TEMPLE – Grapevine Faith couldn't overcome its slow start.

Waco Reicher scored five first-half touchdowns to defeat Grapevine Faith, 41-7, for the TAPPS Division III state championship Saturday night.

"Anytime two teams are equal in talent, it can go either way," said Grapevine Faith coach Kris Hogan, whose team defeated Waco Reicher, 28-6, in their first meeting.

"In the district championship, we got big plays early and were healthy. This week, they had some momentum and they were healthy."

Waco Reicher quarterback Kenneth Cluley, named the game's MVP, rushed for 193 yards and scored on runs of 1, 4, 1, and 59 yards. Cluley passed for 90 yards, including a 30-yard scoring pass, and intercepted two Grapevine Faith passes.

"We wanted it so bad," Cluley said. "We studied them all week and got it down pat."

Down 14-0, Grapevine Faith (13-1) suffered a major blow when quarterback Landon Anderson broke his sternum and was taken away on a stretcher. Peter Ashton, Anderson's substitute, left the game in the third quarter with undetermined injuries.

"It's very tough when you lose two quarterbacks," Hogan said.

On its first possession, Waco Reicher (12-2) moved 45 yards in 14 plays. Cluley knifed through the right side from 1 yard out on fourth down with 2:05 left in the first quarter.

Cluley needed only four plays to get his second touchdown. The quarterback scored from the 4, making it 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Cluley intercepted Ashton's pass at the Grapevine Faith 37 late in the third quarter. Five plays later, Cluley scored from the 1, making it 35-0 with 34 seconds left before halftime.

Ashton avoided the shutout by sweeping right for a 65-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left in second quarter.