This season’s Dave Campbell’s Texas Fooball has Aledo picked to win the 9-team District 5-5A Division II.
The Bearcats, who finished 15-1 and runner up in the state last season, are picked to finish ahead of Everman, Midlothain and Burleson for the league’s 4 playoff spots. Burleson Centennial, Arlington Seguin, Joshua, Cleburne, and Waco University are also in the district.
The magazine also picked Aledo as the top ranked team in 5A Division II entering the 2018 season. The coach coaches who voted in the magazine’s poll also picked Aledo as the top ranked team in 5A Division II. Those lofty pre-season expectations are nothing new for the Bearcats.
Aledo will be counting on the returning talent from last year’s offensive backfield. Junior running back Jase McClellan, who committed to Oklahoma after his freshman season, finished last year with 1,600 yards and 28 TDs despite missing seven games with a hand injury. Junior quarterback Jake Bishop finished last season with 28 TD passes.
However, it hasn’t been an off season without drama for head coach Steve Wood. Two starters from last year’s team, receiver Money Parks and WR/DB Jeffery Carter, have transferred to schools in Tarrant County. Parks will be at All Saints, while Carter will be at Mansfield Legacy. Even with those unexpected losses, the Bearcats have plenty of returning talent.
Defensive end Colt Ellison, who had 13 sacks last season, and and Wyatt Harris, a 4-year starter who will return to linebacker, are expected to anchor the defense. Tre Owens, who started at running back when McClellan went down with the injury, is expected to move to the secondary this season. Owens is also a threat in the kick return game. He had big kickoff and punt returns both in the regular season and playoffs last season.
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