CTCS falls to Dallas First Baptist: Lions’ push for a TAPPS state title ends in semifinal, 21-14

Ray Swindle

Daniel Taylor

Telegram Sports Writer

ITALY — Central Texas Christian entered the year with state championship aspirations and knew that the only roadblock to that goal would most likely be another playoff meeting with Dallas First Baptist.

After trailing 14-7 at what ended up being a 2-hour halftime caused by a number of lightning delays, the Lions’ second-half rally fell just short in a 21-14 loss to First Baptist in a TAPPS Division IV state semifinal Friday night at Gladiator Coliseum.

The Saints (11-2) will play the winner of Bryan Brazos and Tomball Rosehill in the state championship game next Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.

“As far as the game plan and what we were trying to do, it was almost queued up perfectly,” CTCS head coach Leif Johnston said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t capitalize on some of the turnovers we created, but we still gave ourselves plenty of chances to be in the game.”

CTCS (10-3) had the ball and a chance to drive 98 yards to tie or win the game, but a 2-yard run followed by an incompletion had the Lions looking at a third-and-8 from their 4. A 2-yard loss on a sack was followed by an interception that allowed First Baptist to take a knee and secure the win.

Entering the final quarter, the Lions trailed by seven but marched down the field. Austin Evans had runs of 16, 17, 2 and 4 yards before CTCS was forced into third-and-4. After an incompletion, Evans’ 4-yard run on fourth-and-4 gave CTCS a first down on the First Baptist 12.

Cooper Smith’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Ike Klimchuk got called back because of an offensive holding, and the Lions were pushed into first-and-20 from the 22. On fourth-and-18, a defensive pass interference penalty gave CTCS first-and-goal on the 5.

On fourth down from inside the 1-yard line, Klimchuk appeared to cross the goal line but the ball came loose to give First Baptist first-and-10 from its 1. George Anagnostis broke away for a 59-yard dash that all but sealed it.

“This is the same group that got to this game last year,” Johnston said. “But we certainly put up a much better fight in this game.”

Evans led the Lions with 163 yards rushing and two scores on 33 carries to crest 2,000-yard mark on the season.

“He’s an absolute warrior,” Johnston said. “He’s hard to bring down. He’s somebody that we can go to play after play. He’s been nothing but a great leader for the program.”

The Saints opened the game with a four-play drive that went 75 yards and was capped with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Coledyn Duyka from Dylan Jones to go ahead 7-0 with 10:42 left in the first quarter.

CTCS looked to have tied it when Coulter Ragsdale found Ike Klimchuk for a 19-yard score that was negated by an offensive pass interference call, and the Lions eventually turned over the ball on downs.

First Baptist used a seven-play, 68-yard drive to add to its lead. On third-and-4 from the Saints 38, Jones found William Everly for a 35-yard strike that set up Anagnostis’ 3-yard score to make it 14-0 with 2:20 left in the first.

On the first play of the second quarter, Evans ran untouched up the middle for a 17-yard score that cut the the Lions’ deficit in half with 11:54 to go before the long break.