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TAPPS STATE PREVIEW: Dallas Christian Chargers ready to roll
It seems like just yesterday Texas high school football fans were experiencing their very own "Christmas morning" of sorts with the season kicking off. They blinked and now here we are at the TAPPS Football State Championship week! One of the teams vying for their chance at topping their season off with a crown is the Dallas Christian Chargers. With a rich history at state, Dallas Chistian is making their 19th appearance in the state title game, the Chargers are looking for a back-to-back title victory this Saturday as they face off against Cypress Christian. VYPE DFW dives into what fans can expect out of this squad!
Dallas Christian Chargers (12-1, 4-0)
Last season, the Dallas Christian Chargers secured a state title victory over Second Baptist (33-14). Rolling into the season off of that high, the Chargers have focused on maintaining the legacy they have set for their program... a program who won eight-straight state titles just over a decade ago. The team played hard through preseason to be sure that every play in their playbook was executed to the best that it possibly could be then entered district play where they proceeded to shut down opponent after opponent for a 4-0 district finish at the top of their standings.
Outscoring their opponents by nearly 400 points this season, the Chargers offense has been on fire. Led by Zach Hernandez, William Nettles, Luke Carney, Zain Tolivar, Nik Barr, and more, the offense has had no trouble scoring early and often to set the pace of every single game. Quarterback Carney has tallied 30 touchdown passes while in the pocket. Hernandez has scored 24 times while rushing an average of 118 yards per game. Nettles leads in receiving with an average of 112 yards per game and has recorded 22 touchdowns of his own. Barr has recorded seven touchdowns this season. The defense, a force to be reckoned with, is led by the likes of D.J. Lampkins, Chris Scott, Austin Ellis, and more.
Cypress Christian Warriors (8-4, 2-0)
The Cypress Christian Warriors are a great team looking to finish off their season with a state title. This season, the team has outscored their opponents by 208 points while securing victories over the likes of Brazos Christian, Northland Christian, Bay Area Christian, and more. The team has been in the state championship game before- securing a championship just last season against Lubbock Trinity. No stranger to the big stage, the Warriors will also be more than ready to secure this second-straight title.
The Warriors offense is led by Maxwell Landrum, Kyle Prazak, Warren Haudek, Drew Mestayer, and more. Able to read through their opponents defense and find holes needed to make scoring drives, the Warriors offense will be ready for anything on Saturday. Their defense is led by Brayden Stovall, J.D. Potts, Owen Witschonke, and more. They will be looking to step it up against a strong Dallas Christian offense.
What To Expect:
Fans can expect the Dallas Christian Chargers to bring the heat from start to finish. The Chargers have been known to set the tone and run with it and headed into the biggest game of the season, fans can expect to see a lot of the same. Cypress Christian is going to put up a fight. It's going to be a game to watch!
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 at Waco ISD Stadium. If you are unable to make the game, be sure to catch the action on TAPPS.tv
SEASON PREVIEW: Dallas Christian Chargers Football
Whether you're talking about the explosive offense or the powerful defense, the Dallas Christian Chargers football program is well known in the world of TAPPS football. The team lost only one game last season en route to the program's ninth state championship. VYPE DFW was able to catch up with Coach Wheeler and a couple of the athletes during the Dallas Christian fall sports VYPE DFW Media Day to discuss exactly what fans can expect as the Chargers head into the fall season!
A Look Back
Last season, the Chargers went 12-1 as they secured a state title. The team posted incredible victories over the likes of Bishop Lynch, Fort Bend Christian Academy, Fort Worth Christian, and finally a dominating 33-14 victory over Second Baptist to secure their title. "Last season was a great season. Not only did we win a championship, but our kids just got better week by week," Coach Wheeler said. "Our goal was to win the championship since we fell short the year before."
Dallas Christian was able to channel all of their energy to earn wins week after week and fight deep into playoff. The team made it their mission to close out the season as champions, went out on the hunt for a title, and brought it home. The team was able to take their positive energy into the off season and work hard to prepare for an even stronger entry into the 2022-23 season.
What To Expect
With a taste of success, the Chargers are looking to continue building onto their legacy this season. "We're building up on the weak points that we had last year," running back and safety, Chris Scott, told VYPE. "We won't let any of our struggles from last season effect our game." Being able to focus on sharpening the skills they already have, bringing up the next young group of athletes ahead, and fine tune any mistakes from the last season will play a key role in the Chargers' success going forward. "We're just continuing to improve," said quarterback Luke Carney. "We have new players coming in, so we're looking to replicate what we did last year and win a state championship."
There's no doubt that the team has their eyes on the prize. "We're getting them to understand that just because they won last season, it doesn't guarantee a championship this season," Coach Wheeler added. "Just because we did it last year, doesn't mean it's going to happen again. So, we're going back and making sure we are emphasizing the little things that are going to help us progress and hopefully get us to where we can win another championship."
"We have to be disciplined on both sides of the ball-- concentrating on the little things that will end up being the big things in the game," Wheeler finished.
Goals create Champions
While it's important to keep team goals in mind, individual goals help athletes strive for something greater on the field. The team has a goal to continue to win games and in winning those games, fans see individuals reach their own accomplishments. "My goals for myself this season include leading the team in tackles as well as racking up at least one thousand rushing yards," Scott said when discussing his upcoming season. "My goal is to win another state championship and just continue to not only improve as a player, but as a teammate," Carney said.
Looking Ahead
Every athlete and coach has a handful of moments that they look forward to as they prepare for their season. At Dallas Christian, it's no different. "Playing beside my brothers every game and turning up in the locker room before every game. I'm just excited to play with my family," Scott told VYPE. Carney mentioned that he's looking forward to the non-district games. "Fort Bend, Nolan Catholic, and Fort Worth Christian. We get to show our strengths against these teams before headed into the back half of the season which will be a little bit easier and then, of course, playoffs."
"I'm excited to just get the opportunity to come back and play again," said Coach Wheeler. "Every year is a little bit different. The kids are different. For us, as coaches, we look forward to finding what our kids do well and then execute a plan to see some success from it. "What I've learned from this group of athletes is that expectations stay the same. They still expect to win and do good. It's nice to know that that's what they want to do: they want to achieve great things and get back to the championship game."
Catch The Chargers in Action
The Chargers open their season with an away game against Bishop Dunne on Friday, August 26th before hosting their first home game of the season against Fort Bend Christian. Be sure to check out the team's schedule and cheer on the Chargers as they look to secure a 10th state title this season.