We're just one week away from much of district play. A couple of big ones this week, with some big-name opponents matching up with other teams from the same district for us to compare. Who will surprise? Who will disappoint? Will the picks be able to continue their rebound after improving last week?
This Week: (Season: 13-8)
Dallas Christian @ Dallas Gateway Charter -- This game probably shouldn't get top billing, but the rules are the rules. The Chargers built a 3 score lead on the road against rival Fort Worth Christian and then held on for a 19-14 victory. We'll be able to match that one up to Faith and MCS meetings with the Cardinals later in the season. The defense provided the key stops early and late as has been typical for the Chargers in notable wins. When the opponents reach 25, the Chargers have just 4 wins in the last 4 seasons and only 2 in that span (curiously Lutheran South twice) when the opponent reaches 30. Not to say DC has been poor on offense, but the defense has been the unit to secure the big wins (except against Lutheran South). The Gators enter at 1-2 including a loss to D3 competitor FW Temple Christian. The Chargers took this one 57-8 a year ago, and even on the road, this one shouldn't be close. Chargers muzzle the Gators 56-7.
Trinity Christian - Cedar Hill @ Brock -- The Tigers are off to a big 3-0 start including wins over defending state champion Grapevine Faith and D1 Houston St. Thomas both on the road. Brock figures to be the toughest test of the non-district schedule. The Eagles are two years removed from a UIL championship and defeated the same Grapevine Faith team the Tigers did. The Eagles scored only 9 against Midland Christian but 42 against Faith the next week. How does the TCCH defense compare with those two? Difficult to tell with TCCH allowing 14 to Faith and Brock allowing 21. This should be a very competitive game, and I think if the Eagles are on track on offense the Tigers will be unable to keep pace. However, I feel the TCCH defense will be up to the task landing between MCS 9 points allowed and Faith's 42. The Eagles just squeeze past the Tigers 29-26.
Waskom @ Tyler T.K. Gorman -- The Crusaders have jumped on a 3-0 start to the year after starting just 1-2 against the same schools a year ago. The TKG defense has been the story of improvement allowing only 71 points in 3 games after allowing 148 in these three games to start last year. Last year the trend continued as the Wildcats piled up 43 in a 2 touchdown victory over the Crusaders. Waskom took down Tyler Grace last week pointing to either a Wildcat improvement over last season or that Tyler Grace has fallen back a tad. This week's result will offer some insights. Look for the TKG defense to continue its good play at home and aid the always potent offense to another victory. Crusaders win 42-28.
Fort Worth All Saints @ Midland Christian -- The Saints travel west to almost visit Odessa in their never-ending quest to win the 2015 version of Division I District 1. A 3-0 start for the newest TAPPS member and a playoff spot announced this week to boot. All Saints comes off their lowest scoring output of the year at just 43 (sounds like less if you put "just" in front of it). The Mustangs have allowed 54 for the year and just 23 in the last two weeks. MCS always hard to beat on the road given the distance traveled, but mostly because they're hard to beat anywhere. The Saints offense looks to be as good as anyone in either division having already outscored Prestonwood this season. So its the classic unstoppable force (Saints O) vs. immovable object (Mustangs D). If MCS' defense can find a big turnover or two, they will take this game. Mustangs out slug the Saints 50-40.
Austin Regents @ Houston Second Baptist -- It has been a while since the Knights dropped a regular season game, but this rematches the closest non-district contest from last year. The Eagles went to Austin a year ago limiting the Knights to their season-low point total of 28. The problem for the Eagles...they only scored 10. Regents scored a notable victory over Parish Episcopal to open the season and dominated two games to reach 3-0. The Eagles have struggled to 0-2 in recovering from Harvey, and the Knights are a tough team to face when trying to find your footing. Second allowed 54 points to open the season against Houston St. Johns. The defense improved to just 24 allowed against D1 Concordia last week. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. I don't see that being enough to topple the Knights. Regents takes a road win 35-20.
Austin Hyde Park @ Shiner St. Paul -- This space praises the Cardinals as often as practical for playing 11-man football and playing it as well as any smaller private school around. TAPPSter list St. Paul with just 97 students in high school, and also the #1 Division III ranking in the coaches poll. Hyde Park appears in TAPPSter with 340 students. The Panthers come in at 2-1 and having played no private school opponents makes for a difficult choice. The Cardinals could not compete with the depth of Hyde Park last season falling 42-20 in Austin. I think at home with what I believe is a slightly weaker Hyde Park team this one is closer this time. However, the numbers prove to be too much, and the Panthers take this one 35-28.
Bremond @ Waco Reicher -- Bremond enters this CenTex road trip with the longest winning streak in the state with no losses since a 2013 playoff loss to Tenaha, 49 wins in a row. The current seniors can achieve the rare never losing in a year career with an undefeated season this year. The Cougars enter this one undefeated for the second straight year stacking 3 victories to start the year. Last year, the Tigers dominated Reicher running away with a 56-13 victory. Have to appreciate the willingness to take on the best, but can't see the Cougars being the one to keep Bremond from 50. Tigers win handily, 48-18.
Quick Hits: (Season: 21-9)
Tyler Grace Community over Malakoff
Fort Worth Christian over Gainesville State
Grapevine Faith Christian over Dallas Lincoln
Fort Worth Southwest Christian over Arlington Grace Prep
Colleyville Covenant over Shelton
Muenster over McKinney Christian
Willow Park Trinity Christian over Kennedale Fellowship
Sherman Texoma Christian over Irving The Highlands
Boerne Geneva over Austin St. Dominic Savio
El Paso Cathedral over San Elizario
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