Check out the video as VYPE goes Inside the Program with the SACS Football Team.
Despite starting the season with a 3-4 record, Fort Bend would subsequently win the next six games, including a 41-14 rebuttal to SBS in the Semifinals, en route to the school’s first TAPPS State Championship in their 42-30 victory against All Saints.
“That experience is something you always wish for, when you’re on a team like this,” said junior OL Bennett Warren. “Everybody wants to win a State Championship at the beginning of the season. The road we took to get there, the few losses we experienced, really helped us learn how to utilize our strengths to go the distance.”
Speaking of strengths, including the highly-sought after Warren, FBCA’s roster featured some of the best in Texas.
With weapons ranging from Houston-signee Bryan Domino at receiver, QB Brady Dever (Brown signee), running back Ethan Williams, wide receiver Noah Brooks, safety Braylon Gardoni and edge Max Granville, it would seem that the Eagles were almost destined to win it all.
“There’s no feeling like it,” Granville said. “I just think when playoff time came around, we really decided to lock in with each phase of the game. Seeing all your hard work pay off, that’s what the game is all about. It was a really cool experience to be a part of.”
Given the considerable number of seniors graduating at the conclusion of this semester, it would seem that this is now Warren and Granville’s team to lead heading into next Fall.
“Our team will look somewhat different next year,” Warren said. “But, that’s not going to change the environment we have and the type of people we are on the field. With the returning players including Max and I, paired with some transfers coming in, we’ll have time to grow. Although it’ll be a different-looking team, our championship mentality won’t be phased.”
Granville, who was a game-wrecker on the Eagles’ front-seven, shares the same sentiment.
“I’m looking forward to dominating again,” he said. “Individually, I had a good season, but they haven’t seen anything yet since I’ve got a whole offseason to improve and gain weight. And that’s just me, not even our whole defense. I want to bring some leadership and physicality to the defense and it’s going to be a scary team next year.”
FBCA is just getting started as the Eagles continue to establish themselves as a TAPPS super-power. Coach Jordan Black’s group will be one worth fearing come next Fall.
TWCA's Aaron Pounds
This Spring was more of the same for Warriors Golf, with their four senior stars--Aaron Pounds, Jake Maggert, Jack Ushner and Sam McClure--looking as efficient as ever between the links.
Coach Tanner Field and the TWCA boys golf team traveled to Glen Rose, TX last week, to take part in the 5A championship which took place at Squaw Valley Golf Course.
Photo acquired via Twitter: @TWCAgolf
When all was said and done on the fairway, The Woodlands Christian Academy had won its third consecutive TAPPS State Title with a final score of 537, which was an insane 44 strokes under the second-place finisher (Hyde Park).
Furthermore, each of the aforementioned seniors finished in the Top-10, making them All-State selections. Sam McClure tied for 8th overall (140 strokes), while Jack Usner and Jake Maggert took fourth (137) and third place (132), respectively.
But of course, the icing on the cake was TWCA’s Aaron Pounds winning the boys individual State Championship, completing the course with a score of 128 (16 strokes under par).
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“Winning individually along with securing our third title in a row was an amazing way to cap off my TWCA golf career,” said Pounds. “Our team has played with so much confidence this year and we feel like we are the best team in the country. I feel like this senior class was able to leave an amazing legacy and I'm super excited for the future of the TWCA program under Coach Fields. I can't thank my teammates and coaches enough for getting me to where I am today."
Pounds will be joining teammates Usner and Maggert at Texas A&M in the upcoming school year.
“I am so excited to be alongside two of my best friends at the next level," Pounds said. "We're very competitive with each other and have been practicing and competing with one another all throughout high school, which has made us all so much better and I expect that to continue at A&M."
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
What some people might not know about Pounds is that golf wasn't his first passion.
"I love basketball," he said. "I grew up loving to watch the NBA and could name every player on the roster at one point. I played basketball up until my freshman year of high school and still love to play pickup games with my friends. It's helped me to become the golfer I am today, both physically and mentally."
However, the young man was born to be a golfer and may become a pro one day. He'll be studying Finance at Texas A&M as he and his teammates strive for that ultimate goal.
"When we all committed to A&M, we made it clear that winning a National Championship is our main focus," Pounds said. "We're going to work hard every day to make that a possibility. I know that managing my time wisely is going to be super important and I feel like TWCA has prepared me extremely well for my future."
Some of the stars of 2022-23 Concordia Lutheran Baseball
Following an exhilarating series of postseason bracketology, several of the big names--Concordia Lutheran, Second Baptist, and St. Thomas--in private school baseball are rearing for the chance to cement their legacy into the TAPPS history books.
With the TAPPS State Tournament (Divisions I & II) on deck, fan-bases will be at the edge of their seats when their respective ball clubs face off in Arlington this upcoming week.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Concordia Lutheran Crusaders (Division I)
Among all the teams competing in the TAPPS final four, Concordia Lutheran is the most familiar with the territory.
Having reached the State Semis each of the last nine years (won it all in 2015), the experience the Crusaders carry at this stage speaks volumes.
‘Sader Nation currently touts a 33-2 record as they prepare to take on Trinity Christian, which is remarkable in and of itself. But, that won’t satisfy Coach Royce Kennedy and his group of next-level ball players.
Anything that should be said about this roster already has been.
The depth of the Crusaders lineup--from Auburn-signee Alex Petrovic (Sr. RHP/IF), Eoghan Collins (Jr. RHP), Ronin McCraw (Fr. SS), Nolan Traeger (Jr. C), Cole Lanclos (So. 2B), Michael Herndon (Sr. LHP/OF), to senior OF Zac Daigre--speaks for itself.
Concordia Lutheran's Cole Lanclos & Ronin McCrawBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Second Baptist School Eagles (Division II)
After a series of injuries put them behind schedule to begin the season, the Eagles carried out a stunning comeback to remind everyone why they’re the defending TAPPS-II champs.
It was a testament to the team’s considerable talent and resilience that SBS resurged back to prominence in the TAPPS race.
But hey, when you have an all-star cast that Coach Rayner Noble does, which features the likes of DBU-signee Luke Pettitte (Sr. 3B/P), dual-sport star JD Crisp (Jr. OF), Texas A&M signee Ty Baker (Sr. RHP/OF), and more, there’s no limit to what Second Baptist School can accomplish on the diamond.
Having won eight of their last ten games, the Eagles prepare to match up against district opponent Kelly Catholic in order to punch their ticket to the state championship.
2022-23 Second Baptist School BaseballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
St. Thomas Catholic Eagles (Division I)
This Spring has seen a tremendous turnaround for the St. Thomas program.
After finishing in their district’s No. 4 spot and being eliminated in the Area Round a year ago, Coach Adam Massiatte’s team has returned to the State Tournament, marking the eleventh time since 2010.
The Eagles have been one of the top teams in the Houston area throughout the year, concluding the regular season with a 20-13-1 record (2nd in district) before recently defeating John Paul II in a 4-3 thriller to advance to the final four.
With their stars--Caleb Davis (Sr. OF/P), Anthony Equale (Sr. SS), and Jaden Deshautelle (Jr. OF/MIF), just to name a few--leading the charge, St. Thomas Catholic is set to face off against Antonian College Prep in hopes of returning to the State Final for the first time since 2018.
2022-23 St. Thomas Catholic BaseballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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