4th-quarter TD nets Gray national touchdown record; Aledo wins its third straight 4A title
Arlington – A dream season ending wasn’t in the cards for Manvel, who opened its doors in the fall of 2006. But the accomplishment, an undefeated season entering the state championship game, seemed a bit overwhelming.
In awe of its surroundings and facing championship jitters, it was fitting that Manvel was defeated 49-28 at the hands of the Aledo Bearcats, in the Class 4A Division II State Final Saturday in front of 43,369 at Cowboy Stadium.
The loss summed up a great season with a bittersweet ending for the (15-1) Maverick’s. As for Aledo (14-2), it capped a third consecutive title run.
With 2:40 left, Johnathan Gray who rushed for 241 yards on 30 carries, scored on a 36-yard run to set a new national touchdown record with 205. Quarterback Matthew Bishop picked up the MVP award. He was 14-of-17 for 186 yards, 3-TDs, and 1-INT. WR Pate Davis had five receptions for 71 yards.
“That’s what so unique about Johnathan Gray, Matthew Bishop and Todd Christian,” Aledo’s coach Tom Buchanan said. They stayed motivated, they stayed motivated and the coaches did to.”
“I was so surprised about the interception. I was thinking about it, but I didn’t think it was actually going to happen. But when it did, I broke perfectly on the ball,” said Todd Christian Aledo’s DB, who took it the distance.
Trailing 14-0, Manvel was held scoreless on its first four possessions. However, Selwyn Green’s 13-yard scoring run, trimmed the deficit to seven, 14-7.
Aledo erased any thoughts of being a one-man show, scoring four first half touchdowns without Gray netting the end zone. Later, the Bearcats marched 63-yards to regain a 14-point lead. From its 37, Gray took the first play carry to the Manvel’s 20-yard line. Then, a roughen penalty was assessed against Manvel, setting up a first and goal from the 6-yard line. Bearcats QB Matthew Bishop suffered a 2-yard loss before scrambling to the end zone for an 8-yard TD run. Again, Gray played a huge role in Aledo’s fourth touchdown, carrying the ball 36-yards down to the Manvel 9-yard line. Bishop’s touchdown pass to Bradham capped the drive and pushed the lead, 28-7 entering halftime.
Manvel, who stunned an undefeated Calallen team last weekend with a come from behind victory, pulled within 7-points with 11:44 left in the third quarter, after Seymour, who was on the end of two back-to-back touchdown receptions from McCarley (28-21). But, an onside kick attempt backfired and was costly as the Bearcat took possession of a short field at the Maverick’s 46. 6-plays later, Aledo grabbed the momentum on Bishop’s 5-yard TD run and led 35-21 after sophomore kicker Chance Navarez’s PAT.
Two dropped touchdown passes and Aledo’s Todd Christian’s pick-six was 21-point turnaround disaster for Manvel.
“We left some points out there. I did a poor job of getting them focused,” Martin Manvel’s coach said. It was a big stage and we got jitters, but we left some points out there. We threw a pick six; we dropped two touchdowns, that’s 21 points. “
In the fourth quarter, Aledo out-scored Manvel 14-7 to wrap up its third consecutive state title. One of the touchdowns included a 36-yard scamper by Gray, who needed one to break the national record for touchdowns.
Quarterback Shane McCarley led Manvel on 14-of-34 passing for 250 yards, 2-TDs and one pick. His favorite target, Austin Bennett was on the receiving end of six catches for 113 yards.