Champs again: How long will the Aledo Bearcat Texas high school football dynasty last?
Is anyone surprised? The Aledo Bearcats are Texas high school state champions again.
Aledo completely dominated Spring Branch Smithson Valley 51-8 in the Class 5A D1 State Championship, extending the UIL record to 12 state titles on Friday at AT&T Stadium. The Bearcats proved their greatness again in Robby Jones’ first year as head coach.
After going down 8-0 in the first quarter following a safety and two Smithson Valley field goals., the Class 5A powerhouse managed to bounce back with 51 unanswered points. Aledo didn’t play a perfect game, but pulled away in a typical, Bearcat football blowout in the end.
In their championship run where opponents where only semi-competitive, Aledo defeated every school in its own classification by an average of 38 points.
“We had a really good football team this year,” Jones said. “We were very talented. We had a really good defense. The offense had lots of weapons and was very explosive.”
Aledo quarterback Hauss Hejny, a TCU commit, helped complete the back-to-back and said playing on the grand stage was less nerve-racking because of the team’s championship experience.
“It’s my senior year, so I’m just trying to take it all in,” Hejny said. “It’s not very often high school quarterback gets to play in two back to back state championships.”
For Aledo, however, it is typical. The Fort Worth-area kingpin hasn’t gone more than one season without a championship win since 2008, when the current high school seniors were toddlers.
It certainly doesn’t appear as if Aledo will slow down anytime soon.
However, nothing last forever, and every dynasty eventually reaches an end. Look at the Golden State Warriors (10-14) and the New England Patriots (3-10) are examples. The once great New York Yankees haven’t appeared in a World Series since 2009.
So, when will Aledo’s stretch of dominance end? Although the Bearcats will surely be in the Class 5A State Championship hunt in 2024 and 2025, the Aledo community should take time to savor the historic state championship win.
The 2026 reclassification could provide a different, more challenging schedule.
Throughout the years, Aledo has been steadily moving up the classification ladder. The Bearcats jumped from 3A to 4A in 2002. The team then reclassified from 4A to 5A in 2014, the year Class 6A was created, and won the Class 5A D1 State Championship.
Aledo, on Oct. 27, submitted an enrollment of 2,267 to the University Interscholastic League. That’s just eight students short of the Class 6A range, which is 2,275 and above.
How long can the Bearcats stay under the Class 5A umbrella? Aledo According to World Population Review, Aledo is “growing at a rate of 8.86% annually” and has “increased it’s population by 29.02%” since the 2020 census.
It’s obvious that Aledo can compete with the best of the best in Texas high school football, including larger Class 6A schools. The consistent results and massive wins are proof of that.
Linebacker Davhon Keys, an LSU commit, won the Defensive MVP award. Keys, the Star-Telegram Preseason Player of the year, tallied 12 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Hejny threw for 202 passing yards and two touchdowns and added 77 yards on his legs. The TCU commit completed 9 of 17 passes and threw two interceptions. It was more than enough to secure the win.
Although Keys and Hejny are graduating, Aledo’s future is bright. Sophomore running back Raycine Guillory has offers from Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, TCU and more.
Guillory, who averaged 112 rushing yards per game for the Bearcats, did not play in the final two games of the 2023 season with a leg injury. That wasn’t an issue for Jones’ squad, and Hawk Patrick-Daniels easily filled the void en route to winning the offensive MVP.
Patrick-Daniels rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. Although the Bearcats are talented, Hejny said the reason for the dynasty goes beyond athleticism and skill.
“Props to our coaches because a lot of teams have more talent than us,” Hejny said. “I would say we’re more coached, more disciplined and we’ve got a brotherhood on this team, and everyone’s playing for each other.”
Aledo’s greatness is meant for more
The largest classification in Texas football holds Dallas Fort Worth powers such as Southlake Carroll, DeSoto, Duncanville and North Crowley. A potential move to Class 6A provides Aledo with an opportunity to compete with opponents that will put up more of a fight.
Patrick-Daniels said the Aledo Bearcats can compete with Class 6A schools if they set a goal and put their minds to it. Guillory agreed, saying Aledo can compete with “anyone in the state.”
“We’re disciplined,” Guillory said. “We know what we’re capable of doing. Put anybody in front of us. I promise we’ll come out with the win.”
Aledo has won 119 consecutive district games. The consistent results speak for themselves, but it’s time to recognize that Aledo is built for and is capable of more. The simple reality is that there’s not much more for Aledo to accomplish in Class 5A.
In 2025, we’ll find out if Aledo will make the jump to Class 6A. For the next two seasons, the Bearcats will continue its dominance over Class 5A Texas high school football.
Aledo fans and alumni should savor the consistent championships. Relish it. Live in the moment, and celebrate the blowout, non-competitive victories.
In two years time, it may be time for Aledo football to take on a challenge that is actually worthy of its historic greatness.
“Pressure is a privilege,” Hejny said. “All eyes are on us, and that’s a privilege. So just make the most of it.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2023 at 11:18 PM.
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