Special-needs senior scores honorary TD in Aledo's 58-6 win over Fort Worth Trimble Tech

By Mark Wright

Special to the Star-Telegram

ALEDO — It didn’t count for one of Aledo’s eight touchdowns Friday night against Fort Worth Trimble Tech. But the moment counted for something memorable for Aledo special-needs student Vincent Mercer and his fellow Bearcats seniors.

Before the start of the second quarter of Aledo’s 58-6 victory against the Bulldogs, quarterback Pate Davis lined up and handed off to Mercer, who took the handoff and ran 40 yards through the Trimble Tech defense untouched into the Bearcat Stadium end zone. It was Mercer’s first chance to take a snap in a game.

“Vincent’s been part of our team, and he’s kind of been an honorary captain,” Aledo coach Tim Buchanan said. “He’s been involved with this senior class for years now. We wanted to give an opportunity for Vincent to be not just a guy who stands on the sidelines but actually go out and run a play.”

Buchanan said Trimble Tech coach Dwayne Henry and the Bulldogs players were just as eager as the Aledo players to take part in the special play.

“I called [Henry] last week and asked for his permission to do it and started going through the story and telling him about Vincent, and before I was even finished, he said, ‘Coach, I’ll let him run a play,’” Buchanan said. “As much as it meant to Vincent, it meant more to our football team to see him be a part of what they do every week.”

Next up for Aledo (9-1, 7-0 District 7-4A) is Cleburne in a Class 4A Division I bi-district game next Friday at Newsom Stadium in Mansfield.

Willie Gibson and Jess Anders paced the Bearcats’ offense against Trimble Tech (1-9, 0-7). Gibson made two acrobatic touchdown grabs in the second quarter while Anders rushed for 132 yards and two scores.

Aledo’s defense got the Bearcats on the board early. Tyson Mauser snagged a Trimble Tech pass and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ third play from scrimmage.

The Bearcats added to the lead a short time later on their first offensive play of the night. Aledo forced a punt on Trimble Tech’s second series. On first down at Aledo’s own 46, Baker Roberson took a handoff, cut left and rumbled 54 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead.

Anders broke off a 31-yard run on Aledo’s third series and followed it with a 2-yard touchdown plunge as the Bearcats built a 21-0 first-quarter lead.

Gibson scored twice in the second quarter to blow the game open. On Aledo’s first drive of the second quarter, Davis went deep on second-and-7 at the Trimble Tech 37. Gibson stretched out his arms as he sprinted into the end zone to get his hands on the slightly overthrown pass. He juggled the ball for a moment but eventually secured it for the touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

Gibson’s next catch came as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the second quarter. His 20-yard grab at the back of the end zone made it 35-0.

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