Previewing the Class 5A football championships; Aledo, College Station, SOC, PNG
The UIL Class 5A football title games will help kick off championship week at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Here is a look at the teams and match-ups:
Games
Division 1
Aledo (13-2) vs. College Station (13-2), 11 a.m. Saturday
Division 2
Dallas South Oak Cliff (12-3) vs. Port Neches-Groves (13-2), 7 p.m. Friday
Teams
Aledo Bearcats
District 3-5A champ (8-0)
State championship appearances: 13 (2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 1998, 1974)
Titles: 10 (2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 1998)
Winning streak: 13 games
Losses: 24-17 vs. Parish Episcopal (Week 1), 44-14 vs. Guyer (Week 2)
Playoff wins: 37-0 vs. Shoemaker, 45-21 vs. Lubbock-Cooper, 27-21 vs. Midlothian, 42-21 vs. Centennial, 17-14 vs. Longview
Points for: 642 (42.8 per game)
Points allowed: 247 (16.5 per game)
Most points: 73 vs. Saginaw (Week 5)
Fewest points: 14 vs. Guyer (Week 2)
Largest margin of victory: 66 (73-7 vs. Saginaw, Week 5)
Smallest margin of victory: 3 (17-14 vs. Longview, semifinal)
College Station Cougars
District 11-5A tri-champ (6-1)
Final state ranking: 10
State championship appearances: 3 (2022, 2021, 2017)
Titles: 1 (defeated Aledo 20-19 in 2017)
Winning streak: 7 games
Losses: 52-27 vs. Lovejoy (Week 1), 49-38 vs. Georgetown (Week 9)
Playoff wins: 37-19 vs. Wagner, 27-20 vs Angleton, 52-28 vs. Georgetown, 26-21 vs. Smithson Valley, 33-7 vs. Vets Memorial
Points for: 567 (37.8 per game)
Points allowed: 324 (21.6 per game)
Most points: 68 vs. East View (Week 6)
Fewest points: 17 vs. Cedar Park (Week 7)
Largest margin of victory: 58 (68-10 vs. East View, Week 6)
Smallest margin of victory: 3 (27-24 vs. Glenn, Week 8)
South Oak Cliff Golden Bears
District 6-5A champ (6-0)
Final state ranking: 8
State championship appearances: 2 (2022, 2021)
Titles: 1 (defeated Liberty Hill 23-14 in 2021)
Winning streak: 12 games
Losses: 23-10 vs. Duncanville (Week 1), 21-3 vs. Lancaster (Week 2), 42-23 vs. DeSoto (Week 3)
Playoff wins: 12-7 vs. Summit, 42-37 vs. Lovejoy, 33-27 vs. Heritage, 30-16 vs. Melissa, 14-6 vs. Argyle
Points for: 500 (33.3 per game)
Points allowed: 217 (14.5 per game)
Most points: 56 (2 times)
Fewest points: 3 vs. Lancaster (Week 2)
Largest margin of victory: 56 (2 times)
Smallest margin of victory: 5 (12-7 vs. Summit, first round)
Port Neches-Groves Indians
District 9-5A runner-up (6-1)
Final state ranking: Unranked
State championship appearances: 5 (2022, 1999, 1977, 1954, 1953)
Titles: 1 (defeated Big Spring 24-13 in 1953)
Winning streak: 11 games
Losses: 50-15 vs. Memorial (Week 1), 35-14 vs. Marshall (Week 5)
Playoff wins: 38-17 vs. Montgomery, 24-19 vs. LBJ Austin, 38-28 vs. Brenham, 29-21 vs. Marshall, 42-14 vs. Liberty Hill
Points for: 522 (34.8) per game)
Points allowed: 290 (19.3 per game)
Most points: 56 vs. Willowridge (Week 7)
Fewest points: 14 vs. Marshall (Week 5)
Largest margin of victory: 49 (49-0 vs. United, Week 2)
Smallest margin of victory: 2 (26-24 vs. Galena Park, Week 10)
Prediction
Aledo and SOC both started the season with losing streaks, but against some of the best teams in the state, Parish, Guyer, Duncanville, Lancaster and DeSoto. Parish would win a TAPPS state title, Guyer reached the semifinals and Duncanville and DeSoto are also at state.
The Bearcats look to extend their UIL 11-man record with an 11 state title.
Since starting 0-2, they’ve won 13 games in a row, including a 17-14 win over top-ranked Longview. The defensive front limited the Lobos dynamic run game, sparked by Andrew Parkhurst, Ansel Din Mbuh and Christian Hillman.
Running back Hawk Patrick-Daniels has 1,319 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. Jalen Pope is the leading receiver with 1,023 yards and 11 TDs and Hauss Hejny has accounted for over 3,000 yards and 29 TDs.
Steven Huff left for Decatur after taking College Station to the title game last season, but the Cougars have returned under Stoney Pryor. RB Aydan Martinez-Brown is a 2,000 yard rusher with 22 TDs.
SOC made history last season by becoming the first football team from Dallas ISD to win a state title in more than 60 years. The Bears hope to go back-to-back with a stingy defense that’s allowed just 22 points during the past two weeks against Argyle and Melissa.
PNG finished second in district after losing to Fort Bend Marshall by three touchdowns. But the Indians came back to beat Marshall 29-21 in the regional final.
PNG is the only state team that wasn’t ranked in the final state rankings. The Indians are looking for their first state championship in 69 years.
Score
Aledo 35, College Station 24
SOC 31, PNG 23
