As I look at last year's picks, I find that last year we were in the middle of the rainy period where we seemingly had delays every Friday. Hopefully we don't return to that as things are starting to pick up with some key matchups this week. District play is just ahead.
This Week: (Season: 18-6)
Dallas Christian @ Trinity Christian - Addison -- The Chargers and Trojans rematch the 1987 state championship game, a 19-14 DC win. DC enters having bested Plano John Paul 25-14 a week ago. It was another week in which the Chargers offense was just a little slow. That's not to say they've looked bad, at times they've been awesome but punching it in the endzone has been a bit challenging at times. The defense continues to be extremely strong, having allowed just 14 points from scrimmage in 3 games. The Trojans are off to an 0-3 start and have managed just 3 wins total since 2017. Losses to ESD, China Spring, and Prestonwood does little to inspire confidence in a possible resurgence. Now that is certainly not a group of opponents that would be considered weak but you'd like to hold someone under 34 points in your first 3 outings. The Trojans offense will have to manage more than 14 or 7 from the last 2 weeks to find the win column here. I'm not certain the Chargers need more than the 25 they managed against JP2, but it would probably be best to make sure. DC claimed a 20-10 shortened victory last year, and this will be a notable road test. Chargers win 28-14.
Melissa @ Trinity Christian - Cedar Hill -- The Tigers posted another strong victory a week ago, blowing out Spring Legacy 49-14 to start a new win streak at 1. The Cardinals have started 2-1 including a blowout of Liberty Christian in Week 1. Melissa should offer a decent resistance to the Tigers. Its a surprisingly long trip between the two schools with at least an hour drive awaiting the Cardinals and likely more on a Friday evening. Its no West Texas travel but a decent haul none the less. The Cardinals have scored 47, 41, and 36 in their 3 outings and that is what they'll need to best TCCH. Last season the Tigers squeaked out a 26-19 victory in Melissa. The Tigers offense is just too much for the Cardinals I think, but no layup for TCCH in this one. TCCH wins at home 35-25.
Wills Point @ Tyler Grace Community -- For the 2nd straight year, the Cougars explosive offense vanished quickly against Division I stalwart Parish Episcopal as they were routed 49-0. Returning the 70 point form of Week 2 is what the Cougars will be looking to do. The Tigers are off to a 1-2 start after last year's 5 win campaign that culminated in a 1st round loss. Only allowing 31 points in the last two weeks sets up well for the Tigers, that they only scored 21 in the two game combined could be a big problem. Is the Grace offense the one that scored 70+ in consecutive years against Redwater or the one that has trouble scoring against top opposition. Not sure we should take anything from the loss to Parish and last years 42-34 win for the Cougars seems like a decent starting point. Cougars offense gets going at home. Grace wins 38-28.
Redwater @ Tyler T.K. Gorman -- The Crusaders host Redwater after winning 49-8 on the road last year. The Dragons option attack put up plenty of yards and points in another Week 2 against Grace posting 38 but still losing by 4 touchdowns. The Crusaders lost big to Tenaha last week and have hit hard times, dropping out of District 2. Look for their to be lots of points posted in this one, but TKG is going to need some real improvement or there may be a big reversal of last season. The Crusaders and Dragons both are suspect defensively and I don't think the Crusaders offense is going to be able to keep pace with the option. I'll take the Dragons to squeak by 42-14.
Plano Prestonwood Christian @ Argyle Liberty Christian -- A notable cross district clash that should give us some indicators of who will have playoff success. After a shortened shutout of Brock last year the Warriors could not duplicate the feet, falling 28-21 to reach 0-3. After several years of an incredible defense, the Liberty squad is not off to a great start. However, Melissa, Celina, and Brock is difficult trio to start with. The Lions offense is always a force and will look to duplicate the 49 points posted last year at home. The Warriors held them to just 14 two seasons ago but scored 0 of their own and were largely routed 49-20 last season. If Liberty can reach 30 they should have a chance to win since they will be keeping the Lion attack off the field, but they probably need all of those points to win. I just can't Liberty scoring enough to win this one. Lions win 42-14.
Midland Christian @ Monahans -- Its been a rocky start for the Mustangs at just 1-2 and Monahans is always a staunch opposition. The Loboes won 5 games last season and reached the playoffs, but were bested 28-7 by MCS last season. These two had 5 wins between them entering last year's Week 4 contest. This year, they share just 1 win combined. It was a tight 20-14 defeat against state contender Wall last week leaving plenty of unknowns for district play. The distances between teams in District 1 makes predicting based on non-district games quite challenging. I think the Mustangs will get back in the win column, but they'll have to work for it. MCS wins 28-21.
Boerne Geneva @ Falls City -- The Eagles get back in this week's picks this week much like last year because the opponent is the Beavers. The Beavers reached round 5 of the playoffs last year in a 14-1 campaign. Geneva fell 15-14 in a tightly contested state final against Willow Park Trinity. The Eagles have to feel like this year is another great chance to reach the top given Trinity's struggles early on. Its just a 1-2 start for the Eagles but losses to the larger Houston 2nd Baptist and FW All Saints are no shame by any means. Its going to take the Eagles best to win out over the Beavers and avoid 1-3. The state contending Beavers are just too much for Geneva in my opinion. Falls City won last year's meeting 36-15. I don't see enough to reverse this outcome on the road. Beavers win 42-21.
Van Vleck @ Houston Second Baptist -- The Leopards took down the Eagles last year with a dominant offense, winning 48-14. Second Baptist is always a contender in the southern portion of Division II, and is the last school south of the I-20 corridor to win the title in TAPPS 2nd largest classification. The Leopards won 11 games in reaching round 3 of last year's playoffs and are off to another strong start with 40+ points posted in each outing so far. If the Eagles turn the tables here it will be huge sign to the division that this could be the year Second Baptist reaches the finals. Though the home game will help, I can't see the Eagles having enough to take this one. Van Vleck spots their way to a 40-20 win.
Quick Hits: (Season: 22-8)
McKinney Christian over Colleyville Covenant
Grapevine Faith Christian over Dallas Lincoln
Fort Worth Christian over Maypearl
Dallas Parish Episcopal over Fort Worth All Saints
Dallas Bishop Dunne over San Antonio Cornerstone Christian
Fort Worth Nolan over Fort Worth Eastern Hills
Bishop Lynch over Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt
Austin Regents over San Antonio Central Catholic
The Woodlands Christian over Fort Worth Lake Country Christian
Bellaire Episcopal over Episcopal School of Dallas
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