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"We've Got One More": SBS seniors, coaches excited for State Title Game berth but job not done
HOUSTON - As much as getting past the TAPPS State Semifinals meant to, especially the seniors, on Saturday night the celebration was slightly tempered at times.
Not because the Eagles weren't excited about getting to the programs' first TAPPS State Championship game since 1999 - well before any of the current players were even born - but because their job is not done.
"It's cool and all but we've got one more," senior Grayson Kim, who has started in a school-record 47 games, said. "We will work hard this week. We've got to win that last game."
Senior back Eli Smith added: "If we handle our job at State we can come home with that ring."
Between 1996-1999, Second Baptist School made some deep runs just like they have the past now four seasons. They punched through the ceiling in 1999 winning the program's lone football championship.
"This means a lot, especially for this program," senior Everett Skillern said.
The past three seasons it was Regents School of Austin standing in their way in the State Semifinals. But after upending them last week, Second Baptist School downed Fort Bend Christian Academy 14-13 to advance again - this time to the State Championship game.
"It's really relieving but the jobs not finished," Smith said. "It feels good to get past semis but it's not the state championship."
For Second Baptist School coach Terry Pirtle, to be back in this spot with this group is special, considered when he arrived at SBS nine years ago some of these guys were just running around in the lower school.
"It means a lot, this is my ninth year here and some of these guys were in the second or third grade when I got here," Pirtle said. "I've known these kids forever. They were built for this, we built them, it wasn't assembled. They've been with us a long time. I'm very proud, especially for these seniors who hung in there and got a win in their senior year in the semifinals."
VYPE Postgame 🎙: Had to catch up with seniors @skillerneverett, @GraysonKim1 & @eli_smiith after the big win. #txhsfb
(@mawalker_SBAD @KPRC2RandyMc @turnermurdock5 @CoachPirtle) pic.twitter.com/BKBcaULQ2J
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) November 28, 2021
More State Championship Game Bound Quotes
"It means that we are truly special. I've been playing here for the last three years. We had been to the semifinals but not state yet. This is it!" - Colin Hedges ('22)
"It hasn't happened in a while. We want to be the next team to raise that banner. We're going to go do that next week." - Karsten Chambers ('23)
"Having the opportunity is just amazing. At my old school we went three years in a row, so now 10 years later you don't take it for granted. So, we're going to do the best that we can to just get prepared for this game and play our very best against a very good Dallas Christian team." - SBS Head Coach Terry Pirtle.
Defense powers Second Baptist School to first State Championship game in 22 years
HOUSTON - Second Baptist School has been knocking on the door for the past three years but could never get the key to unlock it to advance to the TAPPS State Championship.
On Saturday night, with a consistent on and off drizzle falling from the Houston skies into Rice Stadium, the Eagles not only found the key but kicked in the door.
A pair of late forced turnovers, capped by Colin Hedges' fumble recovery with a minute to go, sealed a 14-13 TAPPS Division II State Semifinal win over Fort Bend Christian Academy and the first state title game berth since 1999.
"I was beginning to wonder if our team was cursed or something," Hedges said with a laugh. "But after this, I know for sure we're going to win this year. I know it. I feel it. Our whole team believes it."
Fort Bend Christian Academy ends their historic season with a 9-4 overall record and deepest playoff run in program history after winning its first-ever District Championship a few weeks ago.
Second Baptist School (13-2) moves on to face Dallas Christian (11-1) - which beat Southwest Christian School 24-14 - in next week's TAPPS Division II State Championship game in Waco on Saturday at 7 p.m.
"It feels good, we've been close," Second Baptist School coach Terry Pirtle said. "My assistant AD told me before the game that this is the hardest game to win and he's right. We haven't played well in this game for three years; we didn't play our best tonight but we still won and that's the most important part."
VYPE 🎥 presented by @Academy @SBS_Athletics leans on early offense and late defense to clinch first State Title game berth since 1999 with 14-13 win. #txhsfb (@mawalker_SBAD @KPRC2RandyMc @eli_smiith @skillerneverett @GraysonKim1 @turnermurdock5 @KyleKollmorgen @austin17c) pic.twitter.com/4cYm1sFtZa
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) November 28, 2021
After trading scores in the first quarter - a three-yard touchdown run by Second Baptist School's Eli Smith and a 14-yard pass from Brady Dever to Marcus Chretian - it was a jet sweep to JD Crisp with 4:03 left in the first half to give SBS the 14-7 halftime lead.
Following a scoreless third quarter, Dever hit Bryan Domino for an 18-yard score with 9:20 left in the game. They would miss the extra point, which would prove to be crucial, making it 14-13.
Back and forth the teams traded possessions and FBCA had some shots. One of those with just over four minutes to go ended when Karsten Chambers rose up in the end zone and picked off Dever's pass.
"They ran that same play earlier for a touchdown to almost tie it and I just read it, had him man-to-man and just went up and made a play," Chambers said.
INTERCEPTION @SBS_Athletics!!!
A huge turnover for SBS as @chamberskarsten adjusts and picks this one off. Back to SBS with just over 4 minutes left and a 1 point lead! #txhsfb @mawalker_SBAD @KPRC2RandyMc @eli_smiith @skillerneverett @turnermurdock5 @CoachPirtle pic.twitter.com/ysoildQCjm
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) November 28, 2021
Second Baptist School couldn't turn the turnover into points or a game-ended drive and had to punt it back to FBCA with 1:31 remaining.
Starting from their own 24, FBCA started driving and with just over a minute left, Dever rolled out of the pocket, was hit, fumbled and Hedges jumped on it to seal the victory.
"I immediately went for it," Hedges recalled about the play. "I knew this was going to be the defining moment. So, I did all I could do and I got it. I was worried someone was going to come up and hit me, so I just curled up into a ball and it was my ball."
After the final ticks had run off the clock and the celebration subsided for a moment, Pirtle stood in front of the Second Baptist School faithful and spoke. One of the statements included "defense wins championships".
On Saturday, it was that defense that propelled SBS to its first state title bout in 22 years, against the same program they won it all against in 1999.
"They did a tremendous job of shutting down their offense," Pirtle said of the defense. "I'm very excited about how they played tonight."