WACO, Texas — Vanguard College Prep’s first state championship appearance ended in defeat Thursday, but the Vikings’ seniors said the run to the title game will be remembered more than the final score.

Vanguard trailed by just four points at halftime before Pasadena First Baptist Christian Academy pulled away for a 54-18 win in the TAPPS 6-Man Division I state championship game.

It was the first title game in program history for Vanguard, which went into the locker room down 16-12 before Pasadena’s run game took over in the second half.

Head coach Brad Schupbach said the appearance marked major progress for the young program.

“For the school itself, it's a young program and to be able to do that with a group that again came from that freshman season on up, I think it's very special for

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