The Aledo Bearcats have won three consecutive games dating back to the loss to Arlington Martin in Week 5. In those games, the offense has averaged 52.3 points per game and the defense has allowed 16 points per game. The Bearcats now hold a 5-3 overall record, 4-1 District 3-6A record, and sole possession of second place in the district.
The final two games of the regular season loom; Aledo will face the Arlington Sam Houston Texans on Friday, Oct. 30, and the Arlington Lamar Vikings on Friday, Nov. 6.
The Texans have a 3-5 overall record but are winless in district play. Through their five district losses, the Texans have given up an average of 42.6 points per game while averaging 14.4 points per game.
Aledo head coach Robby Jones praised how the Bearcats match up with the Texans on offense and defense, but aimed to not get complacent heading into the game.
“We feel pretty good about our matchup on both sides of the ball,” Jones said. “When you play someone who’s basically in last place in the district, the kids may have some complacency, but we’re focusing more on us getting better.”
Aledo has received contributions from key players on both sides of the ball in its last three games. Last week, in their defeat of Weatherford, the Bearcats scored a season-high 70 points while only giving up 14.
Jones spotlighted those players and highlighted what they did in the win.
“Izzy Roberts had a pretty good night; he caught a couple of balls in the backfield and had over a hundred yards rushing. Kane Lanier, back from his injury, had a huge night with seven receptions and over a hundred yards and a couple of touchdowns. Defensively, Cooper Hull had a punt return for a touchdown and had some big plays in the game, and our defensive front did great. Christian Fraticelli and Trent McKinnon, they both stepped up when our defensive ends got hurt.”
Aledo’s emphasis on stopping the run will be key in this week’s game, with the Texans having run the ball more in the absence of key players on offense.
“Sam Houston, they’re on about their third or fourth quarterback for the season, so the main focus is being able to stop the run defensively,” Jones said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re handling the run game, because their passing game has suffered with the fact that they’re down a couple of quarterbacks.”
The Bearcats can potentially clinch a playoff spot with a win this week and lock themselves into a potential home game to start the postseason.
“If we win this game, it looks like we’ll clinch a playoff spot, and it would put us more than likely as the number one seed in Division 2,” Jones said. “Right now, it looks like there’s a possibility that the winner of the Keller and Keller Central game might be who we match up with in [week one of the playoffs]. We’ll see how everything shakes out this week and start getting that first game lined up.” Aledo will face Arlington Sam Houston Oct. 30 at Choctaw Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.
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