Aledo Rallies Past Midlothian, 27-21

Davhon Keys’ Fourth Down Plays Send Bearcats to Regional Final

MIDLOTHIAN – A pair of fourth-down plays by Davhon Keys allowed Aledo to rally in the fourth quarter for a 27-21 Regional Semifinal victory over previously undefeated Midlothian.

Aledo jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter only to see Midlothian score 21 unanswered points, forcing the Bearcats to rally from behind.

Keys scored the winning touchdown on a 20-yard run out of the wildcat formation on a fourth-and-one play with 2:58 left in the game. However, Aledo missed the extra point giving Midlothian a chance to drive for a touchdown and win the game with an extra point.

Midlothian drove the ball 57 yards on seven plays then the Panthers faced a fourth-and-three from the Aledo 25 with 1:23 left in the game. Keys was made stop for a one yard loss on the fourth day play as Aledo survived to advance to the regional final game at The Star 2 p.m. next Saturday in a rematch against Burleson Centennial, which took a 24-14 win over Abilene.

“Coach Buc teaches us not to get too high or too low during the game,” Keys said after the game. “I’m not going to lie to you, there were some lows tonight. Midlothian is a great team and they played a great game.”

However, it was Keys who finished with the two biggest plays of the game, both on fourth down.

Keys said the fourth down run was supposed to go to the left, but he saw the Panther defense had that side plugged up. Keys cut back left and found a huge hole. He easily got the first down, stepped out of a tackle attempt by Midlothian linebacker Tory Evans, then raced to the end zone.

Aledo just needed to stop the Panthers to secure a trip to the Reginal Final at the Star next week.

“I was just reading my keys and when the quarterback came to my side, I played him inside out and happened to make the tackle,’’ Key said. “Doing my job, discipline and responsibility.’’

Friday’s game was full of momentum swings. The Bearcats had all the momentum to start the game, scoring on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead.

Patrick-Daniels’ 14-yard run capped  68-yard, 10-play drive on the opening possession of the game to make it 7-0. On Aledo’s second possession, quarterback Hauss Hejny took a quarterback draw 71-yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 with 1:54 left in the first quarter.

Hejny threw for 120 yards and rushed for 112.

However, Midlothian took control of momentum during the second and third quarters.

The Panthers got on the board with a quick 8-play 75-yard drive to make it 14-7 with 11:19 left in the first half.

Aledo seemed to wrestle momentum back when it stopped a Midlothian fake put and took over the ball at the Panthers’ 32. Aledo quickly moved down to a first and goal from the 5, but Midlothian’s defense forced a fourth down and Aledo missed a short field goal to give momentum right back to the Panthers.

Midlothian needed just 1:21 to march 80 yards on five plays to tie the game at 14-14 with 48 seconds left in the half.

The Panthers tried another fake put early in the third quarter, which Aledo easily stopped again. Aledo drove down to the Midlothian 5, before the Panthers defense again turned away the Bearcats without giving up a point.

Midlothian then quickly drove 89 yards on 14 plays to take a 21-14 lead with 2:27 left in the third quarter.

After the two teams traded punts early in the fourth quarter, Aledo tied the game on a 6-play, 79-yard drive. Patrick-Daniels, who had 72 yards on nine carries with two TDs, started the drive with a 34-yard run. However, Aledo faced a fourth-and-seven from the Midlothian 42 when Hejny completed a pass to Jalen Pope for 24 yards.

On the very next play, Patrick-Daniels tied the game with an 18 yard touchdown run around the left end.

Midlothian muffed the ensuing kickoff and the coverage by Aledo’s Andrew Chasteen and Case Wilburn pinned the Panthers back on their own 3. On first down, Keys nearly got a safety when he tackled Midlothian’s quarterback for a loss. On second down Boston Epley made a tackle on the edge to hold Midlothian to a short game. The Panthers tried a double pass on third down that went incomplete.

Aledo took over at the Midlothian 43 after the punt.

At one point, Aledo faced a first and 25 after a facemask penalty. On third and forever, Hejny hit Gavin Olenjack on a pass to give Aledo the fourth-and-one, which set up Keys’ heroics.