TEMPLE – In what was supposed to be a matchup of the two best TAPPS Division II teams in the state, Argyle Liberty Christian made winning look easy.

Liberty Christian dominated Dallas Christian in all phases of the game Saturday, winning 28-7 in the state title game at Wildcat Stadium.

It is Liberty Christian's third championship in six trips to state.

Junior Reid Fitzgerald led Liberty Chrtistian (12-2) by rushing for 203 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 39 carries. Fitzgerald, who was named MVP of the game, finished the season with 2,143 rushing yards.

Liberty Christian senior quarterback Andrew Loch was slowed by a sprained knee and a sprained finger on his throwing hand. Liberty had planned to rely on Loch rushing the ball, but after the injuries, Fitzgerald picked up the slack.

"We really had to put it on his [Fitzgerald's] back, and he played awesome," Loch said. "He played like Reid."

Loch scored the first two touchdowns of the game on quarterback keepers, the first a 25-yarder in the first quarter and the second from 4 yards out in the second quarter.

Fitzgerald scored Liberty Christian's third touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter.

Having lost in the state final the last two seasons, Liberty won its first state championship since 1996.

"There's no better feeling," Loch said. "Especially coming up short and coming out this year and get it. That's the best game we've played all year, and our coaches really got us ready."

Liberty coach Mark Bowles said the battle for time of possession was key for his team. Having already spent a lot of time on the field in the first half, the Dallas Christian defense was forced to endure 15- and 19-play scoring drives in the second half that ate up more than 17 minutes.

"I looked at the stats at halftime, and Reid was already over 100 yards [108], and they had two or three big plays on us but they'd had a total of [17] plays at the half. So we were able to get the ball and play keep-away," Bowles said.