For the first time since 2019, the Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers are heading into a new football season without a Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state championship to defend.
Parish saw its incredible run of five consecutive TAPPS state titles come to an end with a 45-24 loss to Argyle Liberty Christian, which is coached by former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, in last season's Division I championship.
Panthers head coach Daniel Novakov is treating this off-season like any other as Parish Episcopal gears up for its Aug. 29 opener at home against Fort Worth All Saints.
"I go into every season [thinking] it's a different season with a different group of problems you can solve with a different group of kids," he said. "It doesn't feel all that different than any other season."
Parish finished 9-5 in 2024 with two losses coming at the hands of Argyle Liberty Christian. They will take on the Warriors in a rematch at home on Oct. 17. The Panthers return 10 starters (5 offensive, 5 defensive).
Novakov, who played college football at Notre Dame and is a former Dallas Cowboys quality control assistant coach, has been at Parish Episcopal since 2011. He helped the Panthers win a state title in 2014 before becoming head coach three seasons later.
"There isn't anybody left that's been a part of all six state championships, except for me and a couple of coaches," he said. "The good thing about the whole situation is the kids change out, and the seniors graduate.
"The seniors coming up want to leave their legacy. Are they motivated to get back? Yes. But I think the motivation is there every year. They want to win and leave their mark on the program; it's not more or less based on how we did the year before."
Last year was the first time Parish did not win at least 10 games in a season since 2017. During the Panthers' run of five straight state championships, they went 56-7 and lost just one district game. In his eight seasons as head coach, Novakov is 80-23.
"It has been unbelievable and unprecedented," Novakov said. "I've never been a part of anything or heard of anything like that. You can't help but reflect a little bit on the kids who have come through.
"When you think on all of the things that could have gone wrong over the last six or seven years, and you avoided and dodged all of these bullets, it's kind of incredible.
"Somehow we managed to get in that game and not have the wrong thing happen at the wrong time. Knock on wood, maybe we can somehow keep going and not have a huge setback. It's been a once-in-a-lifetime deal for me."
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