JoJo Earle’s foot-dragging third-down catch in the corner of the end zone helped Aledo come from behind for a 34-32 victory over Frisco Lone Star Friday at Bearcat Stadium.
Earlier in the game, Earle scored on a fourth-down reception on the last play of the third quarter as the Bearcats and the Rangers traded the lead several times in the game.
The two TD receptions were Aledo’s only second half scores and both came after Lone Star had scored to take the lead.
Click here to view an action photo gallery from Friday’s game against Lone Star.
“I don’t even know how I caught the ball it happed so fast. I wasn’t expecting Brant to throw the ball to me,” Earle said of the game-winning catch. “He threw it all the way out there and I just dove for it and managed to keep my feet in.” Earle did manage to drag his toe until he had possession of the ball (see the photo above).
However, there was still more than five minutes to play and the Lone Star offense had been moving the ball all night. Aledo managed to force Lone Star to turn the ball over on downs at midfield.
The key defensive stop was set up with by Aledo stopping two running plays for no gain on first and third down. On first down, the Aledo defense stopped Lone Star running back Jaden Nixon for no gain.
After Nixon gained six yards on second down, Lone Star quarterback Garret Rangel was flushed from the pocket and took off running but he was stopped for no gain by linebackers Sam Foreman and Grant Mooney. On fourth down, Rangel’s quick pass to the outside was thrown behind the receiver.
Earle then helped Aledo run out the clock with a 17-yard run and a couple of more runs for a second first down.
Earle had 153 total yards in the game, 94 rushing and 59 in receptions.
Demarco Roberts led Aledo with 130 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns, all in the first half. He did not play in the second half because of an injury. The injury forced Aledo to use Earle more as a quarterback in the Wildcat formation as well as at running back. He finished the game with 20 carries.
In addition to the touchdown receptions, Earle also had a big two-point conversion run after his 7-yard TD reception at the end of the third quarter.
Aledo sophomore quarterback Brand Hayden completed 9 of 14 passes for 120 yards and the two touchdowns to Earle. However, Lone Star managed to come up with three interceptions in the first half and scored after each turnover.
However, in the winning 75-yard Aledo drive, Hayden completed both of his passes, including the game-winner to Earle. Hayden opened the drive with a 46-yard completion to sophomore receiver Jalen Pope.
Running back Jaden Nixon lead the Lone Star offense, rushing 20 times for 114 yard and three touchdowns. He scored twice on runs of 1 yards and once on a 55-yard run.
While Lone Star had 381 yards of offense in the game, 179 yards came on just five big plays. The Aledo defense did a good job of forcing Lone Star to settle for 4 field goals.
“They are a real good team,” Earle said of the Rangers, who went to the 5A Division I state semifinals last season and entered this season ranked No. 2 in the state. “They fly around the ball. Their offense is fast and their defense is fast. It just came now to two points.”
Aledo, now 2-0 on the season, has next week off. The Bearcats open District 5-5A by hosting Waco University on Oct. 16.
Click here to view a complete gallery of action photos.
Scoring Summary:
| LS | 3 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 32 |
| AO | 6 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 34 |
A – Demarco Roberts 1 run. Kick failed 6-0
LS – Josh Click 21-yard field goal. 6-3
——-Second Quarter——-
LS – Josh Click 34-yard field goal 6-6
A – Demarco Roberts 55 run. Run failed. 12-6
LS – Jaden Nixon 1 run. Josh Click kick. 13-12
A – Demarco Roberts 8 run. (Brant Hayden pass complete to Logan Flinta) 20-13
LS – Josh Click 33-yard field goal 20-16
——–Third Quarter———
LS – Josh Click 49-yard field goal 20-19
LS – Jaden Nixon 51 run. (pass failed) 25-20
A – Brant Hayden 7 pass to Jo Jo Earle. (Earle run) 28-25
——–Fourth Quarter——–
LS – Jaden Nixon 1 run (Click kick) 32-28
A – Brant Hayden 5 pass to Jo Jo Earle. (kick blocked) 34-32
Click here to view an action photo gallery from Friday’s game against Lone Star.
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