Alabama, Lamar signees have huge games as Aledo routs North Forney in area round
Not a bad week for JoJo Earle and DeMarco Roberts.
On Wednesday, the Aledo seniors signed their letters of intent with Alabama and Lamar University, respectively.
Friday, they helped the Bearcats to another big playoff victory.
Earle and Roberts accounted for all of Aledo’s seven touchdowns, and the two-time defending Class 5A Division 2 state champions defeated North Forney, 49-24, in an area round game at Globe Life Park.
Aledo (9-1), ranked No. 2 in the 5A D2 state rankings, will face No. 10 Frisco in the regional round at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Ford Center in Frisco.
Frisco edged out South Oak Cliff Friday night.
“Proud of our kids. They played really, really well and for the first time this year, I know we played some good people, but for the first time this year, we played like we were getting ready for a playoff game,” Aledo coach Tim Buchanan said. “Impressed how we played tonight and how the offense stepped up.”
North Forney (9-2) got a much-needed score to pull within 28-17 late in the first half on a 13-play, 75-yard drive, capped off by Jacob Acuna’s 14-yard TD strike to Lemarcus Kirk on fourth-and-7. Acuna connected with Kam Allen (Michigan State signee) on the 2-point try.
But Roberts and the Aledo defense would power through in the second half.
“Our defensive coordinator was out so we were talking to him on the phone at halftime and trying to make adjustments,” Buchanan said. “But Steve Wood being on the sideline today was the biggest thing. I really appreciate him being out here with us.”
Aledo outscored the Falcons 21-7 after the break with all three TDs coming from Roberts, who finished with 28 carries for 223 yards and four scores. Roberts scored on runs of 27, 2 and 15 yards, the latter coming after the Falcons couldn’t get a punt attempt off. His 2-yard score came after freshman Jaden Allen picked off a pass.
“Big shoutout to my o-line, without them, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. Without them, I probably would’ve had negative yards,” Roberts said. “Coach Buc just told us in the locker room that it’s 0-0 in the second half and don’t take the foot off the pedal just yet. Keep punching it, keep moving the football and we came out victorious.
“Now that I’m going to Lamar and committed to them, they’re committed to me, I can put that to the side and focus on the playoffs and ring 10.”
Earle had seven carries for 27 yards and three catches for 25 yards with three total scores.
Aledo QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 90 yards
North Forney landed the first punch when the Falcons took the opening drive and marched 75 yards on 11 plays. Acuna capped off the possession with a 1-yard keeper with 8:51 to go in the first quarter.
On the drive, running back Ty Collins rushed six times for 41 yards.
But Aledo responded on the ensuing drive when Earle scored from 10 yards out of the wildcat that tied the game at 7 with 7:18 on the clock. The big play came when Fowler-Nicolosi hit Jaedon Pellegrino on a 51-yard pass to the 10.
The Falcons got across midfield, but the drive stalled when Aledo junior and LSU commit Bryan Allen Jr. intercepted a pass attempt. The Bearcats turned it into points on Earle’s 4-yard TD run to give Aledo a 14-7 lead with 2:30 to play in the period.
After Aledo held North Forney to a three-and-out, the Bearcats extended their lead to 21-7 early in the second quarter on a 56-yard run by Roberts. Aledo halted the Falcons on a fourth-and-goal at the 1, but the Falcons were able to register a safety when Rod Brown tackled Earle in the end zone.
Earle added his third TD when he returned a punt 83 yards to make it 28-9 with 4:30 left before intermission.
“Coach Buc and all the coaches were yelling stay away from the ball, but I had a good feeling the ball was going to have a good bounce and it did so I just scooped it up, made a move and took to the house,” Earl said.
“A lot of weight off my shoulders. You sign and get to relax. Now I get to focus on the playoffs and do my thing.”
North Forney added a late TD run by Jermaine Oakley.
This story was originally published December 18, 2020 at 5:34 PM.
