Aledo Escapes Ryan’s Upset Bid and Pushes District Streak to 131

DENTON, TX The atmosphere crackled at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex on Friday night as two tradition-rich programs met with more than bragging rights on the line. When the dust finally settled, Aledo once again found the narrow path to victory, edging Denton Ryan 15 to 14 in a tense showdown that added yet another chapter to the Bearcats’ staggering district domination.

Instead of a high-scoring thriller, the game unfolded like a heavyweight fight full of field-position battles, defensive stands, and moments where toughness meant more than flash.

Familiar Foes, Familiar Intensity

The meeting carried plenty of backstory. Ryan knocked Aledo out of last year’s postseason after the Bearcats controlled the regular season contest, so Friday’s tilt arrived with playoff-level tension. Both defenses came ready, and the first half played out like a chess match.

Aledo struck first with a rare safety created by relentless pressure that forced intentional grounding in the end zone. Ryan answered by winning the trenches and slowly tilting momentum their way. The breakthrough came when Tre’vaughn Reynolds slipped behind coverage for a 52-yard strike from Quin Henigan, sending the Raiders into halftime with a 7 to 2 advantage.

A Roller Coaster of Turnovers

The tempo changed after the break. For the first time in well over a season, Henigan was intercepted, as Alex Patton jumped a route and flipped control back to Aledo. But Ryan answered immediately. Xaier Hiler read a pass perfectly, snatched it in stride, and sprinted 52 yards to the house, igniting the home crowd and giving the Raiders a 14 to 3 lead.

Aledo, though, has lived through these moments too many times to panic.

Late in the third quarter, Brady Powell hammered his way through traffic for a bruising touchdown that sliced Ryan’s lead to 14 to 9 and breathed life back into the Bearcat sideline.

Tubbs Delivers in Winning Time

The fourth quarter swung on one critical mistake. A high snap on Ryan’s quick punt attempt set Aledo up with a short field, and Lincoln Tubbs made sure the Bearcats converted. The sophomore quarterback capped the ensuing drive with a rugged two-yard keeper, giving Aledo its first lead since early in the game.

Ryan made a final push, but the Bearcat defense turned every window into a wall. When Aledo needed one last play to put the game out of reach, Tubbs kept the ball on third and two, surged across the 40-yard marker, and slammed the door shut.

Another tight finish. Another clutch moment. Another district win.

Aledo now stands at an unbelievable 131 straight district victories, a streak built on nights exactly like this one: tough, tense, and decided by resolve as much as talent.