The Bearcats were down by 10 points, and with 30 seconds left on the timer the players knew their time had come. The rain poured relentlessly, transforming the field into a cold slick battleground where the Bearcats lined up for what they knew could be their final drive. With the pain of the icy wind biting through their soaked jerseys, the Bearcats stood silently as the dreams reaching state once again slipped away with the storm.

Earlier on in the season the Bearcats took the victory over the Denton Ryan Raiders, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch.

”Denton Ryan had a big desire to win our game, when you’re Aledo you’ve got a big target on your back so you’ve got to play a little harder against everybody”, coach John Kirk said. “You gotta come up with more emotion and more drive, When your playing against a team that really wants to beat you”.

This tough loss for the Bearcats was the result of varying factors according to the players.

“The weather played a huge part in our execution. It forced us to be strict on where the ball was going, which cuts our playbook in half,” junior wide receiver Lincoln Tubbs, #12 said  “Once they scored the 80 yard touchdown, I felt the momentum switch from our side to theirs”.

Senior Wide Receiver Blake Burdine #14, offered a different position

“We thought we already had it in the bag and got complacent and we didn’t take the preparation seriously, especially knowing that the weather wasn’t gonna be in our favor and it came back to cost us”, Burdine said. “Nothing is gonna be given you have to earn it all and if you set a goal you have to work hard to achieve it”.

Despite the heartbreak, the Bearcats are using this loss as a learning experience to fuel their efforts for next season. “Not everything will be handed to you and you have to execute your job at 110% so the team can be successful,” Tubbs said.

In the following seasons, the Bearcats will know what’s necessary to achieve the next level that they want to earn. “You just learn from it,” Kirk said.  “You try to correct mistakes and then you go on and get better and get prepared for next year”.

As the Bearcats look ahead to off season, Burdine offers a final message of reflection and motivation for his teammates. “I love each and every one of them and if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it with the same group of guys and the same coaches,” Burdine said. ”To the younger guys just work hard so it doesn’t happen again”.