12/13/2025
Aledo’s season comes to a surprising end as Frisco Lone Star storms back for a 56-52 upset to advance to the state title game.
Game updates by Geoff Heppes
Photography by Memorable Moments
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FIRST QUARTER:
Q1 10:20 - Aledo Bearcats 7, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 0. Aledo gets off to a fast start as Brady Powell finds the end zone from 23 yards out! Tubbs fueled the drive with a long run of his own and a 16-yard pass to Kaydon Finley. Aledo scores in just four plays in this state semifinal matchup at Vernon Newsome Stadium in Mansfield!
Q1 7:11 - Aledo Bearcats 14, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 0. This time, Aledo marches into the end zone following a 5-play, 66-yard sequence after the defense forced Lone Star’s offense off the field in three plays. Kaden Winkfield scored off right tackle from 3 yards out to double the Bearcats’ advantage early.
Q1 5:08 - Aledo Bearcats 14, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 7. Rangers are on the board with a 41-yard TD pass from sophomore QB Nick Wright to cut deficit in half a little over halfway through a barnburner of a first quarter.
Q1 1:52 - Aledo Bearcats 21, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 7. Aledo responds with an impressive 10-play, 67-yard scoring drive that featured almost exclusively running plays. Winkfield finished off the drive with a 1-yard plunge to restore the Bearcats’ double-digit advantage!
Q1 1:34 - Aledo Bearcats 21, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 14. Lone Star needs just one more electric play and a matter of seconds to cut the deficit back to 7, on a 68-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass.
END Q1: Aledo Bearcats 21, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 14. Bearcats facing 2nd & 9 from the Lone Star 23 to open the second quarter, following an exciting opening quarter of this state semifinal matchup!
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SECOND QUARTER:
After an Aledo interception early in the second quarter, the Bearcat defense forces a 3-and-out, giving the ball back to their offense with 9:54 left in plus-territory after a quality return by Lamel Swanson!
Q2 4:51 - Aledo Bearcats 21, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 21. After Aledo turns the ball over on downs in plus territory, Lone Star drives the field and ties score up on a 3rd-and-goal TD pass from 5 yards out.
Q2 2:40 - Aledo Bearcats 28, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 21. What a response by Aledo! Facing 3rd & 4 from midfield, Tubbs found a streaking Kaydon Finley in stride for a 50-yard TD score! Finley broke a tackle at the 35 and went untouched to the house to give Aledo the lead back.
HALFTIME: Aledo Bearcats 28, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 21. Lone Star misses a 24-yard FG wide right with 9 seconds left, as Aledo showcases its bend-but-don’t-break defense to preserve a slim lead in this state semifinal clash. Rangers to receive opening kickoff of second half.
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THIRD QUARTER:
Q3 10:24 - Aledo Bearcats 35, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 21. After a defensive 3-and-out forced by Aledo, which featured Cooper Cyphers’ third sack of the contest, Aledo needs just one play to explode ahead by 14 once more as Tubbs finds Finley wide open for a 54-yard scoring strike!
Q3 8:47 - Aledo Bearcats 42, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 21. Lightning strikes twice in the early third-quarter moments for Aledo as Tubbs follows his long TD pass to Finley with a 51-yard sprint to the end zone as Aledo doubles up Lone Star on the scoreboard!
Q3 7:29 - Aledo Bearcats 42, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 28. Wright calls his own number from 31 yards out as Lone Star cuts the deficit back to 14 points.
After turning ball over on downs in plus territory again, Aledo D digs its geeks in as Cyphers gets another sack, his 4th of the night, to give the offense another opportunity in Lone Star territory with 3:39 left with a 42-28 lead.
Payton Shaffer tacks on a 34-yard field goal to Aledo’s tally, giving the Bearcats a three-possession lead as we near the fourth quarter.
END Q3: Aledo Bearcats 45, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 28. Rangers facing 2nd & 2 from midfield to open the fourth quarter as Aledo is 12 minutes from playing in AT&T Stadium for a chance at its record-extending 13th state title!
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FOURTH QUARTER:
Q4 10:37 - Aledo Bearcats 45, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 35. Wright dazzles with his legs again on a 39-yard rushing TD to trim Aledo’s lead to 10 points.
Q4 8:09 - Aledo Bearcats 52, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 35. Finley has a hat trick of long touchdowns as Aledo converts impressively on 3rd & 14 from the Lone Star 42. Tubbs scrambled to his right and found Finley, who ran more than 70 yards weaving through defenders as he eventually found his way across the goal line as Aledo remains in control!
Q4 4:50 - Aledo Bearcats 52, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 42. Wright airs it out from 42 yards out to again cut the deficit to 10 points, but can they stop the Aledo offense? Bearcats are less than 5 minutes away from a date with Smithson Valley in the Class 5A Division I state championship game.
Q4 1:49 - Aledo Bearcats 52, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 49. Wright does it again with his legs, scoring from 19 yards out after marching 99 yards down the field to cut the deficit to 3 points. Aledo set to receive.
Q4 0:30 - Aledo Bearcats 52, Frisco Lone Star Rangers 56. Lone Star goes ahead improbably on a 5-yard TD pass after recovering onside kick. Aledo’s season is down to its last 30 seconds. Shocking turn of events here in Mansfield.
