College Station Survives Aledo 20-19

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 23, 2017

photos: Pat Carrigan

Missed PATs are the Difference

AT&T Stadium - The 2017 Class 5A DII State Championship was a battle between the College Station Cougars (13-2) and the Aledo Bearcats (15-0). The history of these two teams couldn't be more different. Aledo comes into the game with 9 state title appearances going all the way back to 1974 and 7 wins. College Station has only been playing football since 2014 and this is their first appearance in a title game.

The teams traded punts on their first possessions. College Station got it going behind superstar quarterback Marquez Perez (2,002 yards passing 1,566 yards rushing 46 total touchdowns on the season) and were able to attempt a field goal but the kick was no good. After an Aledo punt, the Cougars were driving deep into Bearcat territory as the 1st quarter ended. For the 1st quarter, College Station controlled the ball and had 137 total yards. Aledo was held to 23.

The Cougars lined up for another field goal try and this time, they were able to connect on a 35 yarder to put College Station up 3-0. That was Kicker Alan Guerrieri's 9th field goal made on the season. Aledo was then able to get things going behind their superstar sophomore quarterback Jake Bishop (2,890 total yards 35 total touchdowns on the season). They were able to convert on a 4th and 5 at the Cougar 30 yard line. That set them up for an 18 yard touchdown pass from Bishop to receiver Money Parks to make the score 7-3 with 8:24 left until half. After the teams traded punts, College Station got the ball with 2:55 remaining. Running back DaDa Anderson busted up the middle and went 60 yards for the score (had 19 rushing touchdowns during the season). That put the Cougars back on top 10-7. The Bearcats were not able to get anything going and had to punt. The Cougars took over at their own 24 with 2:08 left. They drove all the way to the Aledo 1. From there they were moved back because of a holding call and kicked a field goal to bring the score to 13-7 at the half. For the half, College Station has 273 yards while Aledo has 100.

Aledo got the ball first to open the 2nd half and running back Jase McClellan took the ball to the house on a 76 yard touchdown run on the 1st play. The extra point was missed to tie the game at 13. College Station went 3 and out on their first possession and the momentum was on Aledo's side. The Bearcats stuck to their strong running game to move the ball. They faced a 4th and 1 at the College Station 21 and were able to convert again. McClellan cashed it in from 2 yards out a few plays later. Again the extra point was no good and the Bearcats led 19-13. The scoring drive was 15 plays going 63 yards and almost 8 minutes long. The Cougars responded though as Jaelin Campbell returned the kickoff 78 yards to the Aledo 18 yard line. Anderson ran it in from 6 yards out for the score. The extra point was good and College Station led 20-19.

The teams traded punts to start the 4th quarter. On Aledo's 2nd possession of the quarter, they took over at their own 26 with 4:17 left. They faced a 4th and 9 at the College Station 31 with 1:08 remaining in the game but Bishop was sacked. College Station took over with 56 seconds remaining. On 3rd down, Perez was stripped of the ball and Aledo recovered but it was ruled on the field that the whistle had blown. A punt gave Aledo one last chance with 19 seconds left at their own 27. The College Station defense held to win their first ever championship.

by Michael Wright

Offensive MVP: DaDa Anderson (99 yards rushing 2 touchdowns)

Defensive MVP: Ben Wolz (7 tackles 2 sacks)

Attendance: 28,163