BY NOLAN RUTH
X – @RealNolanRuth
The Parker County football preview series continues with its second team and most prolific – the Aledo Bearcats.
Aledo is entering the 2024 season chasing its 13th state title in the second year under head coach Robby Jones. In the first year under Jones’ leadership, the Bearcats pulled off yet another 16-0 season and the 5A Division 1 state championship. When most thought there would be changes in how Aledo did business, there was almost no change and the Bearcats looked just how everyone is used to seeing them.
However, there was some loss to graduation that has many questioning just how Aledo will look in the new campaign to defend its crown.
The biggest question surrounding the team is who they have coming in to play quarterback with the graduation of dual-threat Hauss Hejny, now at TCU. This is not a big concern to Jones, who spent two decades as the offensive coordinator for Aledo.
Junior quarterback Gavin Beard will step up after being the back-up for two years. Beard got several snaps in 2023 whenever games were well in hand and completed 45 of 59 passes for 491 yards and two touchdowns. According to sources close to the program, Beard has also trained with the famed Bishop family out of Aledo to perfect his game. He will have several weapons on the outside, including Kaydon Finley and Blake Burdine who both played major roles in the state championship season a year ago.
Finley is a 4-star receiver and holds 28 college offers. He is the 10th ranked WR in the nation among the 2026 class according to the 247Sports composite.
Behind Beard in the backfield will be the junior tailback Raycine Guillory, who missed five games in 2023 due to injury, yet still rushed for 1,236 yards and 17 touchdowns. Guillory is a 3-star back and has 33 offers.
This will play right into the offensive scheme that Aledo is famous for, run the ball. Guillory will not be alone as Kaden Winkfield will join him. Winkfield has gotten plenty of varsity reps as a freshman and sophomore throughout his career and will look to make a name for himself this season.
Up front, the Bearcats have a lot to replace, but that is nothing new as it will be next-man-up as usual. Payton Williams will be the anchor of the front five, returning from last year’s team, along with Cody Cartwright.
On the defensive side of the ball, Carson Dempsey and Cooper Cyphers will be the tandem holding down the edges of the line. Dempsey also missed a few games a year ago, yet still recorded 35 tackles and eight sacks, including in the state title game against Smithson Valley. Cyphers recorded 21 tackles and a pair of sacks himself.
Both are entering their junior season and will be looked upon as the leaders up front. Behind them, linebackers Ben McElree returns for his senior season and will be joined by Chase Wilburn and Owen Henderson to lock down the second level.
It’s the secondary that will be a concern for Aledo. After graduating arguably the best secondary the Bearcats have ever seen, they will have to get a fresh start with a brand new group of players. Kai Taylor will have the biggest spotlight, being the one with the most varsity experience. Junior Kamron Hall will also be an under the radar name that Aledo fans could become familiar with this season.
Schedule & Analysis
at Denton Guyer
vs Lancaster
at Brewer
vs Birdville
at Keller Fossil Ridge
vs Denton Ryan
at Granbury
vs Richland
at Azle
vs Denton
Floor: 6-4, 3-seed
It will be a hot day in Siberia if Aledo misses the playoffs this year. There is a real chance of Aledo finishing its short non-district schedule at 0-2 to Denton Guyer and Lancaster. Though neither team is expected to be as good as usual, the Bearcats are notorious for slow and rocky starts. Then in the back half of the season, state-ranked Denton Ryan and Richland are licking their chops at the prospect of ending Aledo’s famous district winning streak. Especially Ryan, who has been very close to ending the streak twice in the past two years. Other than those two, there is not much else as far as tough competition goes for Aledo.
Average: 8-2, 2-seed
Aledo and Denton Guyer have become a budding rivalry in non-district. It is almost impossible to predict how the game is going to go. However for the sake of argument, I will keep that game at a loss for Aledo. Lancaster is definitely the more winnable game of the opening two, especially with it being at home. Although this speedy of a team could expose Aledo in the secondary, the Bearcats get the edge on pedigree, and the fact that Aledo has an impeccable record against Region 2 teams. Then of course Denton Ryan finally gets its revenge, and the district win streak comes to an end at 122, but the Bearcats are able to take down Richland.
Ceiling: 10-0, District champs
Of course the ceiling is another perfect season, in fact it is what is expected in this program. It won’t come easy, but of course the best program in the state for the past 15 years will be ready, and they always seem to find a way. Guyer and Lancaster definitely are not going to be what they have been in recent years, so Aledo could very well get off to an undefeated start. Then when Ryan comes around, it will be close no matter what the outcome, but after two years in the same district the Bearcats may know the formula to taking down the Raiders.
