The Texas high school football season is drawing to a close, particularly for TAPPS Division I. The state championship for private high school football is nearing, and the upcoming game between Houston and Dallas is sure to be a nail-biter. The Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers will face off against The Houston St. Thomas Eagles on Friday, December 1st, 2023, in Waco, TX. Both teams boast exceptional athletes, which I will detail below.
Regarding Dallas Parish, they have a high-scoring offense led by their powerful running back, #5 Maddux Reid. Maddux is a standout with 1,750 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. The next closest in terms of rushing yards is quarterback #7 Sawyer Anderson, who only has 230. Maddux’s power and quick launches make him a formidable opponent. His ability to escape tackles and his explosive speed make him hard to catch once he breaks through the initial defense. Maddux also demonstrates great hands when receiving passes, having the second-highest number of touchdown receptions, at 6. In total, Maddux has accumulated 29 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Sawyer is a skillful passer, having thrown for 3,300 yards and 39 touchdown passes and distributing the ball evenly among his receivers.
St. Thomas has remained undefeated this season, largely due to the performance of star running back #23 Johann Cardenas. Johann has had a stellar season. His last playoff game against The Prestonwood Christian Lions saw him rushing for an astounding 460 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. His season totals are 2,200 rushing yards with 30 touchdowns. Johann’s speed is exceptional. I consider him one of the fastest running backs not only in TAPPS but also in all of Texas high school football. Quarterback #1 Donte Lewis is an invaluable asset, contributing 2,330 passing yards with 29 touchdown passes and rushing for 900 yards, scoring 12 touchdowns. Tight-end #82 Luke Edgecomb is Donte’s favorite target, with 83 receptions, 1,245 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns. Luke, with his ideal build for a tight end and speed of a receiver, presents a significant threat on the field.
Based on statistics and the exceptional talent on both sides, I anticipate that this will be a highly competitive football game. But in the end, I predict that The Houston St. Thomas Eagles will clinch victory in the TAPPS Division I championship game against The Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers.
CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz
