Fort Worth All Saints falls in first TAPPS state title game against Fort Bend Christian

For a half of Friday’s TAPPS Division II state title game against Fort Bend Christian, Fort Worth All Saints appeared to be on its way to its first TAPPS state title with a seven-point halftime lead.

However, All Saints could not limit an explosive Fort Bend Christian offense in the final two quarters in a 42-30 defeat at Waco ISD Stadium.

All Saints (7-6) used big plays on defense and special teams to help build a 14-7 halftime lead, but a 35-point second half by Fort Bend Christian proved to be too much to overcome.

“We played an outstanding first half and that put us in position to win,” said All Saints head coach Aaron Beck. “We just couldn’t keep that intensity in that second half against a very good team, but the loss doesn’t take away from the season these kids had.”

The game started well for All Saints, as it took a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter on a 16-yard touchdown run by Aundre Minnifield. Minnifield’s score finished a 6-play, 80-yard drive that saw Fort Bend Christian contribute a pair of 15-yard penalties to keep All Saints moving.

Leading 7-0 going to the second quarter, the All Saints defense continued its strong play with a fourth down stop at its own 26-yard line.

Fort Bend Christian (10-4) eventually broke through on a 1-yard touchdown by Cobey Sellers (4 rushing touchdowns) with 2:34 left in the first half. However, All Saints had the final say of the half on a dynamic 94-yard kick return by Chris Palfreeman for a 14-7 lead.

Palfreeman is a 3-star player committed to Texas Tech.

The kick return came 14 seconds after the tying score by Fort Bend Christian, with All Saints defender Jayvont Williams later adding a fumble recovery towards the end of the half to secure the lead.

“That return was huge, especially coming right after they scored to tie the game,” Beck said. “We just kept finding ways to stay ahead in that first half, our guys simply do not quit.”

In the second half, Fort Bend Christian tied the contest at 14-14 early in the third quarter before All Saints retook the lead at 17-14 on a 26-yard field goal by Cole Sorokolit with 3:13 left in the third.

However, Fort Bend Christian ripped off a pair of quick touchdowns to close the quarter to take a 28-17 edge to the final quarter.

Fort Bend Christian quarterback Brady Dever (game-high 322 yards passing) and receiver Braylon Gardoni (8 catches, 188 yards) combined for two touchdowns during the pivotal third quarter.

All Saints tried to rally back, but saw its opening drive of the final quarter stopped on fourth down near midfield. Fort Bend Christian would add two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but All Saints showed plenty of fight to close the game with two scores of its own.

Jaylen Spriggs, who threw for 198 yards, tossed touchdown passes to Thomas Wright and Williams in the last quarter to close out the contest.

All Saints had won eight state championships while in the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC). The Saints’ last state title came in their final year with the conference in 2016.

They moved to TAPPS during the 2017 season.

It was Fort Bend Christian’s first title.