Top-ranked Aledo held off Ennis in overtime, 43-36, Friday night in the Class 5A, Division II, Region II final at The Star in Frisco.
The defense gave up some big plays in the second half that allowed the Lions to tie the game, but came up with three big plays in overtime to earn the victory.
Quarterback Jake Bishop scrambled for 17 yards for a TD run in overtime to provide the difference as Aledo overcame three lost fumbles to advance to the state semifinal game against Lubbock Cooper at 3 p.m. next Saturday at Abilene Christian University.
Bishop rolled right on what was a called bootleg pass, but he didn’t see anyone open. After he reversed field he quickly found open space along the sideline that allowed him to scoot into the end zone untouched.
However, in overtime games, each team gets a chance on offense.
On first down Aledo linebacker Weston Reese tackled Ennis quarterback Collin Drake for a 2-yard gain, despite being on the ground when Drake was running past him. On second down Drake threw the ball at the back of the end zone when his receiver stopped at the front of the end zone.
On third and eight, cornerback Demarco Roberts smothered Ennis receiver Laylon Spencer in the end zone to force an incompletion. Facing a fourth-and-eight, Drake fired a pass over the middle but Jo Jo Earle, a starting wide receiver for the Bearcats, dove to get a hand on the ball and knock it away from Spencer to give Aledo the victory.
Ennis managed to send the game into overtime despite being out-gained by more than 200 yards and giving up 35 Aledo first downs while getting only 16 first downs.
Aledo’s Jase McClellan rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns, while Bishop added 114 yards and two rushing Tds. Bishop also completed 19 of 23 passes for 236 yards.
The Lions stayed in the game by coming up with turnovers.
McClellan had three touchdown runs in the first 17 minutes of the game and it looked like Aledo may run away with the game.
With Aledo leading 19-7 and driving to the Ennis 26, Bishop was hit as he attempt to pass, forcing a fumble. The Lions’ Devion Beasley scooped up the ball and returned it 72-yards for the score to cut the lead to 19-14.
Aledo never trailed in the game but a pair of lost fumbles in the third quarter eventually allowed Ennis to catch up.
Aledo never punted in the game.
Scoring:
A – Jase McClellan 2 run (kick blocked.
A – McClellan 5 run (pass failed)
E – Laylon Spencer 11 pass from Collin Drake (Ramiro Perez kick)
A – McClellan 3 run (Micco Little kick)
E — Devion Beasley 72-yard fumble return (Ramiro Perez kick)
A — Money Parks 13-yard pass from Jake Bishop (Micco Little kick)
E — Spencer 12-yard pass from Collin Drake (Ramiro Perez kick)
A — Micco Little 21-yard field goal
E — Skylan Simmons 48-yard pass from Collin Drake (Clayton Jenkins from Collin Drake)
A — Bishop 4-yard run (Micco Little kick)
E — Simmons 11-yard pass from Collin Drake (Ramiro Perez kick)
A — Bishop 17-yard run (Micco Little kick)
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