Aledo quarterback Hauss Hejny is the 2023 Fort Worth-area Offensive Player of the Year

Introducing the Fort Worth-area Offensive Player of the Year: Aledo quarterback and TCU commit Hauss Hejny.

The Star-Telegram is releasing Texas high school football awards daily until the release of the Fort Worth All-Area Team on Sunday. On Wednesday, North Crowley’s Ray Gates was named the Fort Worth-area Coach of the Year.

Aledo extended it’s district win streak to 119 and defeated every opponent by 17 points or more in Hejny’s senior season. The Bearcat dynasty continued to leave its mark, claiming a UIL record 12th state championship in December.

“It’s a pretty incredible way to end your high school career,” Hejny said. “It went as expected. The expectations are the same every year at Aledo. As soon as I won the first state championship my junior year, we knew what the goal was going into next season. It was great to execute, win 16 straight games and do it the way we wanted to do it.”

Hejny stuffed the stat sheet, tallying 2,773 passing yards on 66% passing and 1,041 rushing yards en route to accounting for 40 total touchdowns. On Saturday, Hejny competed in the All-American game in San Antonio along with teammate Davhon Keys, the District 3-5A Defensive MVP.

Hejny uses elite speed to keep defenses on their toes, but said he worked on his passing during the 2023 season. The Bearcat quarterback threw nine interceptions compared to seven in 2022, but increased his passing yards per game, completion percentage and quarterback rating.

“I just became more comfortable in the pocket and reading defenses,” Hejny said. “ ... I just give all the credit to my coaches and teammates for pouring into the game the easy I poured into the game. And God for keeping me on the straight and narrow throughout the past year.”

Hejny credited his father, Jesse Hejny, for supporting him and his personal quarterback coach, Joe Dickinson, who is a former Oklahoma offensive coordinator. He added Aledo’s offensive coordinator, Joe Ryan Williams, played a big factor in his success with a “good game plan” and his willingness to watch film “day in and day out.”

Hejny also credited Robby Jones, who recently completed his first season as Aledo’s head coach after two decades as an offensive coordinator. Hejny, who built a relationship with Jones while he was an assistant, said he was more than prepared to thrive after the promotion.

“I don’t think he could have a better first year being a head football coach,” Hejny said.

A dream to play in the Fort Worth-area

Hejny said he’s dreamed of playing quarterback at Aledo and TCU his entire life. Both of his parents were athletes at TCU, and he said it’s an amazing feeling to follow in their footsteps and see the hard work pay off.

“I’ve been so blessed throughout my football career and my childhood to live in a community like this,” Hejny said of Aledo. “To continue to play in the Fort Worth community is special. It’s a dream come true. It’s something I’ve dreamed about my whole life.”

Hejny discussed his relationships with TCU’s coaching staff, and mentioned he got to know offensive coordinator Kendal Briles during the Frog assistant’s tenure with Arkansas. Hejny, who had a top three of Arkansas, TCU and Texas A&M, “loved” what Briles did with the Razorback offense.

“He got the job at TCU and then he started recruiting me right away,” Hejny said. So, we’ve continued to build the relationship throughout the past couple months.”

As his career moves forward, Hejny will transition from Aledo black and orange to the TCU purple he knows and loves. Hejny has “hardly missed” a TCU home game at Amon G. Carter Stadium, and now he’ll be on the sidelines.

“It’s just going to be a real surreal moment when I’m in uniform and on the field,” Hejny said. “I get to go and put on a show for the community. I just give all the glory to God because he’s blessed me in so many ways. Being able to play for TCU is a blessing. I look forward to going out there and working my butt off to do anything I can to help the team win.”

A place in the Aledo Bearcat dynasty

Hejny and his teammates will forever be known as defending champions and a part of Aledo’s long, storied Texas high school football legacy. What has been the driving force of the Aledo Bearcat dynasty? To Hejny, it’s a simple as “showing up day in and day out.”

“Doing it for your teammates,” Hejny said. “Working hard for your teammates and doing it for your family. They pour into this community. Don’t take anything for granted. … We’ve stayed consistent with our brand of football.”

Hejny said he’ll remember the small things: off season workouts, lunchroom hangouts, team dinners and sacrificing “blood sweat and tears” with his teammates.

“I’ll remember playing with my best friends that I grew up with throughout my childhood,” Hejny siad. “I would do anything for them. It’s a special bond you build with teammates at Aledo.”