Bishop Dunne Falcon Football Team is the 2015 TAPPS Division 1 District 1 Champions for the Second Consecutive Year
The Bishop Dunne Falcon football team clinched the 2015 TAPPS Division I District 1 Championship last week in an away game against Midland Christian. The team’s final regular season game is tonight, Nov. 6, 2015, at Bishop Dunne as the Falcons compete to finish their first undefeated season since 1990.
Friday Night Light Fans Feeling Déjà Vu
Falcon Fans might feel a sense of déjà vu this year as they watch the one-two punch of passes from senior quarterback Caleb Gabriel Evans to senior receiver Geraud Isaiah Sanders. Much like the dynamic duo of Micah Simon to A.D. Miller – both 2015 graduates of Bishop Dunne and in college now on scholarships, BYU and OU respectively – the two are connecting on the field for touchdowns and connecting in school as best friends.
In fact, the teammates feel as if they’ve known each other all their lives, and are more like brothers than classmates. But the two come from different ends of the metroplex.
Caleb was born at Methodist Hospital in Oak Cliff, the fifth of nine children. Three of his four older siblings are in college, and 27-year-old Trey is out on his own. Caleb is big brother to Simeon, Titus, Nathaniel and Naomi, and often babysits as needed. His parents, Efram and Kim, met in college. The two can be seen at every home game, sitting in the end zone so that Nathaniel, who needs a wheelchair, can see his big brother play. Caleb attended Moats Elementary in DeSoto through 4th grade, then Merrywood School, ending up at Mansfield High. By sophomore year he knew he needed a change, and he searched for a more academic setting and found Bishop Dunne.
Geraud was born at Plano Presbyterian and grew up in the North Dallas area, attending Legacy Christian School, Spark Elementary, Pioneer Middle School and Frisco High School where he played quarterback before transferring to Bishop Dunne. With over 900 students in his class, he felt like just a number. He bumped into Caleb on their shadow day sophomore year, and then met again at the first day of summer football practice.
They’ve been inseparable ever since.
Both boys have had multiple college offers to play football next fall, but are concentrating on the current season to play the best they can and be the best students they can be. That may be the only thing they have in common. Last year the team won the state championship for the first time since 1990, and Geraud has a state championship ring, but Caleb doesn’t; he said he wanted to contribute more before he got one – he wanted to truly earn it. Caleb’s trip from DeSoto is about ten minutes to Bishop Dunne, while Geraud is part of a car pool that departs at 6:30 a.m., which means he has to be up by 5:30 a.m. And while Caleb is surrounded by siblings, Geraud has one little sister, Genaye, who he proudly notes is a track star at Pioneer Middle School, and he hopes she will follow him to Bishop Dunne. His parents, Glen and Gwen, who met in college, attend his games with her.
Both Caleb and Geraud are in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club, and Geraud, is also a member of the National Honor Society. Caleb hopes to play in the NFL one day, while Geraud hopes to be an orthopedic surgeon, in order to help hurt athletes get back on their feet.
A dream for Geraud would be to end up at the same university as Caleb, so they could continue to play as teammates and even room together in college. But for the next five weeks, as the two play their final high school football games, their sights are set on completing an undefeated season, the first since the legendary Falcon team of 1990, and back-to-back State Championships.
Two champions on the field, working to bring two Championships to Bishop Dunne: a win-win for all.
Game recap:
Bishop Dunne remains undefeated with a win (Bishop Dunne 51, Midland Christian 29) at Midland Christian. Bishop Dunne (9-0, 6-0) clinched the No. 1 seed in TAPPS 1-I and district championship for the second consecutive season. The Falcons jumped out to an early 21-0 first quarter lead before surrendering its first points on a safety. After a 17 point 2nd quarter by Midland, Caleb Evans connected with Jacques Hawkins as time expired to take a 16 point lead heading into halftime. The Falcons never trailed in the game and controlled the second half by forcing 6 turnovers.-- Summary Courtesy of Sports Day HS
Bishop Dunne Coaching staff’s pick for Offensive Player of the Week: Geraud Sanders with five receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
Key Offensive Contributors included:
Caleb Evans with 10 of 19 for 188 yards and 4 touchdowns and 13 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns;
Jordan Butler with 13 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown;
Jacques Hawkins with 3 receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown;
Chandler Rashbrook with three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive Players of the Week: Damion Daniels with eight tackles, three sacks, a safety, and one forced fumble, and Houston Little with 12 tackles and two interceptions.
Key Defensive Contributor: Shaine Hailey with 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass break up.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Houston Little with two downed punts inside the 10 yard line.
Special Teams Key Contributors: Joshua Drayden with a 73 yard punt return and Travis Robb with a fumble recovery.
The Falcon’s final regular season district game is November 6, 2015 at home vs. TCA (Trinity Christian Academy of Addison.) Kick off is at 7:30 at Earl Hayes Stadium located behind the school at 3900 Rugged Drive, Dallas 75224.
An Open House at the school is Sunday, November 8, 2015, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Potential students and their families are invited to come to the school for a tour and to learn more about the academic programs, Fine Arts and Athletics at the 6th - 12 school. For more information: www.bdcs.org/openhouse or call 214-339-6561.