Similarities between Wylie, Aledo intriguing

By MARK WILSON / Staff Writer

STEPHENVILLE - Some of the similarities between the Wylie and Aledo football teams are intriguing.

The two squads enter tonight's Class 3A area playoff game each averaging 31.2 points per game while mixing up the rushing and passing all season to keep opponents off balance. The Wylie defense has allowed 11.5 points per game and the Aledo defense has given up an average of 13.1 - and both have two shutouts.

District 6-3A champion Wylie pushed its season record to 11-0 with a 21-6 bi-district victory over Iowa Park last Friday night. Aledo, the District 7-3A runner-up behind Bridgeport, rallied from a 14-0 deficit to down Clifton 24-14 in bi-district.

Although the Bearcats use the I-formation most of the time and Wylie tends to use multiple formations, Wylie coach Hugh Sandifer sees some familiar misdirection plays, traps and sweeps when he watches Aledo on video.

"Offensively, they're kind of a mirror image of our offense," Sandifer said. "Their running game and passing game are very similar to our style. They probably run more option than we do, but their quarterback (Dustin Proctor) is more of a running quarterback."

Tim Buchanan, in his fourth season as head coach of the Bearcats, said, "Offensively if you look at Abilene Wylie, they're not a large football team in size and weight. And the Aledo Bearcats do not have big size and weight. We both have some really, really good high school football players. Both teams appear to have a lot of kids that play with a lot of heart."

The Bearcats, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 1988, have been propelled by Proctor's strong running and passing. He has 1,071 yards passing and needs just 37 yards to reach 1,000 yards as a rusher.

"He's very talented," said Sandifer, whose Bulldogs have won 16 of their last 17 games. "We've got to be able to control Proctor and (running back Jon) Hix when they've got the football."

Buchanan noted the effectiveness of Wylie senior tailback Jacob Pruitt, but the playing status of the Bulldogs' leading rusher may not be known until game time. Pruitt suffered a bruise just above his left knee during the Iowa Park game, and was held out of practice this week in the hope that he would recover by tonight.

"He's a big part of their offense," Buchanan said. "Trying to stop him is going to be enough, not to mention the passing game. Their quarterback (Brady Hall) seems to be extremely accurate."

Hall has 1,663 yards passing with 16 touchdowns to help balance the 1,366 yards rushing and 17 total touchdowns Pruitt has provided. Hall has completed 55 percent of his passes, and has thrown an average of one interception per game.

If Pruitt is unable to perform, Marc Deffenbaugh would likely start at tailback.

"Any time you take 1,300 yards rushing out, that's going to hurt," said Sandifer, although he seemed optimistic because Pruitt's condition had improved greatly. "I think our other kids have got some experience. It's not like putting someone in brand new. We have several good runners and receivers at tailback.

"We would like to have Jacob in there but if not, we'll carry on and not worry about something we have no control over. He's been one of the major cogs on offense. We feel like we've got quality depth at that position."

In Aledo's comeback win over Clifton, the Bearcats sloshed through a first half with four turnovers but righted their ship in the final two quarters when they spread out their offense with a shotgun formation and opened things up.

"In the first half, they may have played hesitant - a little conservative," Sandifer said.

The Bearcats could have been in a little bit of a playoff fog since Aledo had not won a playoff game since the early 1980s, according to Buchanan.

"That's a big factor. That's one of the reasons we played so poorly early," said Buchanan, whose Bearcats tied ninth-ranked Kennedale 6-6 in non-district play. "That's why Wylie should have an advantage. That makes a big difference, confidence-wise."

In Aledo's 42-26 loss to Bridgeport, the Bearcats didn't allow a point in the second half.

"Our defense and kids have shown a lot of character when they've been behind or tied," Buchanan said.

Buchanan had high praise for Wylie's defense, which has yielded more than seven points only four times in the 11 games.

"A key for us is staying with our blocks," Buchanan said. "They get off their blocks and go make tackles better than anybody we've seen this year."

Wylie and top-ranked Vernon are the only 11-0 teams among the eight left in the Region I-3A playoff bracket. The Bulldogs are the only unranked Class 3A team left without a loss, and are one of only four remaining Class 3A teams in the state without a loss or a tie. The others, in addition to Vernon, are sixth-ranked Monahans (10-0), in Region I, and eighth-ranked Medina Valley (11-0) in Region IV.

The winner of tonight's game will advance to the regional playoff round next week against either Crane (10-1) or Amarillo River Road (7-4).