The picks column briefly considered retirement after last week's 18-0 performance, but the tens of readers cannot be let down. Next week we'll stir the pot with realignment talk and the district standings will begin to solidify as we had to the playoffs. As always, feel free to chime in with your own thoughts. See you all on the road to basketball season...
This Week: (Season: 36-14)
Dallas Christian @ Tyler T.K. Gorman -- The Chargers pounded Prince of Peace last week to regain their footing in district play. The Crusaders have reached this one undefeated. DC and TKG have met numerous times on the gridiron going back to before the creation of TAPS. Games played in near monsoon conditions, scoreless games to the final 6 minutes, various tales of field conditions on both sides of various match-ups, OT battles, 96-yard punts in playoff games. There are more stories than I can mention here. What tale will we tell about this game? The Crusader defense seems to have finally made the step forward to keep up with their offense though there are still signs of weakness. The Chargers defense did not rise to the occasion against All Saints and though TKG may not be as difficult a task they provide a stern test nonetheless. The 1st half Chargers that jumped to leads against Grace and @FWC should be enough to win this one, but they probably need to not see the 2nd half Chargers that saw the lead @FWC nearly evaporate and somewhat oozed through the later stages against Grace. If the Crusaders can score into the 30s here it will be a tough road to Tyler for the Chargers. DC is able to hold them off though and wins 31-21.
Trinity Christian - Cedar Hill @ Carrollton Prince of Peace -- The Tigers have moved up to #2 in the TAPPS Coaches' Poll edging past DC and appear to be a strong contender for a deep playoff run. The two big matchups with DC and TKG loom ahead on the district schedule for TCCH. The Eagles took an early deficit against DC last week and never approached recovering. The Eagles have simply not yet been able to raise their level to the standards of District 2 on a consistent basis. Upset wins have been snagged on occasion and likely will be again, but a path that leads to the Tigers dropping 60 and a shutout at Grace and then backing that with a loss to Prince of Peace seems very unlikely. If the Eagles turn the ball over it could be a big number for the Tigers. TCCH wins easily, 62-6.
Fort Worth Southwest Christian @ Midland Christian -- The Mustangs continue to point to toward a big December and see a visit from another Eagles. MCS did not look as dominant as we might have expected in last week's road test at Grapevine Faith. However, district games on the road always provide some unique challenges and frequently lead to closer games. Maybe some dents in the Mustang armor, but still plenty of firepower for the Mustangs going the rest of the way. The Eagles have definitely been on the uptick and a 5-1 start to the season is no exception. However, this matchup sees their first game against a Division II for this season. In their 4 game winning streak, the Eagles have allowed just 21 points to 4 Division III opponents. They will need to be every bit that good and more to do the same to the Mustangs. The Mustang defense should continue its good form after hold Faith to just 7 points in each half last week. MCS wins handily, 48-12.
Fort Worth Christian @ Dallas Greenhill School -- The Cardinals scored early and often in their district-opening win over Frisco Legacy. The Hornets should provide a slightly tougher test but are tricky to place with only playing 6 SPC opponents so far. Greenhill dropped a decision against Trinity Valley who had lost earlier in the year to Southwest Christian. The pecking order I believe to be established in District 1 where FWC, MCS, and Faith are clearly separated from Legacy and Southwest leads me to think the Cardinals are well ahead of the Hornets on paper. Both teams played FW Country Day earlier this season. FWC was not challenged in a 41-0 victory and Greenhill handled them easily with a 31-7 win. The Cardinals offense has scored at least 41 in their 5 wins and just 14 in their lone loss. A similar output to the wins should lead to a clear victory here. FWC wins 42-16.
San Antonio Holy Cross @ Austin Regents -- The rare game between teams with the same mascot and it's not the Eagles. The Regents Knights have won 19 in a row in the regular season and are working a streak of 2 shutouts and allowing just 32 points in their last 4 games combined. Holy Cross was the ruler of the District 3 roost before Regents current run began. These Knights have long been defensive stalwarts and this season is no different. In their 6-1 start, the Holy Cross Knights have not allowed 11 points in a game and have pitched 4 shutouts. Some alarm might have been triggered by only scoring 17 points against Cornerstone but then were erased with a 43-0 shutout of San Antonio Christian last week. So neither team has allowed a point in October. The relatively recent rise of Regents in the classification means these two have only met 6 times previously with the road team winning the 5 regular season games. Regents won the last two meetings including last year's semifinal. The defenses should carry the day here, and don't expect either team to run away. Regents win 22-10.
Fort Worth Nolan @ Plano Prestonwood Christian -- The Lions fell in a big road matchup with Bishop Lynch last week and have had some uncharacteristicc struggles on offense this season. Scoring just 14 and 13 in district games with BL and Liberty. To compare the Lions scored 57 and 45 in those matchups last year. How do we then adjust expectations for this game against the Vikings? Prestonwood took down Nolan 54-36 last year. The Vikings have looked good on offense against the lower portion of the district, against JP2 and Parish. They've also struggled to slow Prestonwood in recent meetings. The Lions should find enough of a stride at home to take this one but expect the Vikings to hang around a while. I'd say 3 Lion turnovers would make this one tight to the end. I do not think it will happen though. Lions win at home 45-20.
Bishop Dunne @ Parish Episcopal -- The Falcons returned from their massive defeat against Lynch too dominate TCA last week. The Panthers have struggled all year but showed signs of progress dropping only a 5 point decision against Liberty last week. The Parish defense has not been up to the standard of District 1 so far allowing 129 points in 3 district games. The Falcons may be finding their stride after some out of state opponents and that awful showing against Bishop Lynch. The Parish offense will need to show a form it has not shown against TAPPS opposition this year to win this one. Maybe a little blue field magic will bring this one closer, but I think the Falcons run away with this one. Dunne wins 49-13.
Sherman Texoma Christian vs. Dallas Shelton School @ Plano John Paul II -- The Chargers earn their spot in the picks with a 5-0 start for the first time in program history and the first 5 game win streak in program history. The Eagles (another one) are new to the 11-man football scene in just their 2nd district campaign after a long run as a Fall Soccer power. Texoma has matched last year's win total with a 4-1 start. Interestingly, the Eagles defeated First Baptist last year and then took a 39 point defeat last week from First Baptist for their first loss this year. The Eagles have nursed home a couple of victories against Division V opponents and may not be up to Shelton's level for this one. The Chargers have won some close ones but ran away with a victory over the newly named Lone Star North (formerly Gainesville State School) with 47 points last week. Chargers run away again winning 42-12.
Quick Hits: (Season: 54-16)
Argyle Liberty Christian over Trinity Christian - Addison
Bishop Lynch over Plano John Paul II
Grapevine Faith Christian over Frisco Legacy Christian
Austin Hyde Park over San Antonio Cornerstone
San Antonio St. Mary's Hall over San Antonio Christian
Houston Second Baptist over Houston Lutheran South
Waco Reicher over Marble Falls Faith
Flower Mound Coram Deo over Arlington Pantego Christian
Shiner St. Paul over San Antonio St. Gerard
Boerne Geneva over Austin Brentwood Christian
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