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts and other Army National Guard branded items. Once all of the Bearcats had signed their letters of intent, the fired up crowd, Bearcats and coaches were asked by MaxPreps representative Daniel Brooke to move towards the MaxPreps banner.

Brooke then asked the Bearcats and their coaches to stand in front of the banner as he explained to those in attendance how MaxPreps selects the teams it honors for each Tour of Champions. After completing his portion of the program, Brooke introduced SSG Taylor, who spoke briefly about duty, respect, honor, perseverence, commitment and dedication, shared character traits of the Army National Guard and a state championship football team.

SSG Taylor then presented the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and a nationally ranked rafter banner to head coach Steve Wood and the Bearcats to a rousing ovation from all of those in attendance. Aledo football players posed for pictures as Wood and three Bearcats conducted interviews with the local media outlets in attendance.

The entire Bearcat coaching staff was thrilled to be honored and recognized nationally by MaxPreps and the Texas Army National Guard. Congratulations to Coach Wood and the Bearcat football team on your state championship and for being ranked No. 31 out of over 17,000 varsity football teams nationwide!