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 we're actually going to 3-round playoffs next year! Not sure I love creating an additional champion when only xx schools play 11-man football, but I'm willing to give that a try. When your divisions are down close to 16 schools in a division its just not practical to have a 4-round playoff. Waco ISD Stadium is very good. An excellent choice for a Central Texas site. However, forcing Prestonwood and Parish to travel to Waco to play on Friday at 11am is not maximizing your value or helping your event feel big time. Going to five 11-man games next year is probably not going to help this situation. 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. We could schedule the games on different weekends to get different sites. Allow different bracketing depending on division needs. Scheduling games closer together so a neutral fan might attend more than one is another thought. No one is staying for an 11am and a 6pm game. If you need a place with more locker rooms to do this, find one. The cost to attend is awfully high for a high school game in a high school stadium at an inconvenient time. I always limit myself to this one space to voice these complaints. Thanks for listening.
Now to the games. We've got 4 great ones that include all 4 of last year's champions and 4 rematches from the 2024 playoffs. Two undefeated teams look to complete the perfect season. One actually looks to stay above .500. Two look to reverse last year's title games. One looks to reach the historic 5-peat. Weather looks good and these should great games to wrap the season. Everyone will be undefeated again soon, even the Eagles...
Division IIIDallas Christian vs. Lubbock Christian -- The Chargers took out the Eagles 43-38 in last year's semifinal. It was a classic game with lots of offense. Early in the season I would've said DC might have trouble producing that offense on the day but the Chargers have piled up points since the calendar flipped to October. The scoring average is up to 42.5 points per game. This is a shot at 5-in-a-row for the Chargers. The Eagles have won two state titles, in 2004 and 2022. If not for a 4-time defending champion in the division they'd probably be the favorites this season. Only Wellington has blemished the Eagles record so far in 2025 and they are fresh off a 58 point victory in the semifinals. LCS is averaging just under 49 points per game. I'm not sure either team is going to stop the other very much in this one. The Chargers dominated Colleyville Covenant in Round 2 and that points to a stronger squad. That is the only common opponent to draw on so how this goes is really anyone's guess. The leanings of this space are no secret, so we'll have to go with the 5-peat. Chargers win a classic for their 13th TAPPS title, 42-35.
Division IPlano Prestonwood Christian vs. Dallas Parish Episcopal -- The Lions and Panthers are destined to play twice every year. Last season the Lions took a 52-49 win the regular season before the Panthers turned the tables in the Regional with a wild 61-55 win. Both of those games were at Prestonwood. This season Parish took a 38-35 home win to secure the district title. PES has lost just one playoff game since 2019 when Liberty Christian took the title in last season's title game. The only loss for the Panthers this season was the opener to All Saints, a squad that hasn't lost since 2023. The Lions had one of the strangest starts to a season ever as they began with bye, no contest, loss, bye. Meaning that on September 25 they were just 0-1. They found 5 district wins and 2 playoff wins to reach 7-3 on the season. They really struggled to find their stride. Needing OT with Bishop Lynch and dropping the two "big" games against Parish and Liberty. Down the stretch though its been 63, 45, 49, and 44 on the scoreboard. So it was a bit of a winding road, but I think we got the best teams for a great final. It was a 3-point game at Parish so I expect nothing different to decide the 1st title of the weekend. Parish lost its first championship game last season to fall to 7-1 in title contests. Prestonwood is 5-3 in the title game. The Panthers may not be the champs right now, but the historic 5-peat was just a year ago. To be the man you have to beat the man and the Lions have their shot, but I lean toward the Panthers as the more consistent squad. Parish wins a 6th title in 7 seasons in a tight one. I'm going more defense than you might expect. Panthers 25 Lions 21.
Division IIFort Worth All Saints vs. Houston Second Baptist -- A season ago the Eagles could not find the Waco ISD endzone as the Saints took their 1st TAPPS title, 21-3. Climbing back up the mountain when you get so close is always a challenge and it looked to have taken its toll early in the season for Second Baptist. At 1-6, I don't think anyone had the Eagles in the title game in even the faintest of pencil. Particularly given The Woodlands Christian 32 point victory over the Eagles. After 6 straight wins though they are surprise finalists. The Saints had the opposite experience in 2025. After winning the title they entered as likely favorites in Division II and after beating Parish Episcopal in the opener there was little debate. Now at 26 wins in a row they are primed to claim back-to-back trophies. The offensive domination of an undefeated Regents squad is the best result of 2025. The Eagles have always been the squad to pull an upset as these playoffs have shown and are one of just two schools south of the I-20 corridor to win TAPPS 2nd largest division since 1992. They have continued an odd trend of only reaching the title game when they do not win the district title, but I fear they are over-matched in this one. Saints dominate for a repeat, 33-7.
Division IVDallas First Baptist vs. Bryan Brazos Christian -- Yet another Eagles pierces the title games as the rematch with the Saints for the Division IV title. FBA is the holders of back-to-back crowns in the smallest 11-man division. The Eagles enter the Final at 12-0 for the 2nd straight season. Only Hallettsville Sacred Heart really tested the Eagles this season with the other 11 wins all coming by at least 30 points. At 45 points per game they are in better position than the 2024 team to out run the Saints. First Baptist dropped the opener to Division I Bishop Lynch and a game with an out-of-state opponent to reach their record of 10-2. Central Texas Christian nearly nabbed the Saints last week in the semis with FBA escaping 21-14. The Saints are going to hard to knock off the top step, but the margin appears to be closer than ever. They are playing their best now though having dominated Hallettsville Sacred Heart in Round 1. Brazos Christian has been the more consistent squad on the season and they dominated Central Texas Christian in the regular season. All I can say for certain is these two are clearly the top of Division IV. The Eagles have played in and lost just 2 championship games, both against the Saints. FBA is 3-1 all time in the championship game and won last year's game 42-15. This should be closer and probably decided at the end, but FBA is the champ until bested. Saints win a shootout, 47-44.
Season: 76-22
Quick Hits will make the first ever 6-man picks for the blog.
Division I: Pasadena First Baptist Warriors over Waco Vanguard Vikings
Division II: Huntsville Alpha Omega Lions over Fort Worth Covenant Classical Cavaliers
Division III: Waco Valor Prep Knights over Lake Jackson Brazosport Christian Eagles
Season: 103-24.
