Arlington, Tx – The long narrow road to the UIL Championships is as expected. Challenging.
In its second consecutive season, the Fort Bend Marshall Buffalos fell to the Aledo Bearcats, 45-42, in the Class 5A Division II Finals on Saturday evening at AT&T Stadium.
With the momentum shifting, yet the clock serving notice, the Buffalos had something left in the tank. Trailing 45-35, Marshall’s defense dropped Aledo’s receiver Money Parks for a loss of three yards to force a turnover with 1:44 remaining.
From its 26 yard line, in front of 29,138 fans, Buffalos quarterback Malik Hornsby ripped off a 32-yard run to the Aledo 42 and followed it with a strike to running back Devon Achane at the Bearcats eight. A couple of plays later, Hornsby threw a dart to receiver Brandon Tryon in the end zone. Then the senior signal-caller split a crease through the left side of Aledo’s defense to conclude a two-point conversation, trimming the deficit, 45-43 with 49 seconds remaining.
A failed onside kick attempt presented the final straw. An offsides penalty followed the kickoff, giving Aledo the ball at the 35-yard line. Bearcats quarterback Jake Bishop took a knee twice as the time expired.
Despite coming up short, Hornsby dual-threat evening finished on 11-of-17 attempts with 157 passing yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He had 13 carries for 155 yards and two scores. Achane’s closed out a memorable evening, receiving and rushing. He piled up 171 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. The speedster added seven receptions totaling 121 yards.
The Bearcats and its display of weapons proved too weighty for Fort Bend Marshall’s defense. A couple of veteran players in four-year starter running back Jase McClellan (Alabama signee) and three-year letterman Bishop was responsible for a colossal portion of the damage. Add in talented receivers Jo Jo Earle and Money Parks, who can take its services anywhere on the next level.
Bishop passed for 244 yards on 11-16-0 attempts and three touchdowns. McClellan rushed 25 times for 218 yards and two scores. Earle caught four passes for 107 yards, a score, and Parks reeled in six for 132 yards and two scores.
McClellan, hampered by a season-long ankle sprain, saved his best for the second half, scoring on runs of 63 and 17 while MVP Bishop carved up the Buffalos secondary with precision passes.
“He’s the most fierce competitor I’ve been around (Jase McClelland),” Aledo’s coach Tim Buchanan said. “That kid has been hurting all season (ankle sprain). He will play defense; he will play offense. He will do whatever you ask him to do.”
His success had much to do with the Bearcats passing game which included, Bishop and two standout receivers in Earle and Parks, who accounted for several big plays.
Also, McClellan rated by 247 Sports as the No. 6 running back in the nation, showed why Alabama wants his services.
“Keep pushing for our team,” Bearcats running back McClellan spoke. “We’ve been grinding all year. We’ve been waiting to get this spot again to win it and to make history. I do everything for my team.”
Marshall had no answer for the stocky 5’11, 202 pound McClellan.
Aledo scored on its first two drives of the game, holding a 14-0 advantage. The first possession included McClellan carrying the ball on the first three plays of the game, netting 20-yards. Parks grabbed a screen pass from Bishop and broke three tackles on his way to a 28-yard touchdown. The Bearcats led 7-0.
Bishop threw a 40-yard scoring pass to Jr. receiver Jo Jo Earle to increase the Bearcats lead,14-0, following Micco Little’s bonus kick.
The Buffalos would battle back by marching 81 yards in seven plays. Hornsby’s 14-yard pass to Achane jump-started Marshall. Later, on the possession, Hornsby found himself scrambling out of trouble, connecting with Achane, who raced to the 17 of Aledo. A pair of plays later, Hornsby capped the drive, sprinting five yards for the touchdown with 1:43 left in the first quarter.
For Marshall, the painful memory of last season reared its face again. However, the outcome would be different from the previous season’s route of 55-12.
Not since week three of the regular season have the Buffalos felt the sting of defeat, when it went down to district rival Manvel, 38-34.
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