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JUST GETTING STARTED: FBCA'S Warren, Granville Preparing To Run It Back
A YEAR REMOVED FROM BEING KNOCKED OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS BY THEIR DISTRICT RIVALS SECOND BAPTIST SCHOOL, THE FORT BEND CHRISTIAN EAGLES RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE IN 2022.
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.
TREND-SETTERS: FBCA breaks more records at Texas Relays
FBCA continues to resemble last year’s State Title form as they progress through this Spring.
Furthermore, another common trend for the Eagles is their habitual tendency to break their own records. The performance showcased at this past weekend’s Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays was no different.
FBCA traveled to Austin with their sights set on walking away with some hardware, in an attempt to display what’s to come for the State Tournament next month.
They did not disappoint.
FBCA's Girls 4x400 Relay TeamPhoto acquired via Twitter: @FBTrackField
In the D1 Girls 4x400 Relay event, the Eagles (Gabbie Washington, Brooke Perry, Lilly Coppedge, Bayleigh Minor) smoked the competition, taking gold with a ridiculous time of 3:53.10.
Furthermore, the Girls finished as the D1 4x200 Runner Ups (Brooke Coleman, Gabbie Washington, Brooke Perry, Bayleigh Minor), while setting a new school record in the process (1:39.37).
FBCA's Girls 4x200 Relay TeamPhoto acquired via Twitter: @FBTrackField
On the boys’ side, FBCA (Ben Longbottom, Noah Brooks, Max Granville, Jordan Rodgers) broke the previous school record in the D1 4x400 Relays, finishing with a time of 3:24.28 in the Preliminary round.
The TAPPS T&F State Tournament will be here before you know it. If their success thus far is any indication, count on FBCA to make noise when they almost inevitably get there.