Trouble for the Bearcats: Aledo football bested by Denton Guyer in season opener
For Aledo, winning a state championship isn’t a goal but an expectation.
On Friday at the Collins Complex, the Bearcats faced something they’re not used to seeing: adversity. Aledo, the No. 1 team in the Star-Telegram Class 5A rankings, fell to Denton Guyer 35-30 at the Collins Complex in a non-district matchup.
“We made way too many mistakes,” Aledo head coach Robby Jones said. “We basically killed ourselves. We beat ourselves. Give all the credit to Guyer. They made the plays to win the football game. We didn’t do things the right way to win the game ourselves.”
The Bearcats had a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown in the final drive of the game but couldn’t overcome the draining clock. Aledo suffered it’s first loss since Sept. 2, 2022, when Denton Guyer defeated the Bearcats 44-14.
Many of Aledo’s varsity players haven’t experienced a regular season loss. Jones has talked with him team about overcoming adversity, and he is confident the Bearcats will respond accordingly.
“I expect them to come back next week ready to work,” Jones said. “And work a little but harder than we’ve been working so we don’t have to experience a loss like this ever again.”
After the loss to Guyer in 2022, Aledo proceeded to win a state championship. The Bearcats can do the same this season, but they’ll need to clean up a few things.
Aledo’s main problem was special teams. The Bearcats missed a 25-yard field goal, had a weak 11-yard punt, a punt blocked for a touchdown and allowed an 83-yard kick return on a squib to end the first half.
Jones said special teams will need improvements all around. The punt block was due to a miscommunication. The squib kick that was returned for a touchdown was supposed to go to anyone but Guyer’s star junior wide receiver Corbin Glasco.
In the beginning, the Bearcats looked like a well oiled machine but slowly lost steam. Aledo had 16-3 lead at the start of the second quarter; the momentum completely flipped following the punt block for a touchdown from Guyer’s Zach de Anda.
“Early on we were executing well offensively,” Jones said. “Defense was playing great -- holding them to field goals early. Things didn’t go our way in the second half.”
In the second half, both teams went back-and-forth but were unable to create sizable separation. The game changing play came with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter; Guyer’s Khyren Haywood tackled Aledo quarterback Gavin Beard in the end zone for a safety.
Beard served as Hauss Hejny’s backup last season. He officially took over the starting role against Guyer, throwing for 195 yards and two touchdowns while completing 16 of 30 passes.
“That’s only his second ever varsity start,” Jones said. “He is going to make some mistakes. He is going to mature as the season goes on and become a lot better as we get to district.”
In general, the Aledo defense was physical and did a solid job against Guyer quarterback Kevin Sperry, an Oklahoma commit. He threw for 160 yards, completing 9 of 22 passes.
A huge bright spot for the Bearcats was junior wide receiver Kaydon Finley, a Star-Telegram Preseason All-Area selection. He finished with 141 yards and two scores on eight receptions, averaging 17.6 yards per catch.
Jones said Aledo’s players have looked up to Finley since peewee football and added the team expects him to be a consistent, big time play maker.
“He’s a guy that they can count on to come out and do things the right way,” Jones said.
He helped Aledo strike first with a seven-yard touchdown reception. To start the second half, he shed a tackle and found open space, flashing serious speed for a 72-yard touchdown that was much needed.
Another player with a significant performance was Aledo junior running back Kaden Winkfield. He rushed for a team high 106 yards on 18 attempts, and he also scored a touchdown. He is splitting carries with Raycine Guillory, the Star-Telegram Preseason Offensive Player of the year.
Jones said that Guillory, who finished with 89 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, was limited due to coming off an injury. He expects his usage to increase as the season progresses.
Glasco was the Wildcats driving force in a game where special teams was the Bearcats’ downfall. Aledo had chances to retaliate but could not overcome the mistakes made in the first half.
The Bearcats will host Lancaster on Sept. 6 at Bearcat Stadium. Denton Guyer, on the same day, will host Arlington Martin at the Collins Complex.
Looking ahead, Aledo will face Richland and Denton Ryan in an ultra competitive District 3-5A D1. The Bearcats have a 119 district play winning streak that is on the line.
“We have an extremely tough district,” Jones said. “I don’t think we have an easy ballgame in our district.”
This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 11:35 PM.
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