JoJo Earle

Aledo claimed title number 10 as they topped Crosby 56-21 in the 5A Division II State Championship. Running back DeMarco Roberts and receiver JoJo Earle paced the Bearcats, but there were several highlights from both squads on the day.

Thoughts of importance to A&M fans-Let's get this out of the way, Cade Klubnik put on a show last night. He was gutsy, he was smart, he showed some wheels, he threw with touch and velocity. He flat out got it done last night and he has done it all season long. Now we wait to see what happens on the offer front, but there is no doubt in my mind he made a strong case last night, and over the course of the season. Last night he was 18 of 20 for 220 yards and a TD and he had 17 carries for 97 yards and 2 TDs. -It was a quiet day for Katy 2022 Bobby Taylor and if you are a DB that is a good thing. There will not be many, if any, highlights of him from Katy's big win, but that just means he did his job. As a whole the Katy defense swarmed and disrupted any and everything Cedar Hill tried to do, and that includes severely limiting a Cedar Hill passing game known for its big play ability. -Denton Ryan's defense has more than a few prospects of interest and 2022 DT Bear Alexander and 2023 LB Anthony Hill definitely stood out in my mind. They were both on the attack Friday night. Alexander was quick off the ball, he worked his hands, and he was a consistent presence in the Cedar Park backfield. Then there was Anthony Hill making tackles all over the field, driving guys into the dirt and throwing them out of bounds, and playing with an all-around edge. I also liked what I saw from Austin Jordan on the night. That was a high-octane offensive attack they faced Friday night, and Jordan and the Ryan D were able to keep it grounded for the most part. Alexander had 5 tackles (3 solos, 2 assists), .5 a sack, and 2 pass break-ups, Hill recorded 10 tackles (5 solos, 5 assists), 2 sacks, and a forced fumble which was recovered for a Ryan score, and Jordan had 2 tackles and a PBU on the night. Some thoughts on some highly rated guys - WR JoJo Earle, Aledo - quick, fast, instinctive, he changes speeds as well as anyone in the country. I predict he does well at Alabama, I know I'm really going out on a limb there. Friday, he lined up all over the field for the Bearcats. He worked from the slot, as a wildcat QB, and Aledo does a great job of getting the ball in his hands in a variety of ways. He finished with 6 receptions for 133 yards and a TD and 12 carries for another 91. - DE Ja'tavion Sanders, Denton Ryan - Sanders is a freak on the field. More times than not he has completely altered games with his play on both sides of the ball. His quickness and explosiveness off the edge is elite, and if he is focused and continues to grow and progress the sky is the limit. On the other hand, he has also made ridiculous catch after catch on the offensive side over the course of his career, and on Friday, offense is where he did most of his damage. He led Ryan with 5 receptions for 77 yards and a TD. It will be interesting to see what the next level has in store, but there is no doubt in my mind he is a special talent. -QB Quinn Ewers, Southlake Carroll (2022) - It was not his cleanest night of the year, but he put it all out there and competed. He looked sharp early, but Westlake's defense was able to keep him and the Carroll offense off balance much of the night. There is no question he can make all the throws, and he is one of the top QBs in the country regardless of class. -QB Kaidon Salter, Cedar Hill - Salter has made a career on making big throws in big moments, but Saturday it was not to be. It was a tough day for Salter. He made some questionable decisions and there were a few balls I know he wished he had back. Katy's defense applied the pressure, and Salter and the Cedar Hill offense was unable to find his rhythm. It will be interesting to watch Salter at Tennessee. He is smart, he is a leader, and he has a quick release and a strong arm. He is now on his way to Knoxville to enroll early. -S Bryan Allen, Aledo (2022) - It was a quiet day for Allen. He is a ballhawk on the back end of the Aledo defense and Crosby was mindful of his presence. He finished the day with 2 tackles (1 solo, 1 assist). -ATH Billy Bowman Jr, Denton Ryan - He is headed to Oklahoma as a receiver and he did most of his damage on offense Friday night. He has been a dynamic playmaker on offense, defense, and special teams throughout his career and I have no doubt Lincoln Riley will get creative in the ways he involves Bowman. He finished with 4 receptions for 62 yards, and a 6-yard carry in Friday's 59-14 Ryan win. Some top Performances that stood out in my mind Many were already mentioned. JoJo Earle, Cade Klubnik, Anthony Hill, and Bear Alexander all had big performances. Here are a few more. RB DeMarco Roberts, Aledo - All he did was rush for 254 yards and 6 TDs on 31 carries. That's it. That is all he did. And he made it look easy on his way to offensive MVP honors. He is headed to Lamar. S Ty Marsh, Denton Ryan - Marsh's strip of Josh Cameron late in the second quarter was a game changing moment. Cedar Park was threatening to make it a game, Montgomery comes down with a huge reception, and Marsh strips it away and steals any and all momentum Cedar Park had going into haftime. He finished with 6 tackles (5 solos, 1 assist), a TFL, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, 3 PBUs, and an INT. He was named defensive MVP for his efforts DE Cal Varner, Katy - Varner was a man on a mission Saturday afternoon. The future Rice Owl recorded 3 tackles and 2 TFLs and was a constant presence. His big highlight though was the pick six to put Katy's final points on the board. The catch and 15-yard TD return shut down any and all hopes of a Cedar Hill comeback. He deserved to take home defensive MVP honors and he did. S Dalton Jackson, Katy - He led the swarming Tiger defense with 4 tackles (3 solos, 1 assists), a forced fumble, and 2 PBUs. The future Arizona Wildcat seemed like he was in on just about every tackle though. ATH Reggie Branch, Crosby - Mr. do-it-all, did all he could on Friday. Aledo proved to be too much, but Branch has no reason to hang his head. He finished with 11 carries for 72 yards and a TD, and he recorded 4 receptions for a team leading 79 yards. CB Michael Taaffe, Austin Westlake - I will be honest I was pretty ignorant of Taaffe's abilities before Saturday, and my goodness were my eyes ever opened. He got it done on both sides of the ball and his one-handed pick of Ewers was a real head turner. Great eval by the Rice Owls, they got a good one. WR Brady Boyd, Southlake Carroll - Boyd was my MVP for the Dragons. He came out of the gate hot and he never let up. He finished with 12 receptions for 190 yards and 2 TDs. There is no doubt in my mind he could see the field early at Minnesota. Prospects to know CB Jaden Allen, Aledo (2024) - Aledo needed an early defensive stop and it was Allen who came through with the PBU to force it. He also had a PBU deep over the middle. He has speed, feet, and hips and he is not afraid. RB Owen Allen, Southlake Carroll (2023) - Allen has been on the scene since starting as a freshman for the Dragons, and that will continue as his career progresses. He is slippery fast, with great vision and quickness and he is a weapon in the passing game. RB Seth Davis, Katy (2023) - Saturday was my first chance to see Davis in person, and he was nothing short of impressive. In fact, he took home offensive MVP honors for leading the Tiger offense with 14 carries for 123 yards and a TD. WR Jaden Greathouse, Austin Westlake (2023) - big bodied, great hands, and he led Westlake with 5 receptions for 103 yards and a TD. RB Kalib Hill, Denton Ryan (2023) - A tough, downhill runner, he finished with 15 carries for 98 yards. At 6-foot and 200-pounds he is already a load for opposing defenses. TE Jason Llewellyn, Aledo (2022) - His size, athleticism, and ability to block and catch are going to catch plenty of attention. He finished with 2 receptions for 24 yards but he showed he could be a versatile weapon. TE RJ Maryland, Southlake Carroll (2022) - Long and lean he made several highlight reel receptions. His ability to adjust to the ball definitely caught the eye. He checks in at 6-4, 205 and he lined up at receiver for Carroll. OL Connor Robertson, Austin Westlake (2022) - What is not to like about a big, physical mauler on the offensive line. He finishes strong, he picks up blocks downfield, and he has a lot of good tape. Look for his stock to continue to rise.

This weekend, AT&T Stadium in Arlington will play host to four football games to determine four champions in the state of Texas. Jason Howell offers a preview of the class 5A & 6A title games that will take place on Friday and Saturday.