Aledo Powers Their Way Past a Determined Manvel Team in Championship Game
ARLINGTON — The Aledo Bearcats, and national player of the year running back Johnathan Gray, took the field at Cowboy Stadium Saturday looking to claim their third straight state title as they took on a strong Manvel Mavericks team. It wasn't easy but the Bearcats held off the Mavericks and came away with a 49-28 win to clinch the 4A Division II Championship in front of a crowd of 43,369.
was quick to give him credit. "Matt just steps up when it is game time. He is a great vocal leader and a great physical leader," said Gray.
After a Todd Christian interception return early in the second quarter that went for 70-yards and another Aledo touchdown, Bishop continued his stellar play in the first half helping Aledo score two more times. Once on an eight yard run and then on a 10 yard touchdown pass to Parker Brandham. Both within a span of about three minutes, to push their lead out to 28-7. "The kid (Bishop) is a great football player and he has a great sense of the game," said Aledo head coach Tim Buchanan.
needed as he led the Bearcats down the field and finished things off with a five yard touchdown run as the clock expired in the third quarter.
Manvel fought back to close the gap again on a Shane McCarley touchdown run of one yard at the 9:35 mark of the fourth quarter and placed their hopes in the hands of their defense as time quickly became their enemy.
But just as it had been all game long, their defense found the going tough as they tried to stop Gray on the ground and Bishop in the air. Gray outran the Mavericks defense on a 37-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to set the national record for career touchdowns (205) and extend the Aledo lead once again.
