DALLAS — Dallas First Baptist capitalized on three Lubbock Christian High School turnovers in a game-clinching third quarter en route to a 45-14 victory Friday night in the opening round of the TAPPS Division III playoffs.
The Saints scored 21 points in the decisive quarter, turning a 17-14 game into a 24-point cushion the Eagles (6-5) couldn’t overcome.
Justin Tatum scored four times for the Saints but only accumulated 82 rushing yards on 14 carries as the Eagles’ defense limited the Saints’ yards but not scores.
Will Stephens threw for 231 yards on 22-of-34 passing for LCHS, but he also threw three interceptions.
Stephens and Josh Wilson each had touchdown runs in the second quarter to tie the game at 14 before the Saints tacked on a field goal just before halftime.
Stephenson led the Eagles in rushing with 44 yards and receiving with 67 yards on six catches.
TAPPS DIVISION III BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF
at Dallas First Baptist Academy
WINNER 45, LOSER 14
Lubbock Christian 0 14 0 0 — 14
Dallas First Baptist 14 3 21 7 — 45
First Quarter
DFB — Justin Tatum 3 run (Micah Hays kick);10:01
DFB — Tatum 3 run (Hays kick); 1:41
Second Quarter
LCHS — Josh Wilson 14 run (kick failed); 8:11
LCHS — Will Stephens 7 run (Davis Delaney pass from Brooks Stephenson);:14
DFB — Hays 33 FG :09
Third Quarter
DFB — Tatum 26 run (Hays kick); 8:33
DFB — Trae Hart 28 pass from Max Partlo (Hays kick); 6:54
DFB — Partlo 1 run (Hays kick); :35
Fourth Quarter
DFB — Tatum 12 run (Hays kick); 9:04
TEAM STATISTICS
LCHS DFB
First downs 17 15
Rushes-yards 23-136 32-123
Passing yards 231 180
Comp.-att.-int. 22-34-3 11-25-2
Punts-avg. 3-30.0 2-38.0
Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 7-70 1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS LEADERS
RUSHING: Lubbock Christian, Brooks Stephenson 7-44, Will Stephens 8-37, Josh Wilson 1-14, Davis Delaney 2-8,; Dallas First Baptist, Justin Tatum 14-82, Josh Johnson 3-18, Trae Hart 4-8.
PASSING: Lubbock Christian, Stephens 22-34-3—231; Dallas First Baptist, Max Partlo 11-25-2—180.
RECEIVING: Lubbock Christian, Stephenson 6-67, Drew Thornton 2-55, Trey Farris 5-31, Delaney 4-29, Peyton Maddox 3-26, Brooks Pitaniello 2-23; Dallas First Baptist, Hart 6-109, Garrett Black 2-39, Johnson 3-32.
