Top prospects have Aledo thinking UIL record in 2018 football season
Many in Aledo may consider it a failure when the school doesn't win a state title in football.
Heck, the Bearcats have won six in nine years and were two points shy of bringing home an eighth title overall in December, which would've tied the UIL record.
Now coach Steve Wood and Aledo are hungry for another championship run. The last time they didn't win a ring, they won a state title the following year. Can 2018 be the next in their dynasty?
Last season’s record: 15-1, 7-0 (First in District 6-5A)
Playoffs: Lost to College Station in the state final
Coach: Steve Wood, Fifth season
Top returning players: 2019 RB Tre Owens (1,078 rush, 15 TD), 2019 OT Cameron Callaway, 2019 C Logan Escamilla, 2019 DE Colt Ellison (25 offers, 96 tackles, 18 for loss, 13.5 sacks), 2019 CB/WR Jeffery Carter (4-star recruit), 2019 DE Will Greenwood (61 tackles, 8 for loss, 7.5 sacks), 2019 LB/CB Wyatt Harris (TCU commit, 71 tackles, 3 INT), 2019 LB Zach Reinert (71 tackles, 8 for loss), 2020 RB Jase McClellan (Oklahoma commit, 1,600 rush, 26 TD), 2020 QB Jake Bishop (3,000 total, 35 TD), 2020 WR Monterren Parks (430 rec, 6 TD)
What we saw: The defense shined during Friday morning's spring game at Bearcat Stadium. Aledo did score two touchdowns, one from 40 yards out by 2019 WR Mylen Hayhurst.
Carter, who holds 22 offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oregon, Baylor and more, intercepted a pass on the final play and returned it for a long touchdown.
What Coach Wood said: "Spring was good. We came out healthy which is the No. 1 thing. We've improved and we got a lot of kids with a lot of reps. You develop depth."
"You have returning starters who you hope improve and get better, and that's the goal, but you find depth in the spring."
"I'm excited about our receiving core. We can create some match-up issues for somebody."
What Jeffery Carter said: "We had a great spring. The underclassmen were playing hard and trying to get a varsity spot. Upperclassmen were trying to keep their spots so everybody was competing."
"I wanted to improve on my endurance and foot-work."
"We hope for another great season, deep playoff run and hopefully go get that ring."
New district: 5-5A (Burleson, Burleson Centennial, Cleburne, Joshua, Arlington Seguin, Everman, Midlothian, Waco University).
Non-district schedule: Week 1 at Denton Guyer, Week 2 vs. Bentonville in Shreveport
This story was originally published May 26, 2018 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Top prospects have Aledo thinking UIL record in 2018 football season."