Aledo wins 11th championship; DeSoto secures title

Aledo has reached the mountaintop once again.

The Bearcats claimed their record 11th UIL state title Saturday afternoon with a resounding 52-14 victory against College Station in the Class 5A Division I championship game.

The triumph marked the eighth state title for Aledo coach Tim Buchanan, who moved into a tie with G.A. Moore Jr. for second all-time behind Gordon Wood (9), Jerry Burkhart (9) and Scott Surratt. Surratt moved up the list Friday after leading Carthage to the 4A Division II title.

Aledo (14-2) was dominant from the start against College Station, building a commanding 35-0 lead by halftime. The Cougars were held scoreless until the 1:54 mark of the fourth quarter.

College Station (13-3) is still seeking its first title since 2017. The Cougars also came up short in the championship game last year, losing against Paetow in an overtime thriller.

Aledo piled up 497 yards of total offense, averaging 8 yards per play. Jalen Pope set a new 5A record for receiving yards in a state title game, catching eight passes for 228 and three scores.

Hauss Henjy rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns and completed 11-of-15 passes for 175 yards and two more scores.

Jake Gillespie had an interception for the Bearcats’ defense, and Davhon Keys and Christopher Johnson each recovered a fumble.

DESOTO 42 VANDEGRIFT 17

DeSoto is bringing a second state title back to south Dallas County.

The Eagles pulled away from Austin Vandegrift in the second half and earned a 42-17 victory over the Vipers in the Class 6A Division II championship game.

DeSoto (14-2) claimed its first state crown in 2016, but this one was the first under Claude Mathis, who has coached the program in two stints from 2008 to 2014 and 2019 to present.

Vandegrift (14-2) was making its first state title game appearance.

DeSoto held a 21-17 advantage early in the third quarter following a touchdown run from Vandegrift’s Alex Witt. But it was all Eagles after that as they reeled off 21 unanswered points.

DeSoto’s Deondra Riden rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 32 attempts to lead the offensive attack.

Quarterback Darius Bailey completed 14-of-18 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. Texas commit Tre Wisner had six catches for 135 yards and two scores and rushed for 79 yards on just five carries. Fellow Longhorns pledge Johntay Cook II added three catches for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Jason Douglas collected seven tackles and two sacks to lead the defensive efforts for the Eagles.

Witt rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns for Vandegrift. Alex Foster made 26 tackles, including 12 solo, for the Vipers.