FRISCO – A freshman receiver and an unlikely defensive hero came up with an interception to help Aledo wrestle momentum away from Burleson Centennial in Saturday’s 5A Division I Region 1 Final, a 42-21 victory over the Spartans.
After Centennial had scored 21 unanswered points to tie the game at 21-21, Aledo needed to get its offense moving again.
Facing a fourth-and-four, Aledo quarterback Hauss Hejny threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to freshman Kaydon Finley to give the Bearcats a 28-21 lead with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. It was all Aledo after that play.
Aledo jumped out to the 21-0 lead by scoring on its first three possessions. Hejny had a 42-yard TD run on the Bearcats’ first drive.Caleb Pope had a 2-yard TD run on the second drive and Hawk Patrick-Daniels had a 12-yard TD run on the third drive.
After that first first quarter for Aledo, Centennial quarterback Phillip Hamilton rallied the Spartans. Hamilton ran 31 times for 239 yards and two touchdowns. His 16-yard TD run cut the lead to 21-7 with 4:45 left in the first half, then he had a 54-yard TD run to cut the lead to 21-14 with 1:25 left in the half.
Centennial had the ball first in the second half and Centennial tied the game on that first drive of the second half.
Aledo regained the lead on Finley’s first TD late in the third quarter. It was Hejny’s first of three TD passes in the second half. Hejny completed 15 of 20 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Finley’ second touchdown came on a tunnel screen, where he cut through the defense for a 26-yard TD.
Centennial then drove all the way to the Aledo 2-yard line, where Boston Epley tackled the Centennial running back for no gain on a fourth-and-goal play.
After Aledo punted, Centennial drove to mid-field where defensive tackle Bryon Wheeler dropped into coverage and intercepted a pass.
Two plays later, Henjy threw a 42-yard touchdown to a wide-open Jalen Pope. Pope came up with big catches for Aledo throughout the game.
Aledo, 11-2, advances to play undefeated Longview in the state semifinals 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at John E. Kincaide Stadium in Dallas.
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