Liberty Christian Ousted From Playoffs After Ineligible Transfer Ruling
The state title favorite was disqualified after using a player who trained with an assistant coach before transferring, delaying Division I games by one week.
By Camila Herrera ·
Argyle Liberty Christian players will not compete in this year’s TAPPS football playoffs. The state association of private and parochial schools removed the team from the Division I bracket on Tuesday. The decision follows a determination that the school used an ineligible athlete during the regular season. As a result, the first round of Division I games has been postponed to Nov. 14. Teams have one week to prepare for their new opponents in the redrawn bracket.
The ineligibility stems from a transfer rule violation involving wide receiver Jace Johnson. Multiple people familiar with the case told The Dallas Morning News that Johnson moved from Abilene Cooper to Liberty Christian for the 2026 season. TAPPS bylaws require a one year wait period for varsity play if a coach at the new school trained the student in the previous 12 months. This rule applies to 7 on 7 teams, club teams, and individual instruction.
TAPPS found that Johnson participated on a 7 on 7 squad coached by Liberty Christian assistant football coach Antonio Griffin the year before his transfer. The association stated that the athletic department and coaching staff knew or should have known these facts before the season began. Because TAPPS district athletic councils lack the authority to override eligibility rules, the default penalty for using an ineligible player is a forfeit.
Liberty Christian expressed strong disagreement with the decision. The school sent a statement to families and NBC 5 calling the ruling unfair and unjust. It claimed the team provided clear evidence of innocence against false assertions. The statement noted that the school is considering various legal options. It also affirmed that the program operates with ethics and integrity while working to fight the decision.
The loss of the state title favorite alters the competitive balance in Division I. The school had previously won state championships under head coach Jason Witten in 2023 and 2024. The TAPPS executive board voted to remove the team during its Tuesday meeting. The change forces remaining teams to adjust their schedules and strategies for the upcoming week.
