PLANO:  The Varsity Football team hosted Concordia Lutheran on Friday night in the opening round of the 2020 TAPPS playoffs.  The Cardinals and Crusaders have never previously met in the regular season nor postseason, so both teams had much to prepare for.  

On the game's first drive, Concordia marched down and kicked off the scoring with a 30 yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.  Both squads would trade punts, but a 40 yard punt return from senior WR Myles Parker (2 rec, 70 yds, 1 TD) gave the Cardinals great field position to start their second drive.  Four straight runs from RB Grant Robinson (12 carries, 203 yards) gave JPII its first lead of the game as the senior punched it in from 14 yards out.  

In the second quarter, the Cards forced a quick three-and-out, and Robinson responded with a 55-yard touchdown sprint on the first play of the ensuing possession, making the score 14-3.  Junior DL Cameron Robertson created a turnover, forcing a Crusader fumble and giving the home team a short field and the ball back.  Three plays later, Parker took a screen pass from junior WB Chase Washington ( 4-15, 94 yards, 2 TD) and scampered 38 yards for the score.  Ahead 21-3, the Cardinal defense got in on the action as senior DL Sterling Martin intercepted a Crusaders' screen pass and took it all the way back for six and giving JPII a 28-3 advantage.  Concordia responded with a long TD drive of their own to cut into the JPII lead, but Robinson added his third rushing score of the game, this time on a 34-yard rumble.  With less than two minutes remaining in the half, the Cards put together another scoring drive as Parker logged his second receiving touchdown of the night, this time a 28-yarder, evading a number of Crusader defenders on his way into the endzone.  

Both teams once again traded punts on their opening possessions of the second half, but JPII would strike first as Robinson tallied his fourth score of the night, tying his own program record for most rushing touchdowns in a game.  The 51-yard score put the Cardinals ahead 48-10 and Robinson would rest for the remainder of the game.  Another three-and-out from the Crusaders led to a 38-yard punt return for sophomore Kyle Parker and set up JPII for a 32-yard field goal from junior Jackson Mata.  The kick would be the Cards' last score of the night, although Concordia added a late touchdown to bring the final score to 51-17.  

With the win, the Cardinals improve to 3-3 on the season, but more importantly earn a spot in the TAPPS Regional round where they will face Nolan Catholic on Friday morning at Globe Life Park in Arlington.  The two teams were slated to meet earlier this season but were forced to cancel due to COVID quarantine measures.  Last season, the Cardinals defeated the Vikings in the TAPPS Regionals to the tune of 49-15.