TAPPS Football State Championships Recap

This past weekend (12/1-2/23) I had the opportunity through my internship with Texas Private School Media to travel to Waco, Texas, and help cover the TAPPS State Football Division 2, 3, and 4 championships. The venue, as in years prior, was Waco ISD Stadium. The three games I attended were Division 2 Liberty Christian vs. Regents School of Austin, Division 3 Dallas Christian vs. Holy Cross, and Division 4 First Baptist vs. Lubbock Christian. 

The first game on my slate was Division 2 Liberty Christian vs Regents School of Austin. Liberty Christian, under the direction of former Dallas Cowboy and NFL Pro Bowler Jason Witten, traveled with an undefeated record of 13-0. They faced an Austin Regents team with a record of 12-1 but unfortunately, Regents was without their star sophomore quarterback Quinn Murphy, who was injured in the state semifinal game. Regents struck first after Freshman QB Jack Devine led the Knights down the field for a Weston Mebane field goal. Once the Liberty offense, led by UConn commit QB Cole Welliver, received the ball they never looked back. Welliver threw for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns while Brady Janusek was on the receiving end of two and Quinton Brown the other. Not only was the passing game deadly, but running back Chase Garnett rushed for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Warrior’s defense was stout, led by Jason Witten’s oldest son CJ Witten. I had the opportunity to interview Cole Welliver on how he would describe this State Champion team in one word and he replied with, “Competitive, the whole team is competitive between offense and defense and that is what got us here and we never gave up or thought we could lose a game.” The Liberty Christian Warriors completed the perfect season (14-0) and are the TAPPS Division 2 State Champions by defeating Austin Regents 52 to 10.

The first game on Saturday (12.2.23) was a matchup of Division 3 powerhouse and back-to-back state champs Dallas Christian (12-1) vs. Holy Cross (10-2) who were making their first-ever state championship appearance in TAPPS. You could feel the electricity emanating from the Holy Cross sideline and the fans who had traveled from San Antonio. The Knights were led by Junior QB Gibby Alvarado on offense who totaled 211 yards using his arm and legs and Senior LB Jeremiah Vallejo who totaled 14 tackles. Their efforts would be overpowered by Dallas Christian, led by Junior QB Luke Carney who threw for 280 yards and 2 touchdowns including one to SMU commit William “Speedy” Nettles. Nettles excelled on both sides of the ball, as he recorded 8 receptions for 172 yards and a score while doubling as a lockdown corner. Senior Air Force commit Porter Nix led the Charger defense and had several QB pressures as well as tackles for loss. When I asked Porter Nix what one word would describe this state champion team he answered, “Physical, physical on both sides of the ball, O Line & D line I think is the most physical in TAPPS. As you saw in the game our safeties are coming down to make plays.” Dallas Christian is now back-to-back-to-back State Champions by conquering Holy Cross 28 to 13. 

The final game of the weekend featured the air raid offense of First Baptist (12-0) and the West Texas toughness of Lubbock Christian (11-2). Lubbock Christian had adversity to overcome early in the season, as QB Welker Horn sustained a season-ending injury prior to district play. Senior WR turned QB Luke Lee took the reins of the Lubbock Christian offense in Horn’s absence. The Eagles scored first with Lee connecting with Junior Jacob Fernihough which resulted in Lubbock Christian holding a lead at the end of the first quarter. However, the First Baptist offense erupted in the second quarter as they scored 21 points. First Baptist was led by senior transfer QB Hunter McCoy who threw for 194 yards, rushed for 177, and totaled 8 touchdowns. McCoy has a plethora of receivers to whom he dishes the ball, including senior Holy Cross commit Alijah Cason, sophomore sensation Dominic Saidu (who already has power five offers), and 6’6 Junior UTSA commit Kaleb Mitchell. In my time talking with Kaleb Mitchell he answered the same question raised to everyone else by stating, “I really can’t explain it in one word because we have worked so hard for this State Championship, so words can’t explain what we did.” First Baptist becomes the Division IV State Champions by outlasting Lubbock Christian 55 to 33. 

Make sure to check out TXPSMedia.com for more articles and photos from the 2023 state championship. Also, make sure to subscribe on YouTube to listen to the podcast and follow us on social media!