Ryan Williams returned the opening kick 81 yards for a touchdown and had a 67-yard TD run with 1:07 left in the game that helped Aledo hold off a furious Lone Star rally in the second half.
Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the Bearcat victory. Fowler-Nicolosi threw a 75-yard TD to Brian Fleming, 13 yards to Jason Llewellyn and 55 yards to Hauss Hejny.
Williams finished with 30 carries for 158 yards and the 81-yard kick return.
Aledo led 28-7 at the half, before Lone Star twice rallied to within three points.
Lone Star cut the lead to 31-28 late in the third quarter before the Bearcats responded with two long scoring plays in the fourth quarter.
On the possession after the Rangers cut the lead to 31-28, a scrambling Fowler-Nicolosi found a wide open Hauss Hejny over the middle. Hejny raced down the left sideline to complete the 55-yard scoring play and give Aledo a 38-28 lead. (see the photo below)
Lone Star trailed 38-35 with less that two minutes to play and the Rangers were driving in Aledo territory. However after a long completion, Brian Allen stripped the ball and the Bearcats came up with their third turnover of the game.
“We stayed calm. We didn’t panic,” Williams said of the second half that saw the big lead disappear.
After the turnover, Aledo just needed to run out the clock.
“Coach told us to go out and get first downs,” Williams said of the offensive plan after the late Lone Star turnover. “A hole opened up and I saw nothing but grass.”
Williams hit the hole and outran the defense to finally put the game away.
Williams actually broke a tackle attempt near the line of scrimmage (see the photo above) but once he pulled away he was off to the races.
The game featured two of the state’s top 20 teams as ranked by MaxPreps. Aledo is ranked No. 8 among all classifications in Texas, while the 5A Division I Rangers are ranked No. 20 among all classifications.
Loan Star is ranked No. 2 in the state in 5A Division I, behind Denton Ryan. Aledo is the top-ranked team in 5A Division II.
SCORING
1st Quarter
A — Ryan Williams 81 kick return (Clay Murador kick) 7-0
A — Davhon Keys 15 run (Murador kick) 14-0
2nd Quarter
LS — Fogo Sokoya 4 pass from Garrett Rangel (kick) 14-7
A — Brian Fleming 75 pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. (Murador kick) 21-7
A — Jason Llewellyn 13 pass from Fowler-Nicolosi (Murador kick) 28-7
3rd Quarter
LS — Ashton Jeanty 19 run (kick) 28-14
A — Murador 20-yard field goal 31-14
LS — Devin Turner 58 pass from Rangel (kick) 31-21
LS — Jeanty 43Â pass from Rangel (kick) 31-28
4th Quarter
A — Hauss Hejny 55Â pass from Fowler-Nicolosi (Murador kick) 38-28
LS — Jeanty 49 run. (kick) 38-35
A — Williams 67Â run (Murador kick) 45-35
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