This time last season, Argyle running back Tito Byce was sidelined by an ACL tear as he watched his friends and teammates come just shy of a state championship game.
He had no intention of letting it happen again.
Byce has dreamt of playing on the biggest stage in football in Arlington since he was in kindergarten. Seeing his team lose to La Vega in 2019 was painful. He couldn’t bear the idea of missing out on his last chance to play at AT&T Stadium.
“I went right to work after I got surgery,” Byce said. “All of my teammates pushed me real hard and I had the whole community behind me... I went into my senior year and just wanted to work super hard.”
Well, every grueling moment of physical rehab was worth it as Byce put together his storybook ending. The senior left the field to a standing ovation and hug from head coach Todd Rodgers after receiving a curtain call in Argyle’s 4A Division I championship win on Friday; he finished with 29 carries for 152 yards and four touchdowns.
Rodgers was not shy about handing the ball to his senior running back from the start. Byce got the ball five straight times in the red zone to push Argyle from the 18 into the end zone. Two drives later, Byce touched the ball six straight times to set up a 2-yard TD scamper.
A recovered muffed kickoff return helped set up another easy 2-yard scamper for a score and he added a fourth rushing score in the second half for good measure to give Argyle an unshakeable 28-0 lead. After the score – his 20th rush of the first half – he needed his inhaler to get his breath back, but the statement was made.
Byce pushed every bit of his frustration right into the teeth of Lindale’s defense. He led the team with four touchdowns – all in the first half – as the Eagles ran away with the game. He added 152 yards on 29 carries as the workhorse back to open up the passing game for quarterback CJ Rogers.
Lindale coach Chris Cochran remarked on just how hard Argyle’s running back room runs from top to bottom. Byce’s leadership helps set the tone so Argyle’s championship game Offensive MVP will pay off for years to come.
“He’s a great guy and a great friend and is one of the most selfless guys on the team,” Argyle quarterback CJ Rogers said. “It’s always great to see someone like that overcome something and succeed. We’re really happy for him.”
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