This Week: (Season: 52-15)
Trinity Christian - Cedar Hill @ Bullard Brook Hill -- The Tigers are rolling into this one heading for the district showdown with DC next week. Not the shortest of road trips out to Brook Hill, but shouldn't be too much to overcome. The Tigers have been scoring all of the points in district play with a low output of 48 thus far. Having just scored 75 against TKG last week and knowing that the Guard managed just 3 against the same TKG team this one does not look promising for the Orange and Blue. The Guard will likely have their own big game against Tyler Grace next week to decide 4th. A huge home upset would put them right in the middle of things, but I can't see them slowing the Tigers to any real effect. I think they can hold them under Grace's 60, but Tigers win this one big. TCCH wins 50-7.
Tyler Grace Community @ Tyler T.K. Gorman -- The Cougars have had a tough season and road upset would almost certainly put them in the playoffs. A loss and they'll have to play for 4th next week. The Crusaders started 6-0 before DC and TCCH combined to put up 125 points in the last two weeks. TKG can secure a minimum of 3rd place with a win to close out its regular season. Until the last 2 blowout defeats the Crusaders appeared to have turned around previous seasons defensive struggles allowing just 125 points in 6 wins. Then the meat of the district schedule hit and it did not go well. The Cougars defense does not appear to pack the punch of DC or TCCH so I expect TKG to score quite a few in this one. Will the better defense return for the home finale? I think somewhere in the middle, but enough Crusader points to win at home. TKG wins 42-20.
Fort Worth Southwest Christian @ Fort Worth Christian -- The Cardinals have been rolling since a home loss to DC in game #2. Racking up 48 points in 5 in a row before a slight decrease of 38 last week against Grapevine Faith. FWC has allowed 2 TDs or more in just 3 of 8 games, and in one of those, the defense pitched a 2nd half shutout. 19 is the highest score anyone has reached against the defenders from North Richland Hills. The trend has clearly been up for the Eagles in recent seasons. The 6 wins already this year is the most for Southwest since 2008. The Eagles did not embarrass themselves against Midland Christian but also were not about to win the game at any point, but also have not been shutout since 2015 despite a tough district slate. How will the defense hold up against a Cardinals offense that has been scoring at will in its last 6? FWC scores too many to be caught at home. Cardinals win 41-16.
Midland Christian @ Frisco Legacy Christian -- Some might ask why I include certain games in this section? The reason is I know the most about the Division II teams and particularly those in Districts 1 and 2, so pretty much all those district games make the list. I usually try to talk up the matchup here too. I just don't see how the Eagles are going to hold up to the challenge posed by the Mustangs. FWC scored 50 in the first half against the Eagles. Its a long trip to Frisco from the Basin, but that rarely fazes the Mustangs. MCS scored 55 last year in Midland and despite injuries is a heavy favorite here. The Eagles were the victims of John Paul's broken losing streak and have only found the win column twice on the season. Legacy I'm sure looking forward to its pseudo bowl game at the Star in Frisco next week. MCS runs away 55-6.
Grapevine Faith Christian @ Rice -- The defending state champion Lions find themselves locked into finishing no better than 3rd and heading on the road for round 1. A 4-4 campaign has seen Faith struggle to score points at times reaching just 14 and 13 in two district losses. The Lions defense gave them a chance against MCS holding the Mustangs to just 24 points. The Bulldogs (I was hoping for a more interesting mascot from a town called Rice), have shown great offensive prowess scoring at least 47 in each of their last 5. No common opponents to draw much from for this one, but I think the Lions defense is a better unit than many featured in that streak. However, I think the firepower proves too much. Lions not quite able to keep pace on the road. Rice wins 42-30.
Argyle Liberty Christian @ Bishop Dunne -- The Warriors defense continues to impress allowing just 7 last week to current district frontrunner Bishop Lynch. Unfortunately for Liberty, the offense has not been able to produce performances enough to capture victory against a top opponent. The Falcons really took it on the chin at Bishop Lynch to open district play in September. They responded with impressive wins over TCA and Nolan. Much like Liberty, Dunne could not manage much offensively against Prestonwood. The two teams in this one combined to allow just 36 points to the Lions but managed to score just 6 between them. After holding Lynch to just 7 but not finding the end zone themselves, the Warriors would appear a possibility for a road let down here. However, I think the Liberty defense is a candidate for the best in TAPPS and should keep them in every game (except Gilmer I guess). If you're betting on this one, the under is the play (but don't bet on high-school sports). Dunne squeaks by at home 15-10.
Bishop Lynch @ Fort Worth Nolan -- The Vikings have been struggling to have that big season since Dunne emerged as a top contender. In some ways, Nolan and Dunne switched places in the District 1 pecking order. If they don't wind up 4th or 5th the Vikings will be a handful for a District 2 or 3 team in the playoffs. Nolan returns to action after besting TCA last week just 14-6, which is high scoring next to Liberty-Lynch. An upset here could vault Nolan to a chance at 3rd place with a likely defensive battle with Liberty on deck in Week 11. The Friars have controlled the district all season. Opening with a notable win at historic power Texas High and then really announcing themselves with a 41 point victory over Bishop Dunne. The Friars are allowing an average of just 6 points per game in district play and that number drops to just 4.25 points per game for all 8 games this season. I don't see how the Vikings can find enough points to take this one, maybe Michael is saving some to deploy when needed. Friars control the game on defense and win 33-6
San Antonio Holy Cross @ Austin Hyde Park -- The Knights travel to the Quarries for the last before the Austin schools separate to their own district in realignment. Holy Cross defense has carried the day this season, pitching 4 shutouts and holding 6 of 8 opponents to 10 or less. Those games account for the Knights' 6 wins. Even in the 2 losses, Holy Cross has allowed just 45 points total. The Panthers found their stride once they hit district play, securing a quality victory over St. Mary's Hall to start district and consolidating that with 3 more victories. A win here would set up a Week 11 match with Regents for the district crown. On the one hand, the Knights dominated San Antonio Christian while Hyde Park posted a more modest result. The roles flip when looking at St. Mary's Hall. I think the swing is around 25 points in this one. If Hyde Park can get there I think they win. If the Panthers are stuck well under that number like many Holy Cross opponents then the Knights will prevail. I'll take the Holy Cross defense to hold up. Knights win 21-14.
Quick Hits: (Season: 70-20)
Plano Prestonwood Christian over Plano John Paul II
Trinity Christian - Addison over Parish Episcopal
Tomball Concordia Lutheran over Houston St. Thomas
San Antonio St. Mary's Hall over Austin St. Michael's
Austin Regents over San Antonio Christian
Corpus Christi John Paul II over Sugar Land Fort Bend Christian
Houston Second Baptist over Houston Westbury Christian
Houston Lutheran South over Victoria St. Joseph
Division V Semifinals
El Paso Cathedral over Tyler All Saints
Houston Village School over Austin St. Dominic Savio
No comments:
Post a Comment