I'm not sure how this season ends. A very normal statement in Week 3, but means very different things in 2020. The district standings in many districts will be complicated. The results will be confusing. I'm glad we're playing and we'll make make the best of it in this space, but it was quite a challenge to find enough games. Schedules and picks subject to change.
This Week: (Season: 10-4)
Fort Worth Southwest Christian @ Grapevine Faith Christian -- The top spot has to go somewhere with DC taking the week off. The Lions have been one of the many programs that feel like TCCH kept state titles out of their grasp, but there can only be one winner each year. Faith posted an impressive opening win over Bishop Dunne, 56-0. Then they were unable to consolidate that win falling to UIL program Nevada Community 23-17 last week. In the pre-season, I would have had a pretty strong feeling this is a Faith blowout. However, the Eagles also played Bishop Dunne this season and beat them 66-0. So I guess on common opponent we have a pretty even matchup. A season ago the Lions won a road game over the Eagles 42-14. It seems Southwest is a bit better than previous seasons and should compete for a spot in the playoffs, especially since 4 of 5 make the playoffs in District 1. Being the only game in District 1 this week means the winner goes to 1st place. However, I can't get past preseason expectations for this pick. Lions wins 35-20.
Flower Mound Coram Deo @ Bullard Brook Hill -- The Guard scored a mild upset over Fort Worth Christian in their opener and then both teams were off the next week. FWC is still not back in action due to the virus, while the Guard will look to score another victory over District 1. After 8 wins a season ago, Brook Hill will be looking to compete for one of the home playoff spots in District 2 and Bishop Dunne's early season struggles have to be encouraging for the Guard. The Lions were a Division III playoff team last season, but only managed 5 wins for the season. Brook Hill bested Coram Deo last season 49-0. The Lions did open the season with a Lion shutout over Grace Prep, but I'm not sure where they find enough offense in this one although they seemed to awaken after being shut out by Brook Hill last season. Guard win 40-13.
McKinney Christian vs. Lubbock Trinity Christian @ Vernon -- The Mustangs will travel west to take on a relative newcomer to the football landscape. Its just the 7th season of football on the Caprock for the Lions (lot of Lions this week). After an ugly start last year the Lions rolled off 4 in a row to get a chance at the district title against the more notable football power of Lubbock Christian. Trinity lost that one by just 5, but then fell at home in round 1 to Colleyville Covenant. The Lions lost by a single point to that same Covenant squad last week with a tricky Saturday morning road game. The Mustangs have struggled in Division II, but performed well against Division III opponents in a 4-0 start. The Mustangs have split their opening pair, scoring 54 in their opener but still losing by 24 to Eastland and then blowing out Prince of Peace. This is the 2nd neutral site game with a western team this season for McKinney Christian, a product of these strange times. The Mustangs offense proves to be too much after posting 113 points in 2 weeks. McKinney Christian wins 48-38.
Fort Worth Nolan @ Plano Prestonwood Christian -- Excellent decision in District 1 to go ahead and have these two play since both opponents cancelled. Better to get a game out of the way and fill in the pieces later. The Vikings drew a tough card in this pandemic season having to open the season with a district game against Midland Christian. They answered the bell though with a 38-21 win where they held the MCS offense to very little in the 2nd half. The game also featured a thrilling start with a kickoff return making it 7-7 less than 1 minute into the game. Nolan figures to be a prime contender in Division I as they look for revenge on a 2nd round playoff loss after the started 11-0. Going to be hard to win 11 this year, given...all of this. The Lions (another one!) scheduled Fort Worth Southwest at the last possible moment last week after All Saints cancelled due to the virus. Prestonwood dominated the Raiders 45-7 to even their record at 1-1. The Lions always pose a strong offense, but have been much stronger defensively in recent years. This would seem to be a close game to the end. In the split alignment of last season, these two did not meet and haven't played since 2017. The Lions have won the last 4 meetings. With the game at Prestonwood, I lean that way but I think this is the best game in TAPPS this week. Lions win 30-25.
Parish Episcopal @ Midland Christian -- The Mustangs dominated a Wall team that I picked to beat them, and played Nolan tough a week ago. The Panthers have dominated two district opponents but in only 1 game that counted as a district game. Neither Lynch nor Liberty was close to toppling the champs. Only All Saints bested Parish a year ago before injuries took down the Saints. The Parish Episcopal offense scored 40 in all but 2 games last season and has continued that this year with outings of 43 and 50. Traveling to the Permian Basin certainly maximizes the Mustangs chances this week, but I think MCS will need an offensive outing that they can't produce to win this one. Hard to see the Mustangs getting blown out at home, but equally hard to see them getting over the hump here (but if anyone can its them). Panthers win 44-30.
Austin Regents @ Austin Hyde Park -- The Knights continue to be featured in this space since they've made 4 straight title games. Seemingly half of other games being cancelled doesn't hurt either. Regents continues to dominate District 3, posting 34 points or more in their last 9 district wins. The Knights last lost a district game in 2015, falling 25-24 to...Hyde Park. Just for fun, that game was on October 9th that year. A trip to the Quarries is never easy. The Panthers posted a good season in 2017, before taking two pretty tough years in '18 and '19. It has not been a good start with losses to Holy Cross and Geneva to open this season. Hyde Park is up against it here, but it is a season for strange things. Regents wins 40-10.
San Antonio Central Catholic @ Houston St. Thomas -- The notable Catholic schools in the big cities match in an early district showdown. The Eagles have controlled this pairing winning each of the meetings in the last 4 years. A couple of the meetings have been tight to the end with St. Thomas winning by just 2 a year ago. The Buttons enter on the much better start after posting wins over Geneva and San Antonio Christian. Its been an 0-2 beginning for the Eagles. I don't know that these two will compete for the top spot, but St. Thomas was in the semifinal a year ago. This should be an interesting finish as I doubt the Buttons will push around Eagles, but I think Central has the better team this year. Buttons win 30-27.
Corpus Christ John Paul II @ San Antonio St. Anthony -- We're going to get some interesting teams in these picks this year and a great team name increases your chances. The Centurions will travel north to take on St. Anthony. The Yellowjackets dropped their opener to Regents last week, 44-6. The Centurions have started 0-2 losing to Ingleside and Austin St. Michaels. Even in a district where 5 of 8 make the playoffs it may be hard to get either of these teams to the playoffs. St. Anthony has finally been squeezed out of hosting games at Lang Field with buildings popping up around the campus as they will host this one at the University of Incarnate Word. Returning to TAPPS makes St. Anthony a difficult team to place. John Paul is coming off one of their best seasons in school history, posting 8 wins. Based on last year I'll take John Paul, but these two look to be pretty even. Centurions win 27-20.
Quick Hits: (Season: 12-7)
San Antonio Cornerstone over Frisco Legacy Christian
Sugar Land Fort Bend Christian over The Woodlands Christian
Dallas Shelton over Tyler T.K. Gorman
Shiner St. Paul over San Antonio Holy Cross
Houston Northland Christian over Beaumont Legacy Prep
Arlington Pantego Christian over Dallas First Baptist
Colleyville Covenant Christian over Weatherford Christian
Bryan Brazos Christian over Temple Central Texas Christian
Fort Worth Lake Country Christian over Fort Worth Temple Christian
Beaumont Kelly over Trinity Christian - Addison
Houston The Village School over Carrollton Prince of Peace
No comments:
Post a Comment