By Tony Eierdam

GRAPEVINE - Aledo came back from a slow start with 21 second-quarter points on its way to a 37-14 victory over Grapevine Friday night at Mustang/Panther Stadium.

The win lifts the Bearcats to 2-0, while the Mustangs fall to 0-2.

The Bearcats will play their home opener Friday, Sept. 12, against Parker County rival Weatherford. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.

"We came out a little flat," Bearcats head coach Tim Buchanan said. "We were feeling really good about ourselves after that Stephenville win (24-20 last week in Stephenville). And it wasn't just players, it was also coaches. We were strutting around with our chests stuck out all week, and I think it was Thursday afternoon before we knew we were playing in a football game (on Friday night). It's hard to prepare like that. (Saturday), after we watch the game film, I want them to forget about Grapevine and rest over the weekend, and on Monday I want them thinking only about the Weatherford Kangaroos."

Aledo quarterbacks Tanner McDonald and Trey Ozee each led the Bearcats to the end zone in the second period. For the game, Ozee finished the night with two touchdown tosses, while McDonald scored twice on the ground and once through the air.

With the game scoreless in the second quarter, Aledo, which punted on its first three possessions, marched 65 yards on seven plays and found the end zone on a 37-yard touchdown pass from McDonald to receiver Aaron Corby. Corby finished with a career-high 122 yards on four catches, including a pair of scores.

Chase Rutherford booted the extra point to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead.

McDonald led AHS on another TD drive the next time the Bearcats had the ball. The 51-yard, six-play drive ended on a three-yard keeper by McDonald off right tackle, and Rutherford's PAT boot increased the visitors' lead to 14-0.

Ozee led Aledo on its next TD drive. On a third and four play from the Grapevine 28, Ozee fired a strike to Forrest Cook for an 11-yard gain that moved the chains and set AHS up on the Mustangs' 17.

Two plays later, the junior signal caller found a wide open Corby in the middle of the field, and the senior receiver grabbed the toss on the run and sprinted into the end zone with 1:28 left in the half. Rutherford's kick gave the Bearcats a secure 21-0 advantage.

"Trey is a good quarterback," Buchanan said. "We had planned to use him (Friday) in a few series, and he made two great throws in the second quarter on that touchdown drive."

The Bearcats added two more scores in the second half. Leading 21-7, McDonald wrapped up a nine-play, 82-yard drive with a three-yard run to paydirt.

The final Aledo score in the third period came when Ozee hit Cook with a 16-yard touchdown pass.

Aledo's final points came courtesy of a 27-yard field goal by Rutherford with 9:27 remaining in the contest.

Bearcat senior Joel Hasley also had a big night. Playing both ways for much of the game, Hasley led AHS on the ground with 94 yards on 20 carries.

To read the complete story with thoughts from some of the Bearcats and more words from Buchanan, please see the Sept. 12 issue of The Community News.