Aledo travels to Shreveport, routs team from Arkansas

It took only half a quarter for Aledo to jump on Bentonville High School as the Bearcats routed the Arkansas team 51-14 on Saturday at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport as part of the annual “Battle on the Border.” The Bearcats (2-0), ranked No. 1 in the latest Associated Press Class 5A state poll, led 14-0 midway through the opening quarter with touchdowns by JoJo Earle and Oklahoma commit Jase McClellan. “It was a good and fun trip for our kids,” coach Steve Wood said. “They came ready to play. It was a neat atmosphere and they did a great job hosting it.” Following an interception by Collin Johnson, Aledo quarterback Jake Bishop threw a 5-yard TD to Earle. McClellan ran in a TD from 9 yards out. Tre Owens scored his own 9-yard TD early in the second quarter to give Aledo a 21-0 lead. The Bearcats made it 28-0 with a 10-play 77-yard drive capped off by 15-yard TD run by McClellan. Aledo led 37-7 at the break following its fifth TD of the half, a 62-yard pass from Bishop to Earle with 30 seconds on the clock. Earle’s third TD came in the third quarter from 35 yards to put the Bearcats up 44-7. “We got off to a real good start. We executed, but missed a couple of opportunities. We scored four of five times in the first half,” Wood said. “We ran the ball well and had some big plays in the passing game. JoJo had another big game; Mylen Hayhurst played well and Jake threw the ball great.” A 3-yard TD run by Avery Jackson finished the blowout with 5:18 to play. McClellan rushed 17 times for 104 yards. Bishop threw for 237 yards on 10 of 14 passing and Earle caught four passes for 152 yards. Bentonville (0-3), which had been the largest school in Arkansas up until 2016, scored on a 40-yard TD pass and a 3-yard TD run. The Tigers won recent state championships in 2013, 2010 and 2008. “We played good defensively and I think there was never a doubt,” Wood said. “I was proud of the kids on the way they handled a road-trip like this. They’re a mature bunch.” Aledo, which shut out Denton Guyer 40-0 in Week 1, will begin District 5-5A Division II play, 7:30 p.m. Friday in Burleson against the Centennial Spartans. “We’re 2-0 and that’s the objective when you get right down to it,” Wood said. “I’m proud of the work they’ve put in. They’re a fun group to coach and have great attitudes. I think as a team, we’ve been as close as we have been in a long time. We have a great group of seniors that have done well for a long time. They’re hungry which is what you want them to have and need to have to be a really good team.”

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ALEDO TRAVELS TO SHREVEPORT, ROUTS TEAM FROM ARKANSAS

BRIAN GOSSET

Arkansas Online | 9/10/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: 1st Place Pix