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Shana Willeford (VYPE Media
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.
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Shana Willeford (VYPE Media)
It was a show of strength on the field at AT&T Stadium on Friday afternoon as the Anna Coyotes put on a clinic against the Tyler Chapel Hill Bulldogs. Routing the Bulldogs in a 26-0 shut-out victory, the Coyotes hoisted the trophy and became the UIL Class 4A Division 1 State Champions!
"It hasn't sunk in yet," said head coach Seth Parr during the press conference following the game. "I'm sure on Christmas Day it will be a real good feeling."
Offensive MVP, Edward Chumley alongside Jabari Finnie, Sean Steens, Ziondre Williams, and others helped lead the Anna offense to an explosive victory. Recording 71 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 16 carries as well as one receiving touchdown and 31 receiving yards on three catches, Chumley earned his MVP title by scoring all of the touchdowns for the Coyotes on the day. The other points came from an early field goal and a high snap for Tyler Chapel Hill that went out of the endzone for a safety.
Defensive MVP CJ Miller led the defense with 15 tackles. They continued to prevent Chapel Hill's offense from making any headway until late in the game when the Bulldogs had the ball near the endzone after an incredible drive. In the direst moment, wanting to keep Chapel Hill scoreless, the Coyotes' defense put up a wall and took over on downs. The rest... well, the rest is history.
"We get there angry, we play hard, and this is just an example of their competitive drive," Parr said about his team. "The day I laid eyes on [the team] is the moment I knew we had the win," Parr went on to say as he discussed his move to Anna. "We're excited to be in a community that loves winning."
"It's crazy," senior wide receiver Sean Steens said. "It's unbelievable." A man of few words, but described as the "life of the team", it was clear that Steens came into the championship game ready to be a leader and help the Coyotes secure their victory at AT&T Stadium.
"The new coaching staff brought their A-game when they came into town," said senior Jamison Adams. "They changed the whole culture. We went from a losing team to winning a state championship. Four years ago, I don't think we would have ever envisioned this. I think everyone bought in."
Parr challenged the rest of the country to pay attention to these young, high school athletes making big plays throughout the weekend. "I think it's up to the college coaches to give these guys opportunities in order to be able to go to the next level. I challenge all the coaches in the state and coaches around the United States to not just look at the portal. If you're not making it about the younger guys, you're not going to have a game in the future."
Crediting his offense with an exceptional outing, Parr finished the press conference by adding: “Everyone always says air raid offenses can’t win championships because they have no defense. I’d like to say we just proved that theory wrong.”
"Proved them wrong "might be an understatement as Anna looks to bring back a strong team next season. For now, the team intends to celebrate with a late lunch at Golden Corral.
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THE ARCHITECTS: History being made as minorities lead all Class 6A state final super-programs
15 Dec, 2023
By Bradley Collier
As Texas High School football takes center stage this weekend at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, history is being made.
All four head coaches in the Class 6A title games are Black… Duncanville’s Reginald Samples, North Shore’s Willie Gaston, DeSoto’s Claude Mathis and Summer Creek’s Kenny Harrison.
Last season, Claude Mathis was the first Black head coach to win a state title at the highest classification of Texas High School football. A few hours later, Samples became the second as the Panthers knocked off North Shore.
Willie Gaston, who played QB for North Shore over 20 years ago before starring for the University of Houston, was elevated from his offensive coordinator position last spring after coach Jon Kay took a college position at Rice University. The first-year head coach has carried on the success of his predecessors as the Mustangs are in their fifth Class 6A DI state title game in six years. He will face Duncanville and coach Reginald Samples, the winningest black head coach in Texas high school football history with over 340 wins.
“It’s a special moment,” Gaston said. “There is a lot of people pumped up for this. There was a stereotype that minority guys couldn’t coach over the years. This weekend just shows you the growth of minority coaches and how good we have become.”
This week, the Houston TD Club awarded Gaston and Summer Creek coach Kenny Harrison as their 2023 co-Coaches of the Year. It is only the third time in the club’s history to have awarded co-coaches. Gaston and Harrison have led their teams to the top of the Texas high school football mountain this weekend… the coveted state game.
No team in the 105-year history of Humble ISD has ever reached a state final… until now. Harrison and his Summer Creek Bulldogs face DeSoto in the Class 6A DII championship. The history is not lost on Harrison, who grew up playing for Port Arthur Jefferson and SMU.
“It means a lot that all four of us have this opportunity,” he said. “We’re all quality coaches who have built tremendous programs. I’ve followed them for a long time and their successes. I’m excited to be a part of this for black coaches but even, more importantly, excited about the opportunity to win a state championship.”
Mathis, who was a star RB at Texas State, smashed through the ceiling last season, beating Austin Vandegrift 42-17 to win the Class 6A DII title in 2022. He’s back…
“This is just wonderful… this is history,” he said. “The only bad thing is that someone has to lose. We have come a long way in this profession of coaching and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”
While all four are playing to win and fit for championship rings, history is at hand as these four are breaking Texas-sized barriers.
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