Kaidon Salter leads the way for Cedar Hill in 27-17 win over Aledo

Photo Credit: Fort Worth-Star Telegram

ALEDO, TEXAS—The Cedar Hill Longhorns and the Aledo Bearcats did not know they would be playing each other a week before their matchup. Cedar Hill was scheduled to play Allen, a perennial 6A power, last week. But after Allen had players with positive COVID-19 tests, the Longhorns were forced to find a different opponent to play. Cedar Hill scheduled a game against Aledo, a two-time defending state champion in Class 5A-Division 2. Cedar Hill had prepared to play a powerhouse program in Allen, but when they found out they would instead be playing Aledo, they knew they would be ready, and it showed.

Cedar Hill started the game with a huge break, as the Aledo kick returner fumbled the ball, and the Longhorn defense recovered at the Aledo 26-yard line. The Longhorn offense came through having great field position. On 4th and 3, quarterback, Kaidon Salter, scrambled, turned his body, and found Julian Austin in the end zone to give Cedar Hill an early 7-0 lead (PAT good). After 3 and outs by both teams, the Aledo offense found some momentum. JoJo Earle picked up a big 1st down on 4th and 3 at the Cedar Hill 33-yard line. Earle, a 4-star wide receiver, is currently committed to LSU. This ran into the final minutes of the 1st quarter, and Cedar Hill had a 7-0 lead.

The Bearcat offense took their momentum into the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback, Brant Hayden, took the ball himself and ran for a 1st down on 4th and 14 to the Cedar Hill 9-yard line. After Hayden completed a pass to JoJo Earle initially ruled a touchdown, the play was called back due to a holding penalty. Aledo was forced to settle for a 26-yard field goal to make the score 7-3.

Kaidon Salter led the Longhorns down the field all the way to the Aledo 3-yard line. Salter, a top 3 dual-threat quarterback in the country (according to 247sports), is currently committed to Tennessee. Salter flipped a pass on the 3-yard line intended for running back Kevin Young, but the ball tipped off of Young’s hands and into the hands of offensive lineman, Miguel Massey Jr., for a Longhorn touchdown (PAT no good). Aledo answered, as running back, Demarco Roberts, started the Bearcats’ drive with a 17-yard carry to the Aledo 48-yard line. Brant Hayden then found JoJo Earle on 3rd down for 16 yards to the Cedar Hill 25-yard line. Shortly after, Hayden found tight end, Jason Llewellyn, for a 23-yard catch to the Cedar Hill 5-yard line. Roberts then capped off the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown to make the score 13-10 (PAT good). Cedar Hill then had one more chance to score before halftime, but was unable to do so, and went into halftime with a 13-10 lead.

Cedar Hill started the second half strong, as Kaidon Salter completed a 27-yard pass to Anthony Thomas down to the Aledo 36-yard line. Salter then found Javien Clemmer wide open on 4th and 1 for a 27-yard touchdown (PAT good). After an Aledo punt to the Cedar Hill 1-yard line, Salter completed a pass to Javien Clemmer from the end zone to their own 38-yard line. By the end of third quarter, Cedar Hill had a 20-10 lead.

This was Aledo’s last opportunity to try and make a comeback, and they helped their chances by stopping Kaidon Salter on the run on 4th and 1. Brant Hayden led the Bearcats down the field with two big completions to JoJo Earle to bring them to the Cedar Hill 31-yard line. Demarco Roberts then ran 25 yards into the end zone to bring Aledo within 3 points (PAT good). Aledo defense started to play with more intensity, as they were controlling Kaidon Salter, and picked up a big stop on 4th and 15 to give the ball back to the offense.

Aledo needed a big drive to take the lead, but the Cedar Hill defense was going to do everything in their power to prevent that from happening. Kendall Stevens intercepted a pass from Brand Hayden, and the Longhorns took over on their own 40-yard line. Kaidon Salter did what he does best, as he had two big runs to bring the ball to the Aledo 20-yard line. Kevin Young then broke free for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Longhorns a 10-point lead (PAT good). With just under two minutes left in the game, this was Aledo’s last chance to get in the end zone. But the Longhorn defense prevented that again, as the sacked Hayden, forced a fumble, and recovered. Cedar Hill ran out the clock, and beat Aledo 27-17 at the Bearcat’s home field, where Aledo has only lost 3 times at in the past decade.

Cedar Hill improves to 2-0 with a big win over Aledo, and will take on Lake Ridge at home next week on Friday, October 23rd at 8 PM ET. Aledo suffers their first loss of the season, and falls to 2-1. The Bearcats will take on Everman on the road next week on Friday, October 23rd at 8 PM ET.