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PREVIEW: Parish Episcopal working toward fifth consecutive title
2019, 2020, 2021, 2022... count them. Four consecutive state titles adorn this decorated team. Dominance is just one word that can be used to describe the Parish Episcopal Panthers' football program. The team sits at the top of the VYPE DFW Private School Preseason Football Rankings with good reason as they begin their run for a fifth-straight TAPPS State Title. What can fans expect from the Panthers this fall?
REWIND
Plano John Paul II (36-0, 2019), Fort Worth Nolan Catholic (42-28, 2020), Midland Christian (56-17, 2021), and Prestonwood Christian (38-14, 2022) have all fallen victim to Parish's TAPPS State Championship victories. Last season, the team was coming off of a then three-peat with the goal of securing a fourth consecutive state title. Opening non-district play against tough opponents, the team impressively downed Aledo (24-17), Bellaire Episcopal (24-17), and Austin LBJ (44-21) before putting up a strong battle against eventual back-to-back UIL 5A State Champions South Oak Cliff falling 31-28.
Learning from their time on the field during non-district play and continuing non-district with strong advances against their opponents, the Panthers finished out the rest of their season undefeated. Topping Nolan Catholic (42-7), Trinity Christian Academy - Addison (42-6), Prestonwood Christian Academy (42-14), and more, Parish Episcopal finished district play undefeated and headed into playoffs ready to get the job done. Taking out Bishop Lynch (56-14), Houston's St. Thomas Catholic (42-7), and Prestonwood Christian, the Panthers secured their fourth state title in four seasons.
LOOKING AHEAD
A roster full of seasoned athletes ready to secure a fifth title, the Panthers are returning strong, familiar faces. Recent Purdue commit quarterback Sawyer Anderson is prepared to help lead the squad consisting of other returners like D.C. Crane, Jaylen Pile, Hutch Crow, Bryson Fields, Taylor Pettit, Adam Roth, Caleb Bowers, Landry Sattler, and more.
This season, the Parish Panthers open non-district play on the road against Aledo on August 25th. From there, the team will go head-to-head against many of the same non-district opponents from last year before entering district play against Bishop Lynch on the Friars' turf. Looking for a strong start and the ability to prove that they are going to remain dominant for seasons to come, the Panthers' fans can expect big things from this crew. With another deep playoff run possibly resulting in a fifth-straight state title, Parish has high expectations for their football program this season.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Parish Episcopal star QB, Sawyer Anderson, commits to Purdue
Stepping into the pocket for the successful Parish Episcopal Panthers isn't an easy role to take on. Entering the team as a freshman in the fall of 2021, Sawyer Anderson was more than ready to prove his ability to his coaches and his team. Soaring to a leadership role on the team, Anderson has been impactful in many victories as well as TAPPS State Championship titles. VYPE DFW caught up with the Panthers' quarterback following his recent commitment to play football at Purdue:
A key contributor in two of four consecutive state championships, Anderson has made a name for himself on the field. In two seasons with Parish he has recorded 6081 passing yards and 69 touchdown passes while rushing for four touchdowns and 242 yards. With great success already, Anderson is looking toward his junior season. VYPE DFW talked to him about his time with Parish so far, his goals, and his commitment to Purdue. Check out the exclusive interview below.
It's not easy making a decision to commit to a college program. What went into your decision? What was the biggest impact when choosing Purdue?
"The main thing that went into my decision when choosing Purdue was the relationships with the coaches; the way they stayed in contact with me while recruiting me felt comfortable to me. Their offense relates to the offense that I'm using right now in high school as well."
What has been your favorite memory at Parish Episcopal so far?
"Winning two state championships my freshman and sophomore year with my brother. He played defense for us and that was really awesome."
Who is a professional athlete that you look up to? Why?
"A professional athlete I look up to is my granddad who played running back for the Packers and my dad who played baseball for the Colorado Rockies. They are role models to me and they teach me everything that I know."
What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment in your high school career so far?
"Probably the two state championships. Those were big deals; we are on our fourth right now and going for the fifth."
Do you have a game day routine that you typically stick to?
"I don't really have one that I stick to, but I listen to calm music before the game and stay locked in."
What do you do in the off-season to prepare for the season ahead?
"I lift, eat, and throw with my receivers to build my connections with them. It pays off in the season."
What is your mindset headed into the new season?
"Stay level-headed. I know we have a lot of pressure on us, but we just need to play our game."
What are your goals this season?
"My goals are to win the district for sure. Go 5-0 in non-district and win a fifth state championship."
In your opinion, what has been the secret to your and your team's success?
"Becoming a family. We're with each other probably 10 months out of the year. We start right back up after the season ends with off-season workouts and we're with each other pretty much every day. My success has been from leading the team and being a role model for others; not getting too high or too low in tough situations."