Aledo throttles Keller Fossil Ridge ahead of clash with state-ranked Denton Ryan

It would have been understandable if two-time reigning 5A Division I state champion Aledo -- record 12-time state title holder -- looked past one-win district foe Keller Fossil Ridge, with a huge clash next week versus top-ranked Denton Ryan looming on the horizon.

But Aledo head coach Robby Jones made sure this was not going to be one of those “trap” games, as the Bearcats (4-1, 3-0) pummeled the Keller Fossil Ridge Panthers, 63-3, for their 122nd straight district victory, in a UIL District 3-5A D1 high school football contest at Keller ISD Athletic Complex on Thursday.

“We prepared for this game, not looking ahead”, said Coach Jones, who guided Aledo to an unblemished 16-0 state title-winning season last year in his Head Coaching debut with the Bearcats. “We focused on this game. One game at a time.”

Junior quarterback Gavin Beard continues to grow as the first-year starter under center. Beard, who returned last week after missing two games with an injury, tossed four touchdown passes -- including three in the first half -- and finished with 198 passing on just seven completions before sitting out after the first series of the second half.

Beard connected with first-half TD strikes of 36 and 30 yards to standout wide receiver Kaydon Finley, and a 45-yard aerial score to Jamal Hollister with 2:04 remaining till halftime as Aledo held a commanding 42-3 lead at the break.

“We got off to the fast start,” said Beard. “Just getting more and more comfortable as the season goes along. And we have so many weapons on offense, makes it easier.”

Finley, now with eight TD catches on the season, continues to show why he is one of the most sought-after wide receivers nationally in the 2026 class. Finley, a junior, grabbed a 63-yard TD pass from Beard -- on a third-and-18 -- coming out of intermission, and finished with four catches for 141 yards and three TDs.

“This was just a great game for us,” said Finley. “A big confidence-builder heading into next week.”

Beard and Finley have developed chemistry this season.

“He is such a talented player,” said Beard of his star wideout. “I have tremendous confidence if I throw it up he will get it.”

Finley, No. 16 on the Star-Telegram’s pre-season top 100 area players list, and is also rated No. 16 by 247Sports state recruits in that 2026 class, with offers from Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia and more.

Running back Ray Guillory, another junior and the Star-Telegram’s 5A Pre-Season Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 81 yards in five attempts, including a 10-yard TD scamper -- his ninth rushing score this season -- in the opening period.

No. 4 on the Star-Telegram’s Top 100 area player list, Guillory also sat most of the the second half.

Guillory is No. 42 on the 247Sports Class of 2026 state prospects list, with offers from the nation’s top programs including Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and more. He reopened his recruitment this past June after decommitting from Texas.

Keller Fossil Ridge got a 40-yard field goal from Breck Moore -- set up by a Kaiden Foster interception return to the Aledo 21 -- with 8:09 left in the second quarter for its lone first-half points. Aledo’s Adrian Fuller returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a TD to extend the lead to 28-3. And the Bearcats never looked back.

Junior Running Back Brady Powell had a pair of TD runs -- one and seven yards -- and registered 79 rushing yards on seven attempts.

Kaden Winkfield, another junior, chipped in with a 27-yard TD scamper late in the third period, and recorded 47 yards on the ground on just four carries.

Aledo amassed 465 yards total offense, with a balanced attack -- 258 rushing and 207 passing. Defensively, the Bearcats held the Panthers to 101 yards total offense -- 60 rushing and 41 passing.

Next Friday night at 7 p.m., host team Aledo and the Denton Ryan Raiders square off in a mid-season District 3-5A DI battle Aledo and Denton Ryan are Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the Star-Telegram’s area 5A rankings. Denton Ryan is No. 1 and Aledo No. 2 in the 5A D1 state poll.

Coach Jones said his team is looking forward to the challenge.

“Ryan almost got us last year,” noted Jones, referencing a 25-19 Aledo victory. “This next week’s game is one everybody has pointed to since the beginning of the season. We look forward to it. Will be a heckuva game.”

“I’m glad we have the extra day to prepare,” said Beard, looking ahead to next Friday’s showdown. “We have to be focused, stay sharp and execute our game plan.”

Denton Ryan boasts one of the best offensive lines in the state, led by seniors Ty Haywood (6-5, 285 pounds) and Marcus Garcia (6-5, 270 pounds). Haywood, an Alabama pledge, and Garcia, a Texas A&M commit, are Nos. 16 and 40, respectively, on the Star-Telegram’s pre-season Top 100 area players list. Haywood is the No. 6 state-ranked prospect in the 2025 class by 247Sports, while Garcia is rated No. 53. Haywood is also rated No. 18 nationally.

Aledo prevailed last season over Denton Ryan enroute to its unbeaten 5A D1 state championship. The Bearcats also defeated the Raiders 35-21 in 2022, as this will be just the third gridiron meeting between the two teams.

Keller Fossil Ridge (1-4, 1-2) has a district road game against Richland next Friday night at 7 pm.