Argyle Liberty Christian bests Dallas Parish Episcopal, claims TAPPS D1 state title

The much-anticipated regular-season matchup did not disappoint. The expected encore “Battle of the Titans” was for much higher stakes -- a TAPPS Division I state crown.

Defending TAPPS Division II champion Argyle Liberty Christian Warriors versus five-time reigning Division I titleholder Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers.

Two high-powered offenses -- Liberty Christian 51.2 points per game and Parish Episcopal 51.9 ppg.

Argyle Liberty Christian became repeat champions after it dethroned Parish Episcopal with a convincing 45-24 win on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Waco ISD Stadium.

Junior quarterback Quinn Murphy tossed four touchdown passes -- three to Brady Janusek -- and Chase Garnett rushed for 229 yards and two scores to pace Liberty Christian to an impressive second straight crown.

The Liberty Christian defense forced a quick three-and-out to start the contest. The juggernaut Warrior offense came out blazing, with Murphy connecting on a 50-yard TD pass to Janusek, who broke several tackles en route to the endzone.

Parish would respond with a three-play 75-yard drive in just 0:19, with Noah Wheeler darting in with a 23-yard TD scamper.

On the first snap of the ensuing series, Garnett raced 70 yards to paydirt for a 14-7 Liberty Christian lead, one it never relinquished.

“The O-Line did a great job blocking, and saw the opening and headed for the end zone,” said Garnett, a South Florida signee.

The two offenses, following that opening possession, combined for three TDs in a span of just 37 seconds.

The two teams traded field goals -- a 23-yarder by Parish’s Gael Garza with just over four minutes left in the opening period, and Liberty Christian kicker Jonah Sullivan nailed a 24-yarder early in the second quarter.

A 56-yard gallop by Garnett led to a Murphy two-yard TD pass to Janusek later in the second. Then Parish responded as Anderson, a Purdue signee, found Carson Darby on a 40-yard aerial TD with 40 seconds left before halftime, as Liberty Christian held a 24-17 lead at intermission.

“We played a good first half,” said Liberty Christian head coach Jason Witten. “We got the running game going early with Chase [Garnett], and that opened things up for us.”

The third period was a game-changer. Liberty Christian played what may have been its most dominant 12-minute stretch all season, outscoring Parish 21-0 and holding a 186-(-1) advantage in total offense and its defense not allowing a first down.

“Coming out of halftime was our chance to take control,” said Witten. “The offense was amazing, and the defense did its job against a great football team.”

It took just four plays to travel 62 yards coming out of the break, with Murphy drilling a 40-yard TD strike to Jaylon Hawkins. Forcing another three-and-out defensively, Janusek made a spectacular one-handed grab on a 28-yard TD pass from Murphy.

A Jett Haire interception on the next Parish offensive series culminated in a Garnett eight-yard TD run as Liberty Christian opened up an insurmountable 45-17 lead.

Parish added a fourth-quarter touchdown -- on fourth-and-three -- with an 86-yard Anderson scoring pass to Beckham Smith.

Murphy, a junior finished with 276 passing yards and four touchdowns as the Baylor pledge completed 18 of 28 passes with no interceptions.

“This was amazing,” said Murphy on winning the state title. “We were a very confident team. The offensive line did a great job in run blocking and protection. Receivers made some great catches. The running game got us going.”

Garnett carried the ball 23 times for the 229 yards on the ground, and the two scores.

“The kind of defense they were playing allowed me to get my game going,” said Garnett. “Winning another title this year, just all seems so unreal.”

Janusek had a game-high 128 receiving yards on eight grabs, and the three TDs. Janusek, an Oklahoma signee as a baseball outfielder, was soaking it all in.

“This is so special,” said Janusek. “Total team effort. Storybook ending.”

Hawkins, a San Diego State signee, recorded four catches for 86 yards and one TD, while Boise State signee Quentin Brown also came down with four receptions for 55 yards.

Senior state championship send off

It was no coincidence that Janusek, Brown, and defensive standout and Rice signee CJ Witten were tri-captains for the title game. All three have been integral contributors to coach Witten’s initial senior class, having been with the program since they were Freshmen.

The former Dallas Cowboys great is now 38-11 in his four years at Liberty Christian, including 36-3 over the last three seasons.

“Can’t say enough about the whole senior class,” said Witten. “I am so unbelievably proud of what they have accomplished and what they have meant to the program.”

Argyle Liberty Christian (12-1), had defeated Parish Episcopal, 35-27, in the regular season to help secure the No. 1 seed in Division I, which afforded the Warriors a pair of playoff round byes.

Parish Episcopal (9-5) was led by its record-setting quarterback Anderson, who threw for 300 yards and a pair of TDs, completing 11 passes in 30 attempts with two interceptions to close out his illustrious high school career.

Argyle Liberty Christian earned its fifth TAPPS football state championship and its first repeat. The Warriors also won titles in 2007, 1996 and 1994, the latter two when the program was Denton Liberty Christian.

Entering the state title game, Purdue signee Anderson, No. 232 state recruit in the 2025 class by 247Sports, accumulated 4830 passing yards (67.5%) with 47 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions.

Anderson, entering this title game, had thrown for 14,370 yards and 156 touchdowns with just 23 interceptions in his illustrious career. This season alone, he passed for 4830 yards (245 of 363), 47 TDs and seven interceptions.

Parish Episcopal won TAPPS state titles in 2010 and 2014 before embarking on its five-year championship run, in which it sported a 56-7 record.