Aledo will begin its second consecutive state title defense on Saturday afternoon at Globe Life Park, as the Bearcats open their season against Weatherford.

Who: Aledo Bearcats (0-0) vs. Weatherford Kangaroos (0-0)

When: Saturday, Sept. 26, 3:30 PM CT

Where: Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas

Watch: LIVE on FloFootball

Aledo is replacing 44 seniors who’ve left an enduring legacy after going 31-1 over the past two seasons — a group that includes Alabama running back Jase McClellan and Utah wide receiver Money Parks.

Still, you’ll have to forgive head coach Tim Buchanan if he’s not panicking.

Aledo will once again be expected to contend for championships this season, thanks to a strong defense with a loaded secondary and some dynamic weapons in the fold on the offensive side of the ball.

Meanwhile, Weatherford is tasked with replacing 14 starters from last season’s playoff team. Much of the onus for making a return trip to the postseason in ’20 will fall on the shoulders of senior quarterback Ken Seals.

Seals returns for his final season with the Kangaroos after throwing for 2,654 yards and 20 touchdowns.

No Fly Zone

Aledo will return a half dozen starters on defense, including one of Class 5A’s top secondaries, headlined by senior cornerback DeMarco Roberts and junior safety Bryan Allen.

Roberts was responsible for 81 tackles and a pair of interceptions in 2019, and enters the weekend with three stars next to his name and a list of college suitors that includes Houston, Central Arkansas and Illinois State.

pic.twitter.com/fe9CdBUtfy

— Bryan Allen Jr (@BJThaKid04) July 3, 2020

Allen, who racked up 122 tackles and three interceptions during his sophomore season, is one of the nation’s top safety prospects from the class of 2022. The six-foot, 180-pounder is currently committed to LSU over the likes of Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas and Florida.

Seals and Weatherford’s talented group of offensive skill players will have their work cut out for them in this one.

Replacing Jase

For four years, Jase McClellan stood in the backfield for Aledo, striking fear into opponents, and injecting an aura of invincibility into the Bearcats.

McClellan was an immediate star, piling up 1,528 rushing yards and 20 scores a freshman, while leading the ‘Cats to the first of three state titles during his career.

All told, the 5-foot-11, 212-pound bell cow totaled 6,468 rushing yards and 122 touchdowns for Aledo before signing on to join Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. 

So what now?

Choose your character 🎮 pic.twitter.com/7rdcIvafHd

— Jeaux Jeaux💕🌴 (@kvshy_J) July 4, 2020

Jeremiah James figures to step into the lead role after rushing for 640 yards and six touchdowns last season, but, with respect to James, the Bearcats’ true “replacement” for a talent like McClellan isn’t in the running back rotation.

Instead, all eyes will be on 5-foot-9, 170-pound wide receiver JoJo Earle.

The LSU commit is among the nation’s highest rated wide receiver prospects thanks to a lethal combination of elusiveness and game-breaking speed and Aledo is going to feature him all over the field — because that’s what you do when you have a dynamic playmaker with top half of the NFL Draft potential.

Football At The Globe

When Aledo and Weatherford kick off their respective 2020 campaigns on Saturday, they will also be opening an autumn full of football at Globe Life Park.

The former home of the Texas Rangers will play host to Colleyville and Grapevine on Saturday night at 8 PM CT (LIVE on FloFootball).

Two weeks later, top-ranked IMG Academy will visit from the Sunshine State for a showdown with No. 6 Duncanville, in what may well be the top high school football matchup in the nation this season — and, yes, that one is LIVE on FloFootball, as well.