All-Time Matchup Monday: 2010 Aledo vs. 1985 Houston Yates

AledoYatesMainEditor’s Note: Every Monday during the offseason, we’ll bring you our new running series, All-Time Matchup Monday, where we’ll pit two of the greatest teams in Texas high school football history against each other, throw a few theories around on who might come out on top, and then we’ll ask you to settle the debate for us. You can also nominate all-time teams and games. Just tweet @dctf with the hashtag #MatchupMonday with your nominations. Week 1:2000 Midland Lee vs. 1996 Austin Westlake Fan vote results: 2000 Midland Lee Week 2:1970 Austin Reagan vs. 1973 John Tyler Fan vote results: 1973 John Tyler Week 3:2015 Katy vs. 2013 Allen Fan vote results: 2015 Katy Week 4:1983 Daingerfield vs. 1988 Dallas Carter Fan vote results: 1983 Daingerfield Week 5:2008 Lake Travis vs. 2006 Southlake Carroll Fan vote results: 2008 Lake Travis Week 6: 2005 Celina vs. 1997 Sealy Fan vote results: 2005 Celina Week 7: 1978 Houston Stratford vs. 1980 Odessa PermianFan vote results: 1980 Odessa Permian Week 8: 1998 Stephenville vs. 2003 Galena Park North ShoreFan vote results: 1998 Stephenville Week 9: 1973 Big Sandy vs. 2015 CanadianFan vote results: 2015 Canadian WEEK 10 MATCHUP: 2010 Aledo vs. 1985 Houston YatesWhy Yates would win Yates High School made Third Ward the mecca of high school football for at least one year in 1985. Yates went 16-0 to become Houston ISD’s first champion in football. Yates scored a record 659 points that season, led by All-State running back Johnny Bailey, one of the best prep players to ever come through the state of Texas. Even with him injured for four games in the regular season, Yates put up 452 points before the playoffs even began. Quarterback Charlie Price threw for 25 touchdowns in 1985. His best receiver, Quinton Smith, played some in the NFL, as did four other players on the Yates football team. Bailey and the offense get most of the press clippings from a team considered by many to be the best Texas high school football team in history. The defense was as dominant, if not more. Linebacker Melvin Foster led the way. Yates allowed 49 regular season points, shutting out five of its 10 opponents before playoffs. Yates’ defense ended the season allowing 77 total points and recording 107 sacks. Future Baylor and NFL player Santana Dotson was a junior on the team. Head coach Luther Booker and Yates beat defending Class 5A state champion Odessa Permian, 37-0, in the state championship. Bailey rushed for 190 yards, while the Yates defense allowed nine yards of rushing. Why Aledo would win Johnathan Gray is arguably the best high school football Texas ever produced, and it’s produced a few in its time. Gray led Aledo to three state championships in his final three seasons at Aledo. It was the 2010 season that stands the test of time. Gray and Aledo won a Class 4A Division II title the year previous and were expected to make a run at another. Aledo did just that, scoring 780 points during a 16-0 season. The Bearcats knocked off Stephenville in Week 1, and again to win Region I in the state playoffs. Aledo also held a non-district win over Lake Travis. The toughest test of the season was a two-point victory over Mesquite Poteet in the state semifinals. Aledo ran into La Marque in the 2010 Class 4A Division II state championship. Aledo repeated with a dominant 69-34 victory. Gray was his usual self, rushing for 323 yards and eight touchdowns on 28 carries. For the season, Gray ran for 3,218 yards, averaging over 200 per contest, and 59 rushing touchdowns. He caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Matthew Bishop to bring his total touchdown mark to 61 in one season. [poll id="102"] Craven’s Pick: Aledo Yates was the best team of the 1980’s, but Jonathan Gray and Aledo would be too much. Greg Tepper’s Pick: Aledo Yates is the more complete team, but that Aledo offense was basically unstoppable. The fighting Johnathan Grays pick up a close win. Max Thompson’s Pick: Yates I just think talent for talent, it's hard to argue against five future NFL players on the Lions' roster, not to mention what appears to be a stiffer defense.