Liberty Christian School, a North Texas high‑school football powerhouse, will not compete in the TAPPS state playoffs after the organization ruled the team used an ineligible player. The decision has sparked a heated dispute over the interpretation of TAPPS’s “follow the coach” transfer rule.
What TAPPS says
TAPPS announced that a transfer student, senior Jace Johnson, participated in 7‑on‑7 football under the direction of Liberty Christian assistant coach Antonio Griffin within the past year. Under TAPPS policy, a player who has played for a coach at a different school within the previous twelve months is deemed ineligible for competition.
Coach Hendrix’s response
Undra Hendrix, head coach of the 7‑on‑7 team West Texas Elite Lionhearted, refuted the ruling. Hendrix said he has coached Johnson for four years, beginning when both lived in Abilene, and that no TAPPS official has contacted him to verify Johnson’s participation. “The only connection is me,” Hendrix told reporters.
Hendrix also clarified that Griffin owns the 7‑on‑7 program but does not coach Johnson directly. “Griff is just kind of like Jerry Jones. He’s around, he’s just monitoring,” Hendrix explained.
Consequences for the Warriors
All games in which Johnson appeared are now forfeited, including those featuring Cooper Witten, a University of Oklahoma commit and son of former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. The forfeitures effectively end Liberty Christian’s chance at a state championship this season.
School’s reaction
In a letter to parents, Liberty Christian described the ruling as “unfair and unjust,” asserting that the school has submitted evidence to TAPPS that demonstrates its innocence. The school is evaluating legal options, including an appeal or lawsuit, to challenge the decision.
Greg Riddle, a high‑school sports writer for the Dallas Morning News, noted that the ruling raises questions about TAPPS’s fact‑finding process. “They thought they had a great chance to win the state championship and now, unless something changes, they’re going to be denied that opportunity,” Riddle said.
TAPPS statement
TAPPS did not respond to a request for comment, but its ruling stated, “The athletic department leadership and football coaching staff knew or should have known of these facts prior to the start of the 2026 football season.”
Next steps
The playoff schedule has been shifted, with the first round now set for November 14, a week later than originally planned. TAPPS has also redrawn the playoff bracket to accommodate the removal of Liberty Christian.
While the school has not confirmed whether it will formally challenge the ruling, the controversy underscores the importance of clear compliance with transfer regulations in Texas private‑school athletics.
Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
