Where Rivalries are Built
Previewing Holy Cross vs Dallas First Baptist
In high school football, rivalries aren't born overnight; they're built through grit, competition, and mutual respect. For Holy Cross, Friday’s matchup against Dallas First Baptist has quickly become that. A new rivalry built on the foundation of challenge and pride.
Once defined by battles against programs like Devine and Hondo, Holy Cross now finds itself in the midst of something just as meaningful: a modern measuring stick against one of TAPPS’ premier teams. In its second straight year, this matchup has quickly evolved into one of the state’s most talked-about showdowns. It was listed by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football as a “Top 25 Game to Watch” last year, and this year, Texas Private School Media has selected it as one of the “Games of the Week.”
But for Holy Cross, the focus isn't on headlines; it's about heart.
“We’ve built this mentality of any time, any place, anywhere,” said Holy Cross coach Ernie Flores. “It doesn't matter who’s across from us; we’re not scared. That's the mindset we live by more now than ever.”
It’s a message the Knights have taken to heart. Through adversity and change, they’ve built a culture grounded in toughness, brotherhood, and belief; a mentality that has come to define this group. Rather than shy away from challenges, they’ve continued to embrace them, shaping an identity that values effort, unity, and pride in competing at the highest level. Every rep in practice, every long bus ride, every fourth-quarter drive reflects that standard.
The memory of last year’s meeting still lingers. Holy Cross snapped First Baptist’s winning streak with an incredible finish, a 12-play drive powered entirely by quarterback keepers that sealed the win. It was a moment that spoke to their resilience, their physicality, and their determination to prove they belonged among the state’s elite.
Now, the stage is set once again; this time at Crusader Stadium on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. It’s a neutral site, but the stakes feel anything but. Both teams bring championship-level intensity, physicality, and belief that this game represents more than just a midseason matchup.
For Holy Cross, it’s another opportunity to live up to their identity, to embrace the challenge, silence the noise, and prove once again that no matter where they play, the Knights will always show up ready to fight. Because this is what Holy Cross football is all about. This is where rivalries are built.
