DENTON – Quarterback Hauss Hejny threw a 24-yard go ahead TD pass to Jalen Pope with 7:16 left in the game then put the game away with an 86-yard TD run with 3:48 remaining to lead the Aledo Bearcats to a 35-21 victory at Denton Ryan and clinch the District 3-5A Division I championship.
Hejny, who threw for 149 yards and ran for 132 yards, also had a 9-yard TD run on fourth down in the first half.
Many people began to doubt this Aledo team when the Bearcats started the season 0-2, but Aledo has made believers from everyone in District 3-5A with their dominate wins over Burleson Centennial and Denton Ryder in consecutive weeks. Hejny was the spark plug on offense in both the big district games.
Last week Hejny accounted for more than 400 yards and six touchdowns. This week, he accounted for more than 280 yards and three touchdowns.
The victory also extended Aledo’s record of consecutive district victories to 110, which spans more than 15 years.
Ryder took an early 7-0 lead Friday but it didn’t last for long.
Aledo tied the game at 7-7 on 9-yard run from Caleb Pope that capped a 72-yard drive. Hejny’s 9-yard TD run on a fourth-down play made it 14-7. Then Davhon Keys made it 21-7 when he scored on a 3-yard run behind a big block from defensive lineman Ansel Din-Mbuh, who lined up as a fullback.
Just when it looked like Aledo was going to run away with the game, Ryan stormed back behind big plays from Jordyn Bailey. Bailey scored on a 50-yard catch and run to make it 21-14 on Ryan’s first possession in the second half.
Bailey lined up at running back on the first play of the fourth quarter and ran the ball for 44-yard to set up Ryan’s tying score. The Raiders made it 21-21 on a Khalon Davis pass to Jordyn Bailey for 5 yards.
That score just sparked Aledo for a strong finish. On the Bearcats’ very next possession they marched 65 yards on 8 plays with Hejny throwing a 24-yard go ahead TD pass to Jalen Pope with 7:16 left in the game. Hejny then put the game away with his 86-yard run.
Aledo has next week off before finishing the season against 2-6 Brewer.
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