Days before dad dies from COVID-19, Grapevine player honors him with a touchdown
Caleb Texada wasn’t on the field when Grapevine kicked off the season against Colleyville Heritage on Aug. 27, one of the biggest rivalries in the state. People in the press box began to wonder where No. 3 was — neither on the field nor sideline during pregame and first half.
Texada had bigger things to deal with that night.
He was at the ICU visiting his father, Ricky, who was battling COVID-19. Caleb Texada had spent the first half there before going back to start the second half against Colleyville Heritage.
“First half I went to the ICU to go see him because I hadn’t seen him in a couple of weeks. Then the second half, I decided to come back and go play for my team,” Caleb said during an interview with FOX 4.
Texada, a senior, would play the second half, but his father would never see him in a jersey again.
Ricky Texada, a beloved pastor at the Covenant Church of Colleyville, died Monday, just three days after the game. Texada was 57 and had been hospitalized since Aug. 10.
His family declined to say if he was vaccinated or not, claiming medical privacy, according to FOX 4.
“My husband was a wonderful noble man of integrity, loved by many. He loved God, he loved people and he’s left a wonderful legacy,” his wife, Cyd Texada, told FOX 4. “He was only 57, a young man, young wonderful man. Very strong, he still had a lot of life to live.”
The game wasn’t going the way Grapevine had hoped.
The Mustangs trailed at the half 21-0, and lost the game, 42-7, but that never stopped Texada from playing for his dad and for his team.
When the Grapevine fans noticed Texada, they chanted his name during the first play after intermission, a hand-off to the running back, who sprinted to the left side and picked up good yardage.
“Caleb, Caleb, Caleb,” the stadium roared.
He rushed for 105 yards on just nine carries and broke off eight tackles during a 53-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The play as well as the entire game was broadcast on Bally Sports Southwest.
Ricky Texada had been a pastor at the Covenant Church since 1997. He served at the Colleyville campus until about a year ago, when he moved to the main campus in Carrollton.
He leaves behind Cyd, Caleb and one other son, Seth, who graduated from Grapevine in 2019.
Texada was beloved by many, including Basketball Hall of Fame player Nancy Lieberman, who tweeted, “I am devastated of the passing of Pastor Ricky Texada. He was always a man of extraordinary character and led his life through the word of God. I don’t have the words to express how saddened I am, but I do know that Cyd, Seth, and Caleb need an over pouring of our love.”
Note: I covered Seth while he played football at Grapevine, and I continue to cover Caleb. I will always remember getting on the field at Mustang-Panther Stadium after a game for interviews and talking to Ricky. He was a very kind man and would always thank me for covering and supporting his two boys. Rest In Peace, Mr. Texada.
This story was originally published September 2, 2021 at 1:22 PM.
