Well, we’ve reached the end of another long off-season. What twists and turns will the season bring us. Another 5th place state champion in Division I? Will Midland Christian ever lose a game? Will Shiner St. Paul win state again despite having fewer students than some six-man champs? Who will be first to complain about some other school’s recruiting? Who will be first to complain about officiating?
So many questions to look forward to. Unfortunately, we must begin the year with the somber note of Hurricane Harvey. Football certainly not anywhere close to a top priority right now for many. Hope to see every school bouncing back and wish only the best for everyone in the path of this storm.
First an introduction. I try to pick games as honestly as possible. That said, I have biases. Please check the user name for one such bias. Any analysis I offer is probably a guess from reading box scores and [i]Texas Football[/i]. Good luck to all on a great season.
This Week: (2016: 79-25, 2015: 94-16)
El Paso Eastwood @ Midland Christian – The top spot in the preview is rarely available, but the Mustangs get the lead billing this week. MCS returns to play this year after a semifinal loss to Grapevine Faith. The Troopers got the better of the Mustangs last year winning 34-28 in El Paso. A tough district campaign kept Eastwood out of the playoffs. The long trip from El Paso should favor the Mustangs much like it disadvantaged them a year ago. The Mustangs went just 1-4 a year ago when the allowed 34 or more points. Can the MCS defense play better in the non-district slate this year? Look for the Mustangs to control things at home and win 40-24.
Richland @ Fort Worth Nolan – The Vikings get an early start on the season with a Thursday kickoff. Nolan took a 47-14 loss to open last season. A campaign that saw just 3 Viking wins, but also saw the beat eventual state champion, Bishop Lynch. The defense betrayed Nolan in its losses a year ago, allowing 27 or more points (including a 67-62 defeat) in every loss and holding opponents to 14, 23, and 0 in the 3 wins. The Rebels had a 2nd round playoff appearance before falling to Denton Ryan after a 9-1 regular season. Even at home it's hard to see the Vikings reversing 33 points in one year. I’ll take Rebels for a road win 42-20.
Fort Worth All Saints @ Prestonwood Christian – The Saints enter their first varsity football game since joining TAPPS. The Lions return to the field for the first time since being upset by Bishop Lynch in the semis a year ago. The Prestonwood offense has carried them to dizzying heights in the past decade. Not to slight a defense that has been an integral part of many victories, but last year the offense outscored a few lackluster defensive outings, where the opponents scored 35, 40, 48, 39, 36 and 39 in Lion victories. Last year, the Saints fell 40-35 in a close one in Fort Worth. No reason to expect either team to blow out the other and so I’ll fall back on the home team. Prestonwood wins 42-37.
Fort Worth Trinity Valley @ Fort Worth Southwest Christian – The battle of Bryant Irvin Rd. in Fort Worth returns for another year. The Eagles improved last season going 5-5 before a first round loss in the playoffs. Even with this improvement, there is little reason to think they will challenge the top 3 in District 1 this season. The path to success though must start somewhere and the better play in the non-district last year should give them something to build on. The Trojans defeated Southwest last season 36-14 and the Eagles victories held opponents to 22 or fewer points. Can Southwest keep Trinity Valley off the scoreboard enough to win? I’m not picking that. Trojans win 32-15.
Parish Episcopal @ Austin Regents – The Knights return to the field for the first time since a failed two-point conversion ended the state championship game. These two did not meet last year with Parish taking on an Arkansas opponent (losing 76-50) and Regents blasting St. Stephens 44-0. The Panthers had a yo-yo season that included an OT win @ Bishop Dunne but then could not consolidate that win into a high district finish, arguably springing Bishop Lynch’s playoff run with a home defeat in Week 11. The Knights notched 40 points in 11 of 14 outings last year, and Parish allowed 40 in each of its 5 losses last season (including 56 in 4 of the 5). Regents scores enough at home and wins 55-40.
Episcopal School of Dallas @ Trinity Christian Cedar Hill – ESD had a promising start that came before a rapid descent. The Eagles won 4 of their first 5 including a win on the road at Trinity Christian Addison. Then they lost 5 in a row. ESD replaces now closed Triple A Academy with TCCH on the schedule this year. The first of three non-district opponents ESD would rather play than DC. The Tigers start a new year with Deion Sanders involved in coaching the team. They also accomplish the rare feat of trading out all 4 non-district opponents mid-alignment. TCCH figures to be better after missing the playoffs a year ago. I can’t see ESD going on the road and stealing this one after struggling in the latter half of the season last year. The Tigers should score plenty to win this one. TCCH wins 42-14.
Quick Hits: (2016: 103-26, 2015: 60-15)
Tyler Grace over Waxahachie Life
Pantego Christian over Shelton
Fort Worth Christian over Fort Worth Country Day
T.K. Gorman over Garrison
Lubbock Christian over Plains
Carrollton Prince of Peace over Plano John Paul II
Willow Park Trinity over Irving The Highlands
Dallas First Baptist over Wolfe City
Texarkana Texas High over Bishop Lynch
Austin Hyde Park over Austin Lanier
As always please feel free to contribute your own thoughts, and tell me why your team is going to win.
