This is part 1 of a 6-part series of the winningest teams of the decade. They posted 143 wins and won seven 5A state championships. They are the Aledo Bearcats.
Aledo Dominates the Decade
Aledo won the 5A-Div. II State Championship in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Last season, the Bearcats won the state title in dominant fashion. They posted a 13-1 record (the only loss was a 27-17 vs Cedar Hill) and scored a lot of points. The Bearcats scored 50 points or more four times and scored 70 + points twice. They met Crosby in the 5A-Div II finals.
Against Crosby, the Bearcats gained 615 yards of total offense. RB Demarco Roberts played lights out, rushing for 254 yards and scored six touchdowns. He scored on runs of 32, 5, 25, 20, 1, and 54 yards.
QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi was 15-19 passing for 216 yards and two TDs. WR Jojo Earle caught 6 passes for 133 yards and a TD (74-yard catch and run). Fowler-Nicolosi finished the season with 1372 yards and 12 touchdowns after taking over the quarterback duties at mid-season.
Roberts finished the 2020 season with 2266 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns. He signed a scholarship offer with Lamar.
Earle finished with 61 catches for 1007 yards and 8 touchdowns. He signed with Alabama.
Returning Starters for 2021
The Bearcats return 11 starters from their state championship team. The Top Players are:
TE Jason Llewellyn: 28 catches, 453 yards, 5 TDs.
QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi
RB/LB Ryan Williams: 268 yards, 4 TDs rushing; 67 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks.
DB B.J. Allen: 67 tackles, 3 INTs.
DB Jaden Allen: 27 tackles, 3 INTs.
DL Kyle Thompson: 45 tackles, 6 TFLs, 1 sack.
LB Cap Mooney: 47 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 INT.
OL Gunnar Allen: 6-3, 290
K/P Clay Murador
CB Sammie Steffe
DL Matthew Bell
OL Max Epperson
WR B.J. Fleming
RB/LB Davhon Keyes
2021 Aledo Football Schedule
Aug. 27 Weatherford
Sep. 2 at Frisco Lonestar
Sep 10 FW Arlington Heights
Sep 17 at Burleson
Sep 24 Everman
Oct 8 at Joshua
Oct 15 Mansfield Timberview
Oct 22 at Waco University
Oct 29 at Arlington Seguin
Nov 5 Cleburne
Tony Thomas is a freelance writer. He also writes about college football on his own site, www.thegridironnews.com.
Does Aledo win their fourth consecutive state championship in 2021? Comment below.
