By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
The Aledo Bearcats are the next team to take the spotlight in the Parker County previews. This is an important year for the 12 time state champion. The Bearcats have not gone back-to-back years without a state championship since 2007-08, before anyone on their roster was born. In what is expected to be their last season in class 5A, this could very likely be the best shot Aledo has for a while to add one more gold trophy. After last year’s playoff defeat to Denton Ryan, head coach Robby Jones has his team ready to get back to the top. However, this team is not without its questions.
For the second time in as many years, the Bearcats will have a new quarterback. Last year’s signal-caller Gavin Beard transferred to All Saints in the offseason leaving a vacancy. There are two options that Jones has pointed out. Lincoln Tubbs, who took snaps strictly out of the wildcat formation last year, and Nash McElree who started two games for an injured Beard in 2024 including the win over Lancaster. We may not know until the opener with Guyer, but what we do know is that Kaydon Finley is back at receiver for his senior season after recently committing to Notre Dame. Finley had a strong junior season in 2024 with 81 receptions for 1,432 yards and 21 touchdowns. Kaden Winkfield is expected to take over in the backfield after getting several good reps last year, rushing for 888 yards and 13 touchdowns on 114 carries.
However it will be the offensive line that will be the strong force for the Bearcats this season. Four of the five linemen are returning starters including UTSA commit Payton Williams. Alongside Williams is two-year starter Ryan Campbell, returning left tackle Kruger Summers, and junior Omari Din-Mbuh. Aledo may have its strongest offensive line in a long time, and that is a good thing with quarterbacks and running backs having to step up as first time starters.
On the defensive side of the ball, Carson Dempsey and Cooper Cyphers will be the tandem holding down the edges of the line once again. Dempsey is a Tulsa commit and a three year starter for the Bearcat defense. Cyphers is on the opposite end and led the team in sacks a year ago with 10.5 on top of 71 tackles. Inside of what is arguably the best edge rushing tandem in the state lies Decker Sanders and Tymon Meeks. Meeks recorded 56 tackles as just a sophomore in 2024, while Sanders is returning for his senior season as a three-year starter and a two-time first team all-district selection.
Chase Wilburn is the lone returning linebacker, but he will be a solid leader on that side of the ball as he was the leading tackler a year ago with 92 total tackles. In the secondary, Lamel Swanson and Kamron Hall both return at their respective safety positions to defend the pass. Joining them in the secondary is Hall’s younger brother Jordan Hall who has high expectations coming into his sophomore season at cornerback.
Schedule & Analysis
vs Denton Guyer
at Lancaster
vs Brewer
at Birdville
vs Keller Fossil Ridge
at Denton Ryan
vs Granbury
at Richland
vs Azle
at Denton
Ceiling: 10-0, District Champions
It’s been said each of the last three years since Denton Ryan has been placed in the same district as the 12 time state champion. The district winning streak currently sits at 127 games and will likely reach 130 as the Bearcats face Brewer, Birdville and Fossil Ridge to open district play before facing the team that knocked them out of the postseason a year ago. Of course, Aledo did win the regular season contest and no less is expected this year. Once past Ryan, the key game becomes Richland, who took the Bearcats to overtime last year. However the standard remains the same. The non-district games with Denton Guyer and Lancaster will be a good early test, but Aledo will be expected to win both as usual.
Floor: 7-3, 3-seed
Ryan and Richland almost pulled off the seemingly impossible last year by beating Aledo in a district game. Both games were in Aledo. This year the Bearcats have to go on the road to face both district opponents that almost ended the famed winning streak a year ago. While Richland lost a lot to graduation, they are a very tough team to beat at home. Ryan also comes on the road, and after defeating Aledo in the regional final last year, the Raiders now know they can beat the Bearcats. Those two games will be very tough and even the simplest mistake could cost Aledo either game if not both. While the Bearcats will be favored against Lancaster, they have never beaten Guyer at home. Guyer could deliver a painful blow at the beginning of the season as well.
Nolan’s Prediction: 9-1, District champions
There is something different about Aledo teams coming off of a playoff defeat. They play with an added purpose and like every game is a state championship. I expect nothing different out of this season. Despite being on the road against Ryan and Richland, the Bearcats have never cared where the game is played. And the Ryan playoff loss is fresh on their minds. They are hungry to respond and I expect they will, though it will be close. The only blemish I envision for the Bearcats is an opening night loss to Denton Guyer which will serve as a final reminder that there is work to be done. After that, expect Aledo to have another state champion caliber year.
