TAPPS to crown four state high school football champions this weekend in Texas

Video: Craziest ending in Texas
OK, a penalty wiped it out, but check out this wild play from the TAPPS playoffs

State football champions will be crowned this weekend in four divisions of Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) in Waco. All games this weekend will be played at Panther Stadium, home of the Midway (Waco) Panthers.

The Division V title for 11-man independents was captured by Cathedral (El Paso) with a 37-14 victory over Village (Houston) on Nov. 5.

Following is this weekend's lineup, beginning with the largest classification. Don't forget to check out the MaxPreps Texas football playoff brackets.

Division I

Bishop Dunne (Dallas) 8-5 vs. Bishop Lynch (Dallas) 8-5, 7 p.m. Saturday

Both teams finished the regular season with 5-5 records and got hot in the playoffs. The teams met in the regular season with Dunne winning 28-21, the difference being a blocked punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Dunne, state champion in 2014, reached the title game again last year. Falcons junior quarterback Stacy Conner has thrown for 1,758 yards and 21 touchdowns. Senior Jordan Butler leads the team in rushing with 1,333 yards and 10 scores.

Lynch last made the championship game in 2008 and last captured a state title in 2003. Senior running backs Jaire Moore (1,312 yards, 26 touchdowns) and Jermaine Mask (1,100 yards, 13 scores) complement the passing of junior quarterback Jagger Laroe (1,425 yards, nine scores).

Both teams avenged regular season-losses in the playoffs with Dunne defeating Liberty Christian (Argyle) and Lynch getting past defending state champion Prestonwood Christian (Plano).

Division II

Regents (Austin) 13-0 vs. Grapevine Faith Christian 11-2, 7 p.m. Friday
Regents enters the finale having scored over 40 points in six consecutive games -- three of those in the playoffs.

The high-powered Knights' attack is led by senior quarterback Jace Franklin with 2,789 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. Junior running back Conner Allen has rushed for 1,195 yards and 22 touchdowns. Regents last won a TAPPS state title in 2010 when it prevailed in Division III.

Faith Christian lineman Luke McCleery (6-foot-5, 280 pounds) and his mates enjoy opening holes for senior running back Keyshawn Wyatt (260 carries, 2,768 yards, 38 touchdowns). Pass protection provided by the line has helped freshman quarterback Deuce Hogan throw for 1,524 yards and 21 scores.

The Lions cleared a big hurdle when they defeated Midland Christian 26-23 in a state semifinal, a team that defeated Grapevine Faith by 12 points in the regular season. The Lions last reached a TAPPS football title game in 2007 at the Division III level.

Division III

Northland Christian (Houston) 13-0 vs. Covenant Christian (Colleyville) 12-1, noon Saturday

The lethal passing connection of Michael Massarella to Hunter Pace has the Cougars in a TAPPS title game for the first time since 2012. Massarella, a senior, has thrown for 2,568 yards and 36 touchdowns. Pace has accumulated 1,481 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.



The 6-2, 220-pound Massarella is also productive as a runner (1,361 yards, 30 touchdowns). Christian Lovick is another ground option with 1,052 yards and 17 scores. The Cougars a year ago made it to the state semifinal round in Division II.

A decade has passed since Covenant Christian celebrated its last state title.

If another title is coming its way, Josh Stith and Alan Maldonado will need to be on their game. Stith has thrown for 1,654 yards and 11 touchdowns. Maldonado, a junior running back, has 1,044 yards and 15 scores. Receiver Niven Raj has nine receiving touchdowns and 785 yards.

Two-way linemen Caegan Long and Ben Fitzgerald take care of the heavy lifting.

Division IV

Grace Prep (Arlington) 9-4 vs. St. Paul (Shiner) 10-3, noon Friday



St. Paul added last season's Division III state title to another it won in 2012.

Quarterback Austin Barton, a 6-3, 190-pound senior, is one of nine holdovers from the championship team. Linebacker Conor Kresta leads the defense.

The last state title for Grace Prep came in 2005. Junior Jeremiah Tucker has thrown for 2,090 yards and 30 touchdowns. Senior running back Brendan Walters has rushed for 965 yards and 11 scores.