The First Baptist (Dallas, TX) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Mercy Culture Prep (Fort Worth, TX) on Friday, November 22 at 7:00 PM at Life School in Waxahachie. This game is part of the “TAPPS 2024 High School Football Playoff – TAPPS Division IV” tournament.
First Baptist vs Mercy Culture Prep Game Info:
What: Texas High School Football Playoffs
Who: First Baptist vs Mercy Culture Prep
When: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: TAPPS 2024 High School Football Playoff – TAPPS Division IV
Watch here:Watch here
Game preview: First Baptist vs Mercy Culture Prep
The varsity football teams of Mercy Culture Prep (MCP) and First Baptist (FB) have been competing on the gridiron this season, showcasing contrasting performance levels and strategies. As the regular season draws to a close, these two teams prepare to face each other again in a crucial neutral site playoff game on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 7 PM.
Team Performance Overview: Mercy Culture Prep, hailing from Fort Worth, TX, has a record of 4-7 for the season. Their performances have been marked by some tight games but also a few tough losses. The team has managed a 2-3 district record and boasts a .364 win percentage overall. On the other hand, their offensive and defensive stats reflect a challenging season, with 222 points scored against 319 points allowed. The team’s rushing, passing, and receiving yards per game are 122.5, 153.6, and 153.6, respectively, while averaging 276.1 total yards per game. Defensively, MCP averages 58.8 tackles and 1.9 sacks per game, indicating a strong defensive front but also areas for improvement.
In contrast, First Baptist from Dallas, TX, has had a standout season with a record of 9-1. They are undefeated in district play with a perfect 5-0 record and a dominant .900 win percentage overall. Offensively, they have been a powerhouse, averaging 479 points scored and 130 points allowed. Their stats show an impressive 171.8 rushing yards, 330.0 passing yards, and 330.2 receiving yards per game, contributing to their high-scoring average of 47.1 points per game. Defensively, FB averages 77.6 tackles and 3.3 sacks per game, highlighting a formidable defense that has consistently stifled opposing offenses.
Key Players and Matchups: Both teams have standout players leading their respective offenses. For Mercy Culture Prep, #8 Jon Anthony Lardizabal has been a key player with 75.4 rushing yards per game and 3.8 points per game. Quarterback #11 Landon Martinez leads the team in passing yards with 153.6 per game. Meanwhile, #17 Cade Cortina is a significant receiving threat with 43.1 receiving yards per game. Defensively, #5 Braden Raybuck has 8.4 tackles per game and #2 Jude Michalski has 0.6 sacks per game.
First Baptist features #15 Mark Rayson with 74.9 rushing yards per game, and quarterback #11 Dylan Jones leads with 172.1 passing yards per game. The receiving corps is highlighted by #4 Bradlee Mays, who averages 120.4 receiving yards per game. Defensively, #9 George Anagnostis has 11.5 tackles per game and #55 Kore Thomas has 0.8 sacks per game. The team also excels in special teams and offensive line play, as evidenced by their 100 pancake blocks, a key factor in their high offensive output.
Head-to-Head and Common Opponents: The most recent encounter between these two teams saw First Baptist dominate with a score of 48-0 on September 27, 2024. The game highlighted the significant gap between the two teams in terms of offensive and defensive efficiency. This victory was part of a larger trend for First Baptist, who have won all their games against common opponents, boasting a perfect 5-0 record. Mercy Culture Prep, however, struggled against these same opponents, managing only a 2-3 record.
Outlook for the Playoff Game: As the two teams prepare for their upcoming playoff game, all eyes will be on how Mercy Culture Prep can counter the high-octane offense and strong defense of First Baptist. MCP will need to significantly improve their rushing, passing, and receiving game to match the depth and efficiency displayed by FB. First Baptist, with their robust stats and near-flawless record, will be the favorites going into this matchup, but history has shown that anything can happen in a high-stakes playoff game.
This clash of football titans promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams playing for the chance to advance further in the state playoffs. The team that best executes their game plan and minimizes mistakes will likely come out on top, but only time will tell which team will rise to the occasion and claim victory.
