During halftime of the Bearcats’ first playoff game against Hillcrest High School Dec. 10, a statue of Blaze Mayes was unveiled. 

The bronze statue is located outside the doors of the home team locker rooms. The statue includes Mayes holding his helmet in the air with his left hand and a football in his right hand.

Mayes graduated from Aledo last year and was with the football team when they won a historic ninth state championship. 

Former coach and current athletic director Steve Wood said Blaze embodied the spirit of the team and always encouraged the other players. He also said he hopes the other players will run out of the locker room and touch the helmet each time they take the field.

This is the first statue of a person to be placed on the campus of Aledo High School.