Aledo wins 6-4A title showdown with Birdville

Posted Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By DREW DAVISON

Special to the Star-Telegram

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — Behind sophomore sensation Johnathan Gray, Aledo made a strong statement as the best area Class 4A team heading into the playoffs.

The Bearcats rolled to a 48-13 victory over Birdville on Thursday night at BISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex. Aledo clinched its second consecutive District 6-4A title and, more importantly, will have a generous route in the postseason.

"It’s very satisfying to win this game, and we’ll see what happens in the playoffs," said Gray, who finished with 212 rushing yards and four touchdowns. "We had to win this game to get the easier road, but we would’ve been ready either way."

Aledo (9-1, 7-0 District 6-4A), which was ranked second to Birdville in the Star-Telegram poll, will face Little Elm in the first round of the 4A Division II playoffs a week from tonight at Northwest ISD Stadium in Justin. Birdville (9-1, 6-1) will play Lake Dallas in Division II next Friday night at Rough Rider Stadium in Saginaw.

Aledo scored on the third play of the game, a 54-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Matthew Bishop to senior Stetson Stockard.

Birdville answered on the ensuing drive, marching 73 yards in 12 plays and scoring on an 8-yard pass from senior quarterback Josh Dorman to senior Jonathan Dents.

The ensuing kickoff had a little bit of controversy. Aledo muffed the kickoff and Birdville recovered. But an inadvertent whistle forced a rekick and Aledo had possession. The Bearcats then went 73 yards and took a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard TD run from Gray.

"I don’t think it made a difference in the outcome of the game, but I think it certainly made a difference in how long the game was good for,” Birdville coach Jim Skinner said.

Birdville stayed in the game, scoring on a 62-yard pass from Dorman to junior Nate Perkins.

From that point on, though, Aledo pulled away. The Bearcats outscored the Hawks 20-0 in the second quarter on three Gray TDs.

The Aledo defense pitched a shutout the final three quarters, finishing with seven sacks.

“I’m extremely proud with how we played on defense,” Aledo coach Tim Buchanan said. “They had two kids who averaged over 200 receiving yards a game and we held one to no catches and the other to two.”

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