Just three weeks remain in the regular season. The weather has begun to turn, it might not rain this week, times are good in Texas. Good luck and safe travels.
This Week: (Season: 50-10)
Trinity Christian - Cedar Hill @ Dallas Christian -- The Division II favorite Tigers travel around 635 to Mesquite for the key district tilt in District 2. Both teams enter at 7-0 records with DC lacking the wow factor in their 7 wins. The Tigers have really nice looking wins over Bishop Lynch and Melissa in their first 4 games and some nice offensive outputs of 66, 52, and 49 in their last three outings. The Chargers in comparison posted only 35 in last week's Tyler monsoon and managed just 21 against Brook Hill. The weather is a wildcard this year as they scored 54 in good weather at Kemp. DC will have to score to get the upset of the defending state champions. Perhaps the road slows the Tigers but its going to be a big test for the Chargers. If you are a regular visitor to this space you know who is getting picked to win no matter the analysis. Chargers pull the upset 28-27.
Bullard Brook Hill @ McKinney Christian -- The Guard secured a big district win over Tyler Grace last week, leveling their district record at 1-1. The Mustangs appear to have an uphill climb to reach the postseason after starting 2-4 and 0-2 in district. Wins over Fort Worth Temple and Waco Reicher are not enough to inspire much hope in this one. Both squads have matched up with Tyler Grace early in the district slate with the Mustangs falling by 36 and the Guard winning by 3. The McKinney Christian defense will have to reach a new level to keep Brook Hill in range. Its a pretty long road trip for Brook Hill (insert West Texas laughter here), and Plano John Paul II did put up 48 on both teams. Brook Hill should have enough to notch this win though. Guard win 35-13.
Tyler T.K. Gorman @ Tyler Grace Community -- The Crusaders visit Clyde-Perkins Stadium for the 2nd straight week. This time they actually take on the host Cougars. TKG has dropped both games against district favorites DC and TCCH to open the district slate and scored just 6 points in the process. The Crusaders were off to a much better start than their cross-town rivals going 4-1 in the non-district with wins over quality opponents in Fort Worth Christian and Garrison. TKG also dominated Redwater by a 49-8 margin, the week after they had posted 54 against Tyler Grace. The Cougars did win that game, scoring 75 of their own. The Cougars put at least 42 on the scoreboard in 5 of their first 6 games, but dropped a key district game at Brook Hill last week. The road to the playoffs gets very murky for Grace if they can't get this one at home, since they finish with DC and TCCH for their final 2. The Grace defense must improve to best TKG, but perhaps the blueprint for slowing the Crusaders has been shown. I think the Crusaders score too many to be caught this week though. TKG wins 42-30.
Austin Brentwood Christian @ Austin Regents -- The Bears have been on an upstart campaign in District 3 charging to 7-0 and winning their district opener against St. Michael's. Brentwood though lacks the big win over opposition with the Regents pedigree, and so we enter with a bit of an unknown. There have been dominant wins including posting at least 40 in three of the last five weeks. The Knights will not go into the postseason with the weight of an undefeated record this year after falling to San Antonio Central, but have recorded three excellent defensive showings since that defeat, allowing just 32 points in three weeks after the Buttons scored 36. That defense should be enough to win at the clearing known at the Regents football field, but don't expect an easy out of the Bears. Knights win 30-12.
Midland Christian @ Fort Worth Nolan -- I thought we'd be looking at the likely district title game after the Mustangs would go to 8-0 by besting Liberty at home, but the Warriors shot down that idea. The Mustangs appear to be the toughest opposition left for the Vikings and the main thing standing in the way of earning the 1st round bye on offer to the District 1 champ. Nolan enters at 6-1 having only lost to Bishop Lynch in the non-district slate and having bested Liberty 49-21 in their district opener. The Mustangs fell at home to the same Liberty squad last week 41-34. In a game now dominated by offense, the Mustangs reached 7-0 without scoring 40 in any game. I wouldn't call their offense a struggle though, as they've posted at least 20 in every game. If the Mustangs can score they will be tough for Nolan to match. The road shouldn't phase the Permian Basin travelers, but I think the Vikings are just too much given the Liberty results and MCS close games with teams I think Nolan is better than. Vikings win 35-27.
Dallas Bishop Lynch @ Dallas Bishop Dunne -- The Catholic showdown visits Rugged Drive as the Friars search for their first district win this season. In some ways, all of this is a prelude to the real action given every team will be in the playoff bracket come November. After besting Nolan by 24, I was surprised to see Lynch fall to Parish last week and the Falcons' defense is not the unit you'd like to see after a disappointing loss. The Falcons have not had a bye week yet in matching Lynch's three loss total, recording close low-scoring defeats against Shreveport Byrd, Desoto, and Houston St. Pius. All 3 setback came on the road. The Falcons stay home for this test where they beat Parish Episcopal just 2 weeks ago. The most anyone has scored on Dunne is 19, so if the Falcons reach 20 they win this one. No easy task in this rivalry showdown though. Falcons get just enough and win 26-19.
Plano Prestonwood Christian @ Dallas Parish Episcopal -- The Lions have reached 7-0 and current favorite status by winning last year's state title and putting up at least 49 points in their last 4 games. Curiously TCA was the last to hold Prestonwood to just 30. The weather problems of this season make examining margins of victory a little problematic though. Keeping up with that potent offense will be the task for the Panthers. They do get the Lions on the blue turf this week but probably need to find an offensive form that they haven't showed in the last 3 weeks, averaging just 22 points per game in that short stretch. I can't see 22 being enough for either side to win this one. The Lions offense will score too many, but the Panthers should find the scoreboard some. Prestonwood eases away in the 2nd half, winning 49-22.
Quick Hits: (Season: 59-20)
Fort Worth Christian over Frisco Legacy Christian
Carrollton Prince of Peace over Fort Worth Southwest Christian
Austin Hyde Park over Austin St. Michael's
Argyle Liberty Christian over Fort Worth All Saints
Houston Lutheran South over Houston Westbury Christian
Victoria St. Joseph over Sugar Land Fort Bend Christian
Flower Mound Coram Deo over Lubbock Trinity Christian
Lubbock Christian over Fort Worth Temple Christian
Fort Worth Trinity Valley over Irving Cistercian
Katy St. John XXIII over Tyler All Saints
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