The Aledo Bearcats will head out to face off against the Ryan Raiders at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
It was a proper cat-fight when Aledo faced off against Fossil Ridge on Friday. The Bearcats really took it to the Panthers for the full four quarters, racking up a 56-14 victory. The matchup was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 28-0.
Nash Mcelree
| 09/26/25 vs Fossil Ridge | 144.8 |
| 09/19/25 @ Birdville | 100.7 |
| 09/12/25 vs Brewer | 135.4 |
| 09/05/25 @ Lancaster | 115.6 |
| 08/29/25 vs Guyer | 24.4 |
| + 3 more games |
Aledo got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Nash Mcelree out in front who threw for 137 yards and two TDs on only 12 passes, and also punched in one touchdown on the ground. What's more, Mcelree racked up 144.8 passer rating, the most he's had since back in November of 2024. Aledo also got a significant boost from Rudy Moya, who ran away from the competition to the tune of 111 yards.
Aledo was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 248 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 168 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Another reason for the win was Aledo's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for four sacks. Max Forman was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up two himself.
Meanwhile, Ryan never let their opponents score on Friday. They breezed past Granbury to the tune of 41-0. Given the Raiders' advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 37th, while the Pirates are ranked 501st) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Ryan's win came from a few key players Aledo will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Quin Henigan, who threw for 209 yards and a pair of TDs, and also punched in one score on the ground. Another player making a difference was Tre'Vaughn Reynolds, who gained 164 total yards and a touchdown.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Ryan, adding 14 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of John Catlin, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
The victory keeps Ryan at an undefeated 4-0. Those wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they've averaged 32.5 points this season. As for Aledo, their record now sits at 5-0.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Aledo has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 235.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Ryan struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 171.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Aledo couldn't quite get it done against Ryan in their previous matchup back in December of 2024 as they fell 31-21. Can the Bearcats avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
