A rivalry renewed: Aledo set for state quarterfinal clash with Denton Ryan
Ever since Denton Ryan eliminated Aledo in last year’s Class 5A Division I quarterfinals, it felt as if the two programs were on another collision course.
How could they not be? The Bearcats and the Raiders have proven themselves to be the best in Region I.
For the fourth time in two seasons, Aledo and Ryan will add another chapter to what has become a rivalry.
Denton Ryan (12-1) and Aledo (13-0) will clash at 7 p.m. Friday at Northwest ISD Stadium.
“No matter who it is, we’re prepared,” Aledo quarterback Lincoln Tubbs said. “We’ve had a chip on our shoulder cause of what happened with Denton Ryan last year.”
A rivalry renewed
Throughout the past four seasons, Aledo has gotten the upper hand over Ryan in the regular season in District 3-5A Division I play. But in the only playoff meeting in 2024, the Raiders got the job done, defeating Aledo 31-21.
Aledo’s historic 135-game district record has been on the line in the regular-season meetings. At the end of the day, however, the postseason matters more.
The loss to Denton Ryan “has been on the whole team’s mind,” Tubbs said. “It’s been in the back of our minds throughout the offseason — while watching film, practicing. Everything we do.”
From the start of the season, Aledo players have expressed a desire to return the program to its standard of excellence. Wide receiver Kaydon Finley mentioned they didn’t have their usual level of buy-in, but that they’ve righted the ship
Now, they expect to return Aledo to its former glory.
Players to watch
A key to Aledo’s victory is getting wide receiver Finley involved. The Notre Dame signee is averaging 93 yards per game and has 17 touchdowns.
In the regular-season contest against Ryan, Finley tallied 63 yards on seven receptions. Since then, the Bearcat offense has steadily grown with Tubbs leading the way.
Getting Finley more involved will help open the field, and also create more opportunities for a spectacular 1-2 punch in the run game.
Running backs Kaden Winkfield and Brady Powell are combining for 139 yards per game, and Tubbs has been a threat to take off with 51 rushing yards per game.
Aledo’s offense is averaging 52.3 points per game.
On the defensive side, linebacker Chase Wilburn will look to continue his dominance, as he is averaging 8.7 tackles per game. The Bearcat defense has allowed an average of six points per contest and hasn’t conceded a point thus far in the playoffs.
They’ll be facing standout running back Tre’Vaughn Reynolds, who has rushed for an average of 92.3 yards per game, and quarterback Quin Henigan, who has 27 passing touchdowns.
Both squads are as familiar with each other as you can be in a playoff game. In the regular-season contest, the Bearcats trailed 14-2 in the third quarter and surged from behind to protect the streak. In the playoffs, they’ll want to ensure they get off to a fast start to avoid the need for late-game heroics.
To do that, the Bearcats will need to avoid penalties. They had 12 penalties for 110 yards against Ryan in the first matchup this year.
Dynasty on the line
A ton is on the line in this regional final. Aledo hasn’t gone two seasons without winning a state championship since 2008, back when most current players were infants.
The Bearcats have extraordinarily high expectations given their history. Former head coach Tim Buchanan helped build that, and current coach Robby Jones has sought to maintain it.
With a move to Class 6A likely on the horizon, the 2025 playoffs could be Aledo’s last chance to remain a top contender in its classification.
Obviously, the Bearcats can compete in Class 6A, but the road to victory certainly doesn’t get any easier with squads like Southlake Carroll and Denton Guyer as competition.
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 4:30 AM.
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