Title Town Persists: Aledo wins 12th State Title with victory over Smithson Valley

It was a questionable start to the UIL Class 5A Division 1 state title game for the Aledo Bearcats as they suffered blow after blow to begin the game. Persistence and resilience paid off, though, as they regrouped and came together to win the program’s 12th State Title with a 51-8 victory over Smithson Valley.

Beginning the game with a safety against you is not a way anyone wants to start a football game, much less the state championship game. A safety followed by a field goal, an interception, and another field goal for Smithson Valley plagued the Bearcats in the first quarter before the team found their footing at AT&T Stadium.

Hawk Patrick-Daniels scored the first touchdown of the game for either team on a 23-yard rush. From there, the Bearcats posted seven unanswered scores— a 7-yard run from Patrick-Daniels, a pass from Hauss Hejny to Kaydon Finley who took it 69 yards to the house, a field goal from Cole Crawford, a 29-yard pass from Hejny to Colton McCoy, a 51-yard run from Patrick-Daniels, a 10-yard keeper from Hejny, and another score from Roderick Blake to hammer in the final nail.

“We have a special team,” said offensive MVP, Patrick-Daniels. “I’m not really a crier, but getting to see everyone play and everyone be happy makes me really happy. I might cry later when it all sinks in.” Patrick-Daniels contributed heavily to the Aledo offense this season as they took their campaign to the next level to ensure a 12th title for the program. “I’m blessed to have the best O-line in the state. I’m not really sure what our legacy is— it’s there, but I feel like we could have been much better throughout the year. I love this team.. we overcome everything.”

Patrick-Daniels was never worried about being down to start the game. “I knew I had to be the person to spark up and that’s what I did. That’s what got everyone else motivated.” Although he was a huge motivation himself, he credits head coach Robby Jones as being the biggest motivator of the night. “He told us not to keep our heads down. We listened to him and came out state champions.”

Another victory for Aledo is in the books as the team heads off to rest before celebrating. Fans can expect this team to continue their dominance as they take to the offseason.