ALEDO
A historic run is over.
Arlington Martin snapped Aledo’s 136-game district win streak, seizing a 35-21 victory in a thriller Friday at Tim Buchanan Stadium. The Warriors trailed 21-10 at the half and surged from behind, scoring 25 second-half points and shutting out Aledo the rest of the way on its homecoming night.
The district streak for the Bearcats, a national record, spanned 6,930 days and nearly 19 years, starting before any current player was born. As it became evident that Martin was about to win the game, the Bearcats’ sideline and stands were noticeably quiet. After, it was a somber scene as stunned players shared hugs.
“There’s no way to take it the right way,” Aledo head coach Robby Jones said. “It is what it is, and that’s what I told them. We’ve just got to respond from here. What do we do the next time we step on the football field? Are we going to be in give up mode? Or are we going to get in here during the bye week, get better, and play better next time we’re on the football field?”
The Warriors (5-0, 2-0 District 3-6A) started the second half with an 82-yard kick return from sophomore Mason Hawkins that set up a field goal. Aledo (2-3, 1-1) then held possession in the red zone, but Martin’s Malik Mason made a huge impact play, recovering a fumble. It was a momentum-shifting spark.
Arlington Martin’s Malik Mason recovers a fumble in a District 3-6A UIL Texas high school football game against Aledo at Tim Buchanan Stadium in Aledo, Texas, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The Warriors snapped Aledo’s 136-game district win streak. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
It seemed the Martin offense couldn’t capitalize, but a 77-yard touchdown run on a fake punt from Kevin Grant made it a one-point game. Martin took the lead with 6:11 remaining on a 13-yard TD strike from quarterback Chase Devoll to Mason.
Both teams traded punts before Aledo lost the ball on downs at its own 33-yard line with 2:08 left in the game. Three plays later, Kaden Phillips put a stamp on it with a 33-yard touchdown run, his only carry of the game, going right up the middle on third-and-10.
Arlington Martin is about to win this game. Warriors lead 34-21 with 1:51 to go. #TXHSFB
Aledo Bearcats need a miracle. 136 game district streak in trouble. Martin’s Kaden Phillips with a 33 yard TD. pic.twitter.com/xqL7LaWEfO
— Charles Baggarly (@swaggarly) September 26, 2026
“We haven’t played Martin Warrior football the last couple of years, and so any win is big,” Martin head coach Chad Rives said. “But when you’re able to compete and come out on top against, in my opinion, the top program in the history of Texas high school football, that’s big for us.”
For Martin, it’s a season-defining, stunning victory off the heels of two uncharacteristic seasons. The Warriors missed the playoffs the past two years after having an 18-year playoff run and a decade of dominance in Arlington ISD.
“What those guys have done — coaches and players. Just buying in, right?,” Rives said. “And playing together and playing off one another, and playing with effort. We mess up, but at least now we’re doing it full speed.”
Arlington Martin football players stretch before celebrating after a District 3-6A UIL Texas high school football game against Aledo at Tim Buchanan Stadium in Aledo, Texas, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The Warriors snapped Aledo’s 136-game district win streak. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
Martin has reclaimed its swagger, firmly establishing itself as a District 3-6A title contender. And facing a deficit, the team stuck together and kept fighting, showing improved toughness, determination and grit.
“It’s the leadership,” Devoll said of the turnaround. “We’re not friends. We’re brothers. We’re family. And that’s the most important thing.”
Arlington Martin head football coach Chad Rives addresses the Warriors after a District 3-6A UIL Texas high school football game against Aledo at Tim Buchanan Stadium in Aledo, Texas, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Martin snapped Aledo’s 136-game district win streak. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
Devoll said the win was a reflection of a years worth of hard work.
“Coach Rives said, ‘We might lose by 50 or win by 50,’” Devoll said. “Or it could be a dogfight. We chose dogfight.”
Arlington Martin head coach Chad Rives shares a hug with an assistant coach after a District 3-6A UIL Texas high school football game against Aledo at Tim Buchanan Stadium in Aledo, Texas, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The Warriors snapped Aledo’s 136-game district win streak. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
To start the game, Aledo capped a seven play, 69-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Tre Williams to tight end Caden Palmquest.
Martin retaliated with a 55-yard breakaway run from running back Javian Jones-Priest, who made a couple defenders miss with his speed and a late cut toward the middle of the field.
Neither team scored again until the second quarter, when Aledo running back Wyatt Dorsey found a lane en route to a 59-yard TD. He nearly lost the ball at the goal line with Martin defensive back Jordan Meadows punching it out; officials ruled he crossed the plane before he lost possession.
Aledo sophomore Wyatt Dorsey breaks away for what officials rule an 58 yard TD. #TXHSFB
But did Martin punch it out? Goal line official had a better angle than me. Definitely very close. Bearcats lead 14-7 (11:10 Q2). pic.twitter.com/WuWD8X6EVr
— Charles Baggarly (@swaggarly) September 26, 2026
Dorsey finished with a whopping 209 yards rushing on 20 carries for the Bearcats, who piled up 266 rushing yards on the night.
Martin cut the lead with a 45-yard field goal, but Aledo once again took control, finishing the half with a TD and a 21-10 lead. On the 4-yard line, Williams rolled out of the pocket and found tight end Colby Thompson in the corner of the end zone.
Aledo outgained Martin in total yards, 356-323, but the Bearcats couldn’t get anything going in the second half against the Warriors’ defense.
Aledo fans cheer on the Bearcats in a District 3-6A UIL Texas high school football game against Martin at Tim Buchanan Stadium in Aledo, Texas, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
Aledo lost the ball on downs three times, fumbled at the 2-yard line going in and punted twice in the second half.
Martin gained 165 yards on its three touchdown runs and carried 25 other times for zero yards against Aledo’s defense. Devoll was excellent for the Warriors, however, hitting 21 of 25 passes for 158 yards with Chancellor Tealer (8 catches for 69 yards) and Mason (9-68) doing most of the damage.
Arlington Martin head coach Chad Rives roams the sideline in a District 3-6A UIL Texas high school football game against Aledo at Tim Buchanan Stadium in Aledo, Texas, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The Warriors snapped Aledo’s 136-game district win streak Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
“[Martin] is a good football team,” Jones said. “Anytime you play a good football team, it’s going to be tough. … We’re a young football team. We’ve got a lot of guys on crutches — not making an excuse. We’ve got to find ways to win football games. Right now, we’re finding ways to do things to cost us football games.”
Jones was an assistant 19 years ago when the streak began. He’s had a front row seat to see the national record develop. Although some could argue it’s the same thing, Aledo players and coaches have cared more about winning the next game than creating or extending the streak.
“You don’t think about stuff like [the streak], and nobody ever imagines anything like it,” Jones said. “We’ve had some games where the streak was in jeopardy. We put it in jeopardy tonight and came out on the wrong end. Normally, we find a way to win. We found a way to lose the football game tonight.”
Arlington Martin football players participate in the Martin Alma Mater after a District 3-6A UIL Texas high school football game against Aledo at Tim Buchanan Stadium in Aledo, Texas, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The Warriors snapped Aledo’s 136-game district win streak. Charles Baggarly Star-Telegram
This story was originally published September 25, 2026 at 9:41 PM.
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.