We have reached the postseason again. Cold has descended across the state, football weather is here for sure. Who will go on the road on surprise a host this week? We'll find out very soon.
This Week: (Season: 64-17)
Division II is where my allegiances lie, so they get the preferential treatment. Michaeljw has an excellent rundown for the Division I playoffs in another thread.
Division II Playoff Preview:
Frisco Legacy Christain @ Dallas Christian -- The Chargers return to the playoffs as the runner up from District 2, having lost only to defending champion TCCH this season. DC will take on an Eagles in the 1st round for the 4th time in 5 years and host a 1st round game for the 8th consecutive season and the 12th time in the last 13 years. The Eagles are a familiar foe for the Chargers having shared District 2 in 2014 and 2015, but also having been district mates in the non-football sports for the last 4 seasons. The Eagles lost both football match-ups with DC in their brief time together, but had the Chargers on the ropes in a 2014 game in Frisco. The 5-4 Eagles will have to be much better than they have been to secure a regional spot. If POP and Shelton are able to reach the 20s on your defense its hard to see holding DC down in the teens. The Eagles likely need that type of defensive against the Chargers who only allowed more than 20 to TCCH. The DC offense has been up and down at times this year, and the turnover bug could be what keeps the Eagles in it. Chargers win at home, 38-15.
Bullard Brook Hill @ Fort Worth Christian -- The Cardinals were pushed down the list of contenders after starting just 3-3 including losses to TKG, MCS, and Parish. Less than inspiring wins over Southwest Christian and Country Day while Faith was bulldozing similar squads and scoring victories over UIL powers Canadian made FWC the underdog for the District 1 title. As always though, "That's why they play the games." A 38-27 win in the de facto district title game gets the Cardinals out of the TCCH quarter of the bracket. The Cardinals offense should give them a strong chance in the playoffs, having been held under 20 by only Parish Episcopal. The Guard saw 4 losses in the campaign this year, but scored the home win over Grace that ultimately put them in the playoffs at 6-4. The Guard played one of the better games against DC, holding the Chargers to just 21 but managed just 7 of their own. They will need 30 points or more to be in the this one on the road. Brook Hill's win at Southwest Christian actually looks a little better than FWC's. However, 20 points allowed to McKinney Christian makes slowing the Cardinals look pretty arduous for the Guard. Brook Hill will battle in this one, but won't have enough to steal a road win. Cardinals win 38-28.
Tyler T.K. Gorman @ Grapevine Faith Christian -- The Lions appeared to be marching to a showdown of undefeateds in the semifinals with TCCH. Then last week's district title game blemished the Faith record finishing just 8-1. The huge offensive performance in a neutral site game against Canadian really announced the Lions as a contender in 2018, but the loss to close the regular season makes for a interesting game in round 1. The Crusaders will like their chances to score an upset, having posted a win over FWC back in September and seeing FWC best the Lions last week. The Crusaders though have struggled in the late season for the last couple seasons. Dropping 3 in a row in district play this year and starting 6-0 last year before finishing 6-4. TKG has also dropped its last three playoff games allowing 83 (but scoring 68), 64, and 56 (to FWC last year). The Crusaders defense has betrayed them in the biggest moments and will need to rise to the occasion to score a road upset. TKG has held just 3 opponents under 28 points in 10 games this year while while Faith has posted 28 or more in 7 of 9 outings (and 27 in one other). The Lions offense overwhelms the Crusaders. Faith wins 44-30.
Austin Brentwood Christian @ Trinity Christian - Cedar Hill -- The Tigers are the defending state champions and have won 19 in a row and 22 of 23 dating back to last year. TCCH has scored 40+ in 7 of 10 this season and in the other 3 posted 37, 26, and 23, against DC, Melissa, and Lynch respectively. The Tigers are going to be heavy favorites this postseason, and sometimes the weight of expectations is the heaviest. The Bears have posted a banner campaign in their first season in Division II and just 4th football season. After reaching the regional round last year, falling to eventual champion Cypress, the Bears started 7-0 before dropping back to back games to Regents and Hyde Park. Those early wins though brought the Bears enough points to beat out District 4-3rd for the last playoff spot. Brentwood is likely in for more than they can take with a road game in Cedar Hill but look to be building a competitive program that will challenge in the years to come, not enough this week though. Tigers win 45-8.
Brownsville St. Joseph @ Houston Second Baptist -- The southern half of the bracket starts with perennial contender Second Baptist. The Eagles at 9-1 have posted their 12th consecutive winning season and are riding high after besting Lutheran South in OT to claim the district title. The Eagle offense has been a little slower than previous seasons, scoring 40 in just 2 of 10 games. When your offense wanes a bit and you still win 9 games that means your defense is a strong unit with the Eagles allowing 20 or more in just 3 games. The Bloodhounds have had a difficult season, posting a 2-7 record. The Bloodhounds scored the victory agasinst San Antonio Christian that put them in the playoffs and geography makes judging them against the rest of the Division pretty challenging. St. Joseph was only beaten 19-0 by district champion Holy Cross and so despite the record I doubt will be blownout. The trip to Houston will be too much, but no pushover the Eagles. As much as I want to move an Eagles out of the playoffs for a Bloodhounds, Second Baptist wins 29-7.
Houston Cypress Christian @ Austin Hyde Park -- The Panthers host last year's Division III champion at The Quarries to open the playoffs. Hyde Park posted a 6-3 record on the season, but just narrow victories against St. Michael's and Brentwood. The latter victory gets the Panthers out of a trip to Cedar Hill and keeps them home to open the playoffs. The best win for the Panthers is probably the season opener at Holy Cross, and the Panthers have won every game they've held the opposition under 30. The Warriors have experienced a very similar season to the Panthers posting a 7-3 record, winning in Victoria the last week to move to 3rd place. Regents punished both teams with the Panthers taking a 44-12 loss and the Warriors a 48-7 loss. This should be one of the most competitive games of the weekend, but its difficult to see them beating the winner of the above game in round 2. When in doubt go with the home team. Hyde Park wins 28-27.
Houston Lutheran South @ San Antonio Holy Cross -- The Knights might look ahead to the annual playoff matchup with Regents but find a staunch test in Lutheran South. The Pioneers lost last week's district title game to Second Baptist in OT, but finished the regular season 8-2. The Pioneers have been to OT 3 times this season, winning twice. Preparing these previews shows me what a hard luck season Westbury had, dropping 4 district games by 3, 3, 6 in OT, and 13. The Knights lost their opener to Hyde Park and then scored an upset win in the famed Holy Bowl against Central Catholic. They didn't really consolidate that win losing to Boerne the next week and falling 34-7 in the annual match with Regents. If Cypress-Hyde Park is the most competitive game, then this one is the most competitive with best chance at reaching the title game. 3 of the best 4 teams in the southern half of the division are in this quarter and the winner will probably be favored against Second Baptist in the semis. We are getting ahead of ourselves though, The Knights defense has 2 straight shutouts coming into this one and the Pioneers do not have the high flying group of 3 seasons ago. This should be a defensive battle. I'll take the game under a total of 40 points (don't bet on high school football please). Also, I need a road upset somewhere. Pioneers squeak by the Knights, 21-18.
Victoria St. Joseph @ Austin Regents -- The other Knights at Regents have reached the last 2 state title games, falling in 2OT to Faith and then being beaten handily by TCCH last season. The regular season win streak was broken this year, sending the Knights to postseason at just 8-1. The defense has led the way for Regents allowing more than 20 in just one game, the loss to San Antonio Central. The Flyers have been in a bad way in recent years, posting just 7 wins in the last 3 years before responding with a 6-4 campaign this season. VSJ has come up a bit small in the big games this year though, being shutout by LSA, and scoring just 9 in a 31 point defeat against Second Baptist. Geography makes it hard to judge the non-district wins, but the Flyers are definitely better than they've been in recent seasons. The Knights are going to be too much though and will reach round 2 for the 4th straight year. Knights win 30-7.
I used to pick the rest of the bracket, but we all know who I'm picking to win it all so that seems silly. So that finishes the D2 playoff preview. So I bring you the 5th annual rundown of the playoff teams. Some realignment brought us a couple nice mascots to include, but the vinyl "Beat the Eagles" still gets plenty of run though not as much in the playoffs. Only 2 duplicate mascots this year. Good luck on the road to state to everyone. We first find a few staples, 2 Eagles, 2 Knights, and the Panthers. Further, the Cardinals, the Crusaders, the Lions, and the Pioneers will certainly be threats for the top. The bracket finds 2 champions, the Tigers and the Warriors. Realignment has brought us the Bears and the Bloodhounds. Then, returning to playoffs after an absence is the Guard and the the Flyers. And as always, best of luck to the Chargers!
Additional Area Round Picks:
Dallas Bishop Lynch @ Midland Christian -- The Friars scored the huge upset victory against Prestonwood 2 weeks ago, but had already put themselves behind the 8-ball losing to Parish and Dunne to start district play and so still wind up traveling to the Permian Basin to start the postseason. The Mustangs jumped to a 7-0 start but won four of those seven by single digits. The stalwart Mustang defense then saw Liberty post 41 points at Awtry Field. That lax form will probably not see MCS to a playoff win. The Friars 50 point outing against Prestonwood would serve them well in this road test. The team that managed just 20 and 13 in district losses might struggle to get past the battle tested Mustangs. The long trip is certainly a test, but I think the Friars showed what they're capable of in the Prestonwood win. They turned a 5th place finish into a state championship just 2 seasons ago. After last year's undefeated campaign ended in a semifinal loss maybe the Friars need a little adversity for playoff success. Friars pull out a close one, 41-36.
Lubbock Christian @ Arlington Pantego Christian -- The Panthers secured a host position coming off their best season since 2014, winning 6 games for the first time since then. They can exceed 6 wins for the first time since 2009 with a home victory. The Eagles are a perennial contender in Division III, but several contenders have slid past them this year. Notably, Coram Deo posted a 2OT victory back in Week 7 and nearly finished undefeated. Coram Deo was bested by Willow Park Trinity, who also topped the Eagles in district play. Those losses send Lubbock Christian east to start the playoffs. Perhaps moving home games back to campus has led the resurgence for the Panthers who scored a bunch of points against many Division III opponents. In Pantego's 6 wins they scored 42 or more in 5 of them. They were held to 7, 14, and 28 in their 3 losses. The Eagles held opponents under 20 in 5 of their 6 wins and allowed 55, 56, 35, and 35 in their 4 losses. If the Panthers reach 28 they win, otherwise I think the Eagles will prevail. Pantego gets it done at home, 36-20.
BYE @ Fort Worth Nolan -- Bye remains unscored on this season, posing approximately 1000 shutouts this season. However, the offense has struggled. Vikings sneak by with a 1-0 forfeit.
Quick Hits: (Season: 83-27)
Dallas Parish Episcopal over San Antonio Antonian
Houston St. Pius X over Fort Worth All Saints
Dallas Bishop Dunne over Trinity Christian - Addison
Houston St. Thomas over Plano John Paul II
Argyle Liberty Christian over San Antonio Central Catholic
Plano Prestonwood Christian over Tomball Concordia Lutheran
Willow Park Trinity Christian over Colleyville Covenant Christian
Flower Mound Coram Deo over Dallas Shelton
Austin Texas School for the Deaf over Houston Northland Christian
Dallas Covenant School over Sherman Texoma Christian
Shiner St. Paul over The Woodlands Legacy Prep
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