TAPPS Division II

State Semifinal

Tyler Bishop Gorman Crusaders (10-2)

Vs.

Dallas Christian Chargers (10-2)

7 p.m. Saturday
Tiger Stadium, Corsicana

 

Coaches
  • Bishop Gorman: Cody Gipson
  • Dallas Christian: Mike Wheeler

 

Last week

 

Next week
  • Winner plays Dallas Parish Episcopal-Fort Worth Christian, TAPPS Division II State Championship Game

 

Playmakers

Bishop Gorman

  • WR Connor Hobbs, Sr., 6-5, 220 (88 catches, 1,334 yards, 10 TDs)
  • QB Michael Goodwin, Jr., 5-10, 185 (215 of 293, 3,200 yards, 25 TDs, 5 INTs, 135 carries, 1,091 yards, 13 TDs)
  • RB Logan Botello, Sr., 5-7, 160 (112 carries, 854 yards, 7 TDs)
  • WR/DB Judah Bell, Soph. (49 catches, 1,048 yards, 9 TDs)
  • WR/DB/K Martin Guzman, Jr., 5-8, 185 (37 catches, 445 yards, 2 TDs, 27 carries, 198 yards, 2 TDs)
Dallas Christian
  • RB Tylor Cook, Sr., 5-10, 185 (150 carries, 1,504 yards, 17 TDs)
  • QB Cody Garrett, Fr., (49 of 76, 838 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT)
  • RB Taylor Carson, Sr., 5-8, 178 (106 carries, 752 yards, 15 TDs)
  • WR Jacob Yarbrough, Jr., 5-10, 160 (25 catches, 469 yards, 3 TDs)

 

Just the facts
  • Bishop Gorman has never played in the state semifinals before.
  • Dallas Christian is seeking its first state championship game appearance since 2008.
  • The Crusaders hold a big advantage. They will play the game on seven full days rest. Dallas Christian had to play its state quarterfinals game on Monday due to weather and will enter the game on five days rest.
  • Bishop Gorman quarterback Michael Goodwin leads East Texas in passing yardage with 3,200 yards through 12 games.
  • Crusaders receiver Connor Hobbs leads East Texas in receiving yardage with 1,334 yards.
  • Dallas Christian defeated Bishop Gorman, 24-21, in overtime on Oct. 24.
  • Bishop Gorman is 1-0 in games against opponents it saw in the regular season. After losing to Brook Hill, 36-20, on Oct. 17, the Crusaders eliminated Brook Hill last week in a 28-21 state quarterfinals win.
  • Dallas Christian defeated Houston Lutheran South last week. Lutheran South eliminated Tyler Grace Community in the first round of the playoffs.
  • The Crusaders will travel 77 miles to Tigers Stadium. Dallas Christian will go 64 miles.
  • Tiger Stadium will host the TAPPS Division II Championship Game on Dec. 6. If Bishop Gorman advances, it will already have familiarity with the setting.

Bishop Gorman receivers Judah Bell and Connor Hobbs (80) celebrate Bell's 68-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of the Crusaders' 28-21 win against Brook Hill in the TAPPS Division II state quarterfinals. (Mike Davis, ETSN.fm)
Bishop Gorman receivers Judah Bell and Connor Hobbs (80) celebrate Bell's 68-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of the Crusaders' 28-21 win against Brook Hill in the TAPPS Division II state quarterfinals. (Mike Davis, ETSN.fm)
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Key matchup: Bishop Gorman's offense versus Dallas Christian's offense. The Chargers have averaged 38 points per game and the Crusaders are just behind with 35.6 points per game through 12 games.

Bishop Gorman's defense did an outstanding job fending off two late Brook Hill scoring opportunities, including a goal line stand, but matching Dallas Christian point for point will be important. The Crusaders have an offense that should be able to get it done.

Michael Goodwin has an East Texas-best 3,200 passing yards and is the team's leading rusher with 1,091 yards. Bishop Gorman has plenty of offensive firepower behind him, most notably two 1,000-yard receivers in Connor Hobbs and Judah Bell.

Dallas Christian will counter with a run-heavy offensive look and should make the biggest dents in the clock. Running back Tylor Cook has 1,500 yards and 17 scores on 150 carries. Fellow running back Taylor Carson has 15 scores and 752 yards on 106 carries.

If the Crusaders can keep pace with their aerial assault, it has a defense that should be able to compete well with the Chargers' offense.

Bishop Gorman came up three points short in overtime when the two teams met four games ago. One more solid drive could have been the difference for the Crusaders in the first meeting. It's not far-fetched to think they'll face similar circumstances late in Saturday's game.

Don't be surprised if: The Crusaders play with an extra step. Dallas Christian is in a hole playing two games in six days after its scheduled Saturday meeting with Houston Lutheran South was pushed to Monday due to rain. But the semifinal game must be played Saturday. The TAPPS Division II State Championship will be played exactly a week later on the same field.

Bishop Gorman has consistently improved through the season. Now the team has been gifted with more time to recover and heal from a tough game against Brook Hill.
Bishop Gorman offensive lineman Hunter Sattler. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)
Bishop Gorman offensive lineman Hunter Sattler. (Christopher R. Vinn, ETSN.fm)
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