This Week: (Season: 18-10)
Tyler Grace Community @ Dallas Christian -- The district opener for both teams for a 2nd straight season. When the schedules were drawn before last season, I think both schools (and maybe the rest of the district too) knew that we would find out quite a bit very quickly in the district campaign. Last year's 26-24 victory for the Chargers sprung them to an undefeated district schedule while also indicating the Cougar defense had improved, ultimately getting them over the 1st round hump in the playoffs (and a near Homer Call of the Year win). This year Grace dropped a much closer contest with Malakoff than a year ago. Does this point to a further improved Grace squad? The Chargers' win at FWC points to the usual contender status, but the other games tell us very little about what the season might hold. If the DC defense can remain the strength it has been for the past decade, then the Cougars will have to produce a special effort to steal a victory on the opening night of the renovated Wheeler Field. Could they? Absolutely. Will they? I think we all know where this space leans toward. Chargers secure an early district win 30-24.
Carrollton Prince of Peace @ Tyler T.K. Gorman -- The Crusaders have reached 4-0 and are yet another team attempting to claim favored status in District 2. The Eagles have struggled in Division II, but also scored a win over Brook Hill last season and tied their high of 5 wins since joining Division II. Prince of Peace played TKG to a 6 point defeat in Carrollton last season and was within stinking distance of a huge upset. The other question is when do the Crusaders play a road game? The answer is not until Week 7 after opening with 5 home games and a bye week. TKG has turned around multiple results already this season compared to a year ago. No need for the 91 points to get past Ore City since the Crusaders held them to 64 fewer points than last season. The improved defense for TKG should lead to a handy victory. Crusaders win 49-16.
Prestonwood Christian @ Argyle Liberty Christian -- The odd case of the Liberty Christian Warriors has continued into this season. Last year the Warriors opened 0-4 and few signs pointed to a big year. I suppose a first round exit isn't a big year, but after the start to roll of 5 of 6 in one of the toughest top to bottom districts around and wind up as the district runner-up is quite the turnaround. This year they opened with 2 wins, though a big loss to Gilmer last time out dampens the mood. Not that losing to Gilmer means you're a bad team because Gilmer is really good, but you'd like to be closer than 60-7 going into the bye week. The Lions ran into the unstoppable force that was Bishop Lynch in last year's playoffs after dominating the district schedule. Prestonwood dominated Liberty last year 57-20 in Plano. The Warrior defense appears to have more to offer than they did last year, but Prestonwood still should have the depth to control this one. No easy road wins in District 1 though. Lions win 40-18.
Bishop Dunne @ Bishop Lynch -- A rematch of the state title game from last December heads to Ferguson Rd. The Falcons have started 1-1 with two out of state opponents that we know to be good, but also are difficult to compare with the District 1 teams. Dunne lost to Fayetteville last year in Dallas but won two weeks ago in Arkansas. Does this indicate the Falcons are better than last year's 5th place district finish (that they parlayed into the semis)? The Friars are off to a big 3-0 start allowing just 14 points in 3 games. The nature of the opponents (all UIL schools) makes comparing the Friar offense to the Falcon defense a murky proposition. I think the Falcon's struggle to score on the road, but its tight to the end. Lynch wins 28-14.
Fort Worth Temple Christian @ Fort Worth Southwest Christian -- The author likes to make fun of how many schools use Eagles for a mascot, so here we are with a battle of Eagles. Temple and Southwest both enter at 3-1 looking to head into district play on a high note. Southwest putting a 37 point beating on Temple last year and Temple went on to the Division IV semis. Southwest has made progress in the last couple seasons but still has a lot of ground to cover to match the top three of District 1. The Southwest Christian Eagles should be able to take this one on depth. Southwest wins 42-20.
Pearland Shadow Creek @ Midland Christian -- The Mustangs had an uneven start to last season and then seemed to right themselves with a win in greater Houston over this Shadow Creek squad. The Sharks enter their second year of varsity play having lost just 2 games a year ago. 2-0 for Shadow Creek at the start of this season with 1 score victories over Marshall and Kinkaid. The challenge of the unknown makes picks a challenge here, but I do not think the Sharks have improved much on last year and the Mustangs appear to have improved quite a bit though could not get past All Saints last week. Mustangs swim past the Sharks 42-14.
Shiner St. Paul @ Austin Brentwood Christian -- The Cardinals continue to play well and continue to be featured here. The Bears make their first appearance in the picks after starting 4-0 in their 3rd season of varsity football and turning around last year's result against TMI. To stay in this one the Bears will need something more like the 39 and 41 scored in weeks 2 and 3 and less like the 14 put up last week. The Cardinals took down Division II playoff team Hyde Park last week and have opened the season 3-0. Always a tough nut for any Division III school to crack, the Cardinals have scored at least 34 in each of three outings this season and 10 games overall going back to last season. The Bears would definately announce themselves as a D3 contender with a win here, but I think will fall to the Division IV favorite Cardinals. St. Paul wins 42-19.
Quick Hits: (Season: 29-11)
Fort Worth Nolan over Parish Episcopal
Trinity Christian - Addison over Plano John Paul II
Fort Worth Christian over Whitesboro
Austin Regents over Austin St. Michael's
Shelton over Arlington Grace Prep
Houston Second Baptist over Katy St. John XXIII
Fort Bend Christian over Arlington Pantego Christian
Lubbock Christian over Lubbock Trinity Christian
Waco Reicher over Tolar
Colleyville Covenant Christian over Frisco Legacy Christian
I did this last year so I thought I would again. Full district predictions. Please ignore if they turn out badly :)
Division I
District 1 - 1) Dunne 2) Prestonwood 3) Lynch 4) TCA 5) Parish 6) Nolan 7) Liberty 8) John Paul II
District 2 - 1) Brownsville St. Joseph 2) Central 3) Antonian
District 3 - 1) St. Pius 2) Concordia 3) St. Thomas 4) Kelly
Independent - 1) FW All Saints (transitive District 1 champ probably)
Division II
District 1 - 1) MCS 2) Faith 3) FWC 4) Southwest 5) Legacy
District 2 - 1) DC 2) TCCH 3) TKG 4) Grace 5) Brook Hill 6) Prince of Peace
District 3 - 1) Regents 2) St. Mary's 3) Holy Cross 4) Hyde Park 5) St. Michael's 6) SA Christian 7) SA Cornerstone
District 4 - 1) 2nd Baptist 2) Lutheran South 3) Fort Bend 4) Westbury 5) CC John Paul 6) Victoria St. Joseph
Division III Pretty much guessing
District 1 - 1) WP Trinity 2) FW Lake Country 3) Lubbock Chr. 4) Lubbock Trinity 5) Sacred Heart 6) FW Calvary 7) San Jacinto
District 2 - 1) FW Temple 2) Colleyville Covenant 3) Coram Deo 4) Grace Prep 5) Fellowship 6) Pantego
District 3 - 1) McKinney Chr. 2) Shelton 3) Texoma 4) 1st Baptist 5) Dallas Covenant 6) Gainesville State
District 4 - 1) Reicher 2) Brazos Chr. 3) Bryan St. Joseph 4) Marble Falls Faith 5) TSD 6) Central Texas
District 5 - 1) St. Paul 2) Geneva 3) Brentwood 4) St. Gerard 5) Hallettsville SH 6) Schertz JP2 7) San Marcos
District 6 - 1) Cypress 2) Beaumont Legacy 3) Woodlands Legacy 4) Bay Area 5) Northland 6) Rosehill 7) Woodlands Chr. 8) Pasadena 1st 9) Lutheran North 10) Logos
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