ALEDO – One year after Denton Guyer spoiled Aledo’s opener, the Bearcats flipped the script. This time, the defending 5A powerhouse slammed the door late and walked away with a 21-14 win on Friday night, exacting a little payback in front of a packed home crowd.
The night belonged to Aledo’s defense. Outside of a couple of second-half sparks, Guyer never found its rhythm. The Wildcats managed just two first downs before halftime, both on their opening series, as the Bearcats controlled the trenches and erased every attempt at momentum.
Aledo wasted little time grabbing the lead. Quarterback Brady Powell punched in a short touchdown run late in the first quarter, and midway through the second, running back Kaden Winkfield delivered a 23-yard dash to the end zone for a 14-0 cushion. When Guyer tried to claw back with a field-goal attempt, Alex Patton knifed through to block it—another reminder that the Bearcats weren’t giving away anything cheap.
The Wildcats finally broke through after the break. Quarterback Kaedyn Cobbs took off on a 36-yard scoring sprint early in the third to cut the deficit in half, but Aledo’s answer was swift. Winkfield struck again, pounding in his second touchdown of the night to restore the two-score margin.
Still, Guyer made things interesting in the fourth. Carter Morgan hauled in a 49-yard bomb to bring the Wildcats back within seven with just over four minutes remaining. The defense forced a punt, giving them one last chance, but on fourth-and-long, the pass sailed incomplete. Aledo took over with under two minutes left and ran out the clock.
For the Bearcats, it was more than a win—it was redemption. A year ago, Guyer stunned them in Denton, 35-30. This time, Aledo closed the book with a defensive masterpiece and a balanced ground attack led by Winkfield’s two touchdowns.
Both squads reached the quarterfinals of their respective playoff brackets last fall—Guyer in 6A Division II, Aledo in 5A Division I—and Friday’s opener carried all the markings of two programs built for deep runs once again.
But on this night, it was Aledo that sent the message: no repeat upset here.
