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Liberty Christian has been banned from the playoffs.
The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools’ decision to ban Liberty Christian from the football playoffs has been upheld. A temporary restraining order was denied.
A controversial link was discovered between an illegal transfer and a coach on staff. It will officially end the Warriors‘ season.
There has been backlash from those close to the program. That criticism was elevated following the court ruling. It will not change Liberty Christian’s status for the postseason.
Texas high school banned from football playoffs.
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A map showing Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.
Liberty Christian is located in Argyle, Texas about 30 miles outside of Fort Worth and serves grades PreK-12 with an enrollment of 1,000+ students. It opened its doors in 1983, originally in nearby Denton, before moving to its current location in 2005.
The football team competes at the D1 level in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. It has been extremely successful of late.
The program won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 under the guidance of head coach and former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. Witten left to take a role on the Oklahoma Sooners’ coaching staff after the 2025 campaign. Josh Martin was named his replacement in January of this year.
Martin led the team to an 8-2 regular season record, which was good enough to earn a No. 1 seed in the TAPPS D1 bracket. The Warriors were considered the favorite to win a third title in four years. It won’t happen.
Senior wide receiver Jace Johnson’s eligibility status was called into question prior to the team’s first playoff game. He has been ruled ineligible.
As a result, they were forced to forfeit games in which he played, and their postseason bid was taken away. The discovery of a prior relationship between Johnson and a coach on staff was the cause.
Jace Johnson played 7-on-7 for a Liberty Christian assistant.
Per TAPPS bylaws, students who transfer to another member school are not eligible for varsity competition in a sport for a year if a coach for that certain sport at their new school either coached or trained that athlete in the previous year. That includes coaching at the AAU, select, club, 6-on-6, 7-on-7 levels, as well as individual or group instruction, skills training, fitness training, or personal training.
Liberty Christian assistant Antonio Griffin runs a 7-on-7 team for which Johnson competed in the offseason. There were questions as to whether Griffin provided any hands-on training. He owns the team but is not the head coach.
Jason Witten’s wife ripped the decision to ban Liberty Christian from the Texas high school football playoffs. She does not believe the punishment fit the alleged crime.
The Warriors attempted to gain access to the postseason by filing a temporary restraining order. It was denied.
Liberty Christian’s season is over.
Here’s more from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
362nd Judicial District Court Judge Bruce McFarling ruled that TAPPS did not do anything illegal or against public policy. With TAPPS being a private institution, the ruling from McFarling came down to proper due process, not whether the transfer athlete was previously coached by Liberty Christian assistant football coach Antonio Griffin or if the athlete was ineligible.
After the TRO denial, the governing body released a statement on the ruling. It agrees with the court’s decision.
“TAPPS appreciates the opportunity to address the 362 Judicial District Court in Denton, Texas to defend our process and procedure regarding the eligibility of a student athlete,” the statement read. “With the denial of the Temporary Restraining Order requested by our member school, the TAPPS Division I playoffs will be played as scheduled beginning this Friday, November 14.”
Liberty Christian provided its own message on the disqualification, saying that it will continue to fight but that “options are limited.”
Staff members have also chimed in on social media.
Injustice is always painful. Sometimes life is unjust, & all we can do is control our response.
I hurt for this football team, & especially the seniors. Genuinely might be my favorite group of players I’ve ever coached. Selfless, hard working, humble, & fully bought in every day. All of them.
A group where the most talented guys, also have the highest character. A group where football was about more than just winning games & earning scholarships.
This group of young men has been “all in”, all the time. Winter off season, spring ball, summer workouts, fall camp, football season. They worked everyday with great attitudes, leadership, & grit. I’ve enjoyed coaching them as much as any team I’ve ever been a part of.
I think most of all, I’ve been blessed to coach a group that are genuinely good people. Faithful young men who love Jesus & love each other. Young men I hope my sons can be like one day.
They put so much time & effort into a goal, & had that ripped away before they could finish what they started.
It’s an unfair outcome, one that will sting for a long time.
If you’ve never been a part of Liberty Christian, it’s hard to understand how special of a place it is. I say to most families that tour:
“Many schools have Jesus on the billboard, but he’s at the heart of everything we do here”
I hate that from the outside looking in, these accusations look legitimate. They’re not.
And that the reputation of a place so fiercely devoted to putting faith first, is being soiled when so many places that blatantly bend & break rules don’t see consequences.
But that is the world we live in. I’m proud to be a part of Liberty Christian. I’m proud that my children attend there. I’m blessed that my wife works there. This place has transformed my faith, & blessed my family in so many ways.
So to my players who are devastated right now:
Trust the story. God works good through all things, & He will work good through this. Football isn’t about rings, it’s about giving young men the opportunity to learn the value of chasing a common goal through grit, toughness & selfless hard work. It’s about preparing you for life. You learned those lessons & can walk away with your head held high that God used your time this season to prepare you for much greater things.
To our Liberty community:
Don’t grow weary in doing good. Our sinful nature urges us to fight fire with fire, & throw stones at those who wronged us. Use this as an opportunity to show how differently Jesus responds to enemies. Be a light.
To those outside who see this as a black mark on Liberty:
Don’t believe everything you read and hear. Bitter people do ugly things. As someone who has been ingrained in Liberty Christian School for almost 10 years, it’s a special place. The administration, coaches, & teachers are some of the most incredible, faith-filled people I have ever been around. It’s a school committed to putting Jesus first. It’s a school committed to doing things the right way. God has used this place to transform many lives, including mine. I have faith he will continue to do that for years to come.
I hate this for our players and our community. But I am thankful for the journey all the same.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NIV— David Neill (@DNeill62) November 11, 2026
The temporary restraining order could impact future playoff bids, too. Not only will the Warriors be banned from the 2026 bracket, but TAPPS reserves the right to enforce a one-year ban on schools that take legal action over a TAPPS ruling. There is no guarantee that the punishment will extend beyond this season.
For now, all we know is that Liberty Christian will not play in the 2026 postseason. The favorite in the TAPPS D1 division has officially been eliminated.