Azle is 0-5 against Aledo since October of 2016 but things could change on Friday. The Hornets will face off against the Bearcats at 7:00 p.m. The two teams are strolling into their games after big wins in their previous games.
Azle will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up ten points last Friday, then bounced right back against Granbury on Thursday. The Hornets blew past the Pirates 35-13. The Hornets haven't had any issues with the Pirates recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive win against them.
Derrek Vowell
| 10/23/25 vs Granbury | 143.9 |
| 10/10/25 vs Fossil Ridge | 129.3 |
| 08/29/25 vs Cooper | 116.9 |
| 09/26/25 vs Brewer | 75.3 |
| 09/05/25 @ Weatherford | 72.6 |
| + 3 more games |
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Azle to victory, but perhaps none more so than Derrek Vowell, who threw for 186 yards and four TDs while completing 73.7% of his passes. Vowell's passing game has become a key predictor of the Hornets' success: the team is 2-1 when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 0-5 otherwise. Aiden Mackey was in the mix too, providing Azle with two scores.
Azle didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Granbury to a completion percentage of just 44%. Given Vowell's standout performance, it's clear the Pirates' secondary just wasn't on the same level.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Aledo). They simply couldn't be stopped on Thursday as they easily beat Richland 72-10. Considering the Bearcats have won five contests by more than 41 points this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Azle better keep an eye on Lincoln Tubbs. He was instrumental in Aledo's win, throwing for 270 yards and four touchdowns on only 19 passes, while also rushing for 138 yards and one TD on only 12 carries. Those 138 rushing yards gave Tubbs a new career-high. Kaydon Finley was another key player, picking up 169 receiving yards and three scores.
Aledo didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Kaeden Weaver, Ryland Haley, and Alex Patton picked up one apiece. Patton got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Azle's record is now 2-6. As for Aledo, their record now sits at 8-0.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Azle has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 235.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Aledo struggles in that department as they've been averaging 240.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Azle took a serious blow against Aledo in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, falling 77-14. That contest was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Hornets were down 56-0.
