What else can be said about the Aledo Bearcats football program?

Well, in a few months we might be saying they're state champions - again.

But that's okay. In Aledo, they love being repetitive.

The Bearcats are trying for their second three-peat in a seven-year span. After winning back-to-back-to-back state championships from 2009-11 with all-everything running back Johnathan Gray, they were ousted in the second round in 2012. Now, they are two-time defending champions and enter this season as the No. 1 Class 5A team in the state.

Four of those titles won since 2009 were under Coach Tim Buchanan, who resigned before last season to focus more on being solely the athletic director. Last season's championship was under Steve Wood, who was interim head coach at the time, but clearly earned the job for keeps when his team topped Temple 49-45 for the 5A Division I state crown last season.

The ever-humble Wood gives credit for what some call "the Aledo mystique" to his predecessor at the helm, a man for whom he worked as an assistant coach for more than a decade.

"Without a doubt the tradition that Coach Buc build here plays a huge factor in a season," Wood said. "Each class of seniors and every team feels a responsibility to uphold that tradition.

"Expectations are always high here, and I would like to think that our athletes expect to win every time they step on the field."

Buchanan will attest that Wood has played a strong role in that tradition, having been around for every one of the team's state championships except the one in 1998. And now, Wood is in position to carry it on and add more to his own legacy.

The Bearcats were hit somewhat by graduation, losing what many consider some of the greatest players to ever don an Aledo uniform, including wide receiver Ryan Newsome (University of Texas), running back Jess Anders (UT-San Antonio) and quarterback Luke Bishop (Hardin-Simmons).

In the win over Temple, Bishop rushed for 169 yards and a pair of touchdowns and passed for two more scores. After running in the winning touchdown in the closing moments, he had an interception in the back of the end zone on the game's final play to seal the win.

Senior Garrett Hyles looks to be the frontrunner at quarterback for this season. He didn't throw much last season, but when he did he was accurate, completing eight of 13 passes for 129 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. He rushed 25 times for 101 yards and caught 15 passes for 188 yards with two touchdowns.

Senior Caleb Primera looks to move into the top running back spot. While he did not touch the ball much last season, he was productive when given the chance, rushing twice for 13 yards and a touchdown, along with scoring a 32-yard TD on his lone pass reception.

Likewise, junior tight end Logan Patterson only caught one pass, but it was for a 42-yard touchdown.

Up front on the offensive line, senior Hunter Harris at tackle and junior Wes Harris at guard will lead protection and help open some running lanes.

Defensively, the Bearcats have three players who combined for over 350 tackles last season returning, sophomore tackle James Williams (123), senior linebacker Larry Brown (120), and senior free safety Pat Peek (119). Peek had 75 solo tackles with two interceptions; Brown had 68 tackles, 4 sacks and an interception; and Williams had 66 solo tackles, five sacks and a fumble recovery.

The defensive line also features senior tackle Jack McAdams (68 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries), along with ends junior Jaxson Fletcher (33 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), and senior T.J. Salazar (42 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery). Senior Reid Smith (70 tackles, 48 solo, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery) is also back at strong safety.

The Bearcats will once again play their formidable predistrict schedule, followed by being in a challenging district.

"We play a tough nondistrict schedule, starting with Cedar Park (at McLane Stadium in Waco) and the previous state champions from Mississippi in Noxubee County,” Wood said. “Our district will be very competitive with Everman returning most of their team and Burleson having a veteran team."

Wood also showed his mettle as a head coach when he regrouped his team from a 42-7 home loss to Bishop Amat in the season's second game. The Bearcats went on a 14-game winning streak, running through District 8-5A with a 7-0 record. In the postseason, Aledo averaged nearly 50 points per game.