2022 TAPPS State Champions: Parish Episcopal Continues Historic Run with Fourth-Straight Title

Parish Episcopal has etched its name into Texas high school football folklore.

With its 38-14 victory over Plano Prestonwood Christian in the TAPPS 11-man Division I State Title Game, the Panthers won their fourth-straight state title becoming just one of 12 schools in Texas high school football history across all classifications to accomplish that feat.

4-Peat 💍💍💍💍🏆🏆🏆🏆 State Champs Back2Back2Back2Back pic.twitter.com/xjmLPEOvtu

— Coach Novakov (@coachnovakov) December 3, 2022

Heading into the game, Parish Episcopal head coach Daniel Novakov said he had full confidence in his players and, yet again, they delivered.

“I told them before the game that there were a lot of nerves with us trying to win a fourth one in a row,” Novakov said. “But I kept coming back to the fact that all year, when you needed them the most, they performed their best, so they came through.”

Parish Episcopal Quarterback Sawyer Anderson scrambles away from PCA defenders in the TAPPS 11-Man Division I State Title Game.

Sophomore quarterback Sawyer Anderson led the way offensively for the Panthers as he threw for 269 yards and two scores and added another 47 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Novakov said he didn’t expect anything less from a player that has shown his playmaking ability since Novakov first met him in the third grade.

“He’s done it all year,” Novakov said. “He’s a big-time player who plays his best in big-time games. That’s what you look for in a quarterback, and he certainly delivered.”

Anderson had passing touchdowns of 42 yards and 69 yards to Robert Burton and Cedric Mays II in the first half, but the turning point in the half came when Daniel Demery picked-off a PCA pass and took it 36 yards to the house for a score that put Parish Episcopal up 21-0 just a minute into the second quarter.

Novakov said that defensive play was a defining moment in the game.

“[Demery] worked on that all week kind of poaching that backside, so it goes to show you that their preparation led to a huge play in the game,” Novakov said. “It was a backbreaker. When he got that and ran it in, with what [PCA] likes to do running the ball, it made them play a different style of game they didn’t want to play.”

Demery. Land Shark. pic.twitter.com/elsK5gCNrv

— Texas Private School Podcast (@TXPSPodcast) December 3, 2022

And although the win over PCA sealed a TAPPS State Title, Parish Episcopal also left their mark on a couple of UIL teams in non-district

Cedric Mays runs into the end zone after a 69-yard touchdown pass from Sawyer Anderson in the TAPPS 11-Man Division I State Title Game. Credit: TAPPS SmugMug

play. In the opening weeks of the year, the Panthers knocked off eventual state champions Aledo and China Spring as well as 2021 state runner-up Austin LBJ.

“One of the things that’s always talked about in Texas is what would happen if [public and private schools] played each other,” Novakov said. “Playing that schedule this year and doing what we did hopefully answered a lot of questions about what type of football we play and the type of program we are.”

And as his Parish Episcopal team continues to celebrate yet another state title, Novakov said the program’s sustained success is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved.

“I think the thing most people don’t realize is how much work goes into it from the players and coaches to make this possible,” Novakov said. “To be a part of it, it’s indescribable. It’s the honor of my lifetime for sure.”

2022 Parish Episcopal Team Stats

Offensive Points Per Game: 37.8 points

Points Allowed Per Game: 13.1 points

Passing Leader: Sawyer Anderson: 3,120 yards and 37 touchdowns

Rushing Leader: Maddux Reid: 1,038 yards and 18 touchdowns

Leading Receiver: Derek Eusebio: 762 yards and 13 touchdowns

Leading Tackler: Seth Scott: 163 total tackles (47 solo and 116 assisted)

CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz