TAPPS Ousts State Favorite Liberty Christian From Football Playoffs
The school was disqualified after using a wide receiver who violated transfer eligibility rules regarding prior training with a current staff member.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Argyle Liberty Christian was removed from the TAPPS Division I football playoffs on Tuesday after the state association of private and parochial schools ruled the team used an ineligible player. The decision forces the state title favorite to forfeit its remaining postseason games and delays the first round of the bracket until November 14.
TAPPS executives found that Liberty Christian violated its follow the coach policy. The rule prohibits a student who transfers to a member school from competing in varsity competition for one year if a coach at the new school trained the student during the previous twelve months. The association determined that Liberty Christian leadership knew or should have known about the violation before the 2026 season began.
Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation identified the affected athlete as wide receiver Jace Johnson. Johnson transferred from Abilene Cooper to Liberty Christian for the current football season. TAPPS stated that Johnson participated on a seven-on-seven team coached by Liberty Christian assistant football coach Antonio Griffin in the year before his transfer.
The bylaws specify that training includes individual or group instruction, skills training, and fitness training. They also cover participation in AAU, select, club, or similar teams during the previous twelve months. Unlike the University Interscholastic League, TAPPS District Executive Committees do not have the authority to determine student eligibility. The rules mandate that the minimum penalty for using an ineligible contestant, whether knowingly or unknowingly, is the forfeiture of the game.
The association has redrawn the eight-team Division I playoff bracket to accommodate the change. Teams now have one additional week to prepare for their new opponents before competition resumes on November 14.
Liberty Christian released a statement to families and NBC 5 calling the ruling unfair and unjust. The school said it provided clear evidence of its innocence and stated that it is considering various legal options. The statement noted that the school strongly disagrees with the decision and intends to continue fighting the ruling.
The program has won state titles under former head coach Jason Witten in 2023 and 2024.
