The Finals once again descend upon Waco. A logical choice for 3 of these 4 games. So I'll make my one mention a year of things I think TAPPS should consider. First, 3-round playoffs. If there's only 18 or fewer teams in a division and only 3 or fewer districts, an 8-team playoff would be ok. This could put the games on separate weekends and might keep someone from having to play Friday at noon (or Thursday for 6-man). Second, if Central Texas isn't a logical midpoint consider hosting at a site logical for the 2 teams. I know Waco in recent years has offered incentives to schedule as many championships there as possible. So I have to admit that following the money isn't a bad play either. Next, schedule the games closer together so a neutral fan might hit more than one. No one is staying for a noon and a 7pm game. If you need a place with more locker rooms to do this, find one. Lastly, $18 is stiff. I get it, but whew that's a big number for a high school game. Yes, the UIL can get $20 but that's $2 for AT&T Stadium and 3 games close together.
Enough with all that. We've got 4 great games that include all 4 of last year's champions. Three undefeated teams look to complete the perfect season. Its going to be a fun finish to our 10th season. Everyone stay safe and dry this weekend when you can. Good luck and safe travels on your road to State! Everyone will be undefeated again soon, even the Eagles...
Division III
Dallas Christian vs. San Antonio Holy Cros
s -- A rematch of last year's Division III title game will settle 2024 on Friday night. The Chargers won the Division II title in 2021 before winning Division III each of the last two seasons. The 3-peat has run the DC title total to 11, the most in TAPPS 11-man. To add to the mystique the Chargers have reached 21 State Finals, but have needed the 3-in-a-row to get back over .500 at 11-10 all time on TAPPS championship weekend. The Knights are the opposite side of the coin. A season ago was Holy Cross first TAPPS Final appearance. The Knights were in the game last, but DC secured the victory 28-13. While the history is always fun, its this year's teams that will decide things. This season the Knights have dominated the opposition. Just 3 opponents have kept the score to a margin 20 or less, Weimar, Dallas First Baptist, and Central Catholic. Their average score is 47-8. The revenge tour from last year's Finals appearance has been destructive. Thanks to bracketing they can be one of the only 14-0 teams in TAPPS this year and were able to avoid playing another district champion until the title game. An unfortunate reality of 3 districts is that the bracket is going to look weird. The Chargers started off on a rocky path in 2024 at just 2-2 and having been dominated by Prestonwood, 49-9. The Division III opponents have been mostly no match for DC. Though Dallas Covenant made it interesting it was another undefeated district title for the Chargers, putting them at 5-in-a-row. The semifinal was a narrow escape of Lubbock Christian, 43-38. Holding up the reputation of a "big 3" in Division III. The DC defense has been a bit suspect against the top opponents this year. Cornerstone rolled off 49, Prestonwood 49, and the previously mentioned Lubbock Christian 38. Even Pittsburg scored 30. At 47 points per game the offense may outscore those problems, but the Knights pose the biggest test of the season since the calendar shifted to October. We know the general leanings of this space so the pick should be no surprise, but this should be a tight one. I'm not sure a walk-off pick 6 like the 2020 game with Regents is in order, but there are going to be some big momentum plays in this one. Chargers win a shootout for their 12th TAPPS crown, 48-44.
Division I
Argyle Liberty Christian vs. Dallas Parish Episcopal -- TAPPS largest schools comprise Division I, but will decided by a couple of the smaller schools, by enrollment, in the division. The Warriors won the 2023 crown in Division II, finishing 14-0. They've been just as good in Division I this year, but just 11-1 on the record sheet. Only UIL Texas High bested Liberty this year. Seemingly every year Division I is decided by the District 1 teams. This year its 1st against 3rd with the Warriors having beaten the Panthers on Oct. 18, 35-27. I say seemingly as it was actually Houston St. Thomas that opposed Parish a season ago in Waco. A 40-29 win completed the Panthers 5th consecutive title, all in Division I. A 2018 semifinal loss to Bishop Dunne was the last playoff defeat for Parish. The gap has appeared to be narrowing each year, and they will need to win this week to reach 10 wins for the 7th consecutive season. Both teams should be able to score on this one, but also neither defense is "suspect." Just expect an all-around great game to close the 2024 TAPPS football season. The Warriors are 4-4 all time in the title game, the Panthers are 7-0 all time in the title game. I'm almost stalling at this point trying to make a pick. We'll say you're the champs until someone dethrones you. Panthers win a 6th consecutive crown in a classic, 34-31.
Division II
Fort Worth All Saints vs. Houston Second Baptist -- The departure of Liberty to Division I means Division II could be the only Division with a new champion. It is certainly the only one guaranteed to have a new boss. The Saints opened the season with 2 stunning wins over Parish and Prestonwood, immediately announcing themselves as the favorite in Division II and at 13-0 they've never let up. Amongst their peers Regents in the semifinal provided the toughest test, a 42-26 win for the Saints. All Saints has only been held under 40 in 3 games this season. The Eagles (one of 2 to reach 11-man's final weekend) are 11-2 and once again continue the tradition of District 4's runner-up reaching the title game. After a destruction of FWC in Week 2, Second Baptist seemed to a the likely contender for the South place in the title game. Regents being moved to the North appeared to remove all obstacles. However, things hit a little skid late in the season as they narrowly escaped The Woodlands Christian and then lost the district title game to Fort Bend Christian. They absolutely turned that around in the playoffs though winning the semifinal of FBCA, 35-16. The Eagles are one of only 2 "South" teams to win TAPPS 2nd largest division since a 4th division was created in 1992. Second Baptist won its lone TAPPS crown in 1999. The Saints won 7 SPC titles before switching associations to TAPPS in 2017. They've been unable to claim a TAPPS crown since then having to navigate the Parish run in Division I and dropping the Division II title game in 2022 to Fort Bend Christian. At 13-0, I think this is the Saints moment. Saints finally get that 1st TAPPS crown, 42-35.
Division IV
Dallas First Baptist vs. Bryan Brazos Christian -- The Saints won the Division IV crown in 2023, defeating Lubbock Christian 55-33. That FBA offense scored over 700 points in just 13 games, averaging over 54 points per game. The 11-1 mark this season isn't as dominant but against Division IV competition its still the best around. They've posted 58 and 54 in their two playoff wins. The Saints lone loss was to Division III finalist Holy Cross. The Eagles are 12-0 and could be one of the three to finish undefeated this season. It is the first 12 win season for Brazos Christian in the MaxPreps era. The Eagles have been very good all season, outscoring the opposition 38-10 on average. The disparity in success between District 1 and District 2 makes us wonder how this might go. The Eagles faced only one team from District 1 this season, defeating Waco Live Oak 31-13 last week in the semifinals. The Eagles lone appearance in the title game was in 2013 when they lost the Division III title to...Dallas First Baptist. I just don't see the Saints as having regressed enough from last year's squad to getting beat here. The Eagles should make this interesting, but back-to-back titles seems on offer. The Saints are 2-1 all-time in the title game the lone loss is a lifetime ago in the 1984 Division I championship game. First Baptist claims its 3rd TAPPS title, 42-25.
Season: 76-24
Quick Hits finishes the season at 108-22.
