District play is here for everyone. Maybe a stray non-district game in a bye week, but the push to the playoffs is definitely on. I think we're still looking for that first big surprise of the season to push a favorite off the top of the pile. Maybe this week. Good luck and safe travels.
This Week: (Season: 30-15)
Dallas Christian @ Dallas Bishop Dunne -- Cancelled
Tyler Grace Community @ McKinney Christian -- The Cougars head on the road again after taking a loss in Beaumont a week ago. A 1-5 start for Grace that has seen them score more than 8 points only twice in 6 outings. The win over Tenaha lead to some confidence, but its been undone by being Frisco Legacy's first win and then back to scoring 8 against Kelly. The Mustangs have been finding the endzone, but not always the win column. A 2-3 season has seen losing point totals of 33 and 47. They did post 66 last week in a win. Last season these two played a 4 hour 74-54 shootout, and I think we'll see more of the same. Grace should be better, but the offensive inconsistencies leave room for worry. Cougars win 42-35.
Grapevine Faith Christian @ Fort Worth Southwest Christian -- The Lions took a down turn in the COVID year, finishing just 5-4. It was a regional round playoff appearance through. Something to build on for this year as they've already matched the 5 wins from a season ago during their undefeated start. The Eagles were the surprise of 2020, reaching the semifinals. A notable 33-7 domination for Southwest last year was the launching point for that campaign. After 3 wins to start the Eagles took defeats at strong ESD and TCA squads. The Lions look to be the favorite in District 1, but we'll know for sure this week. Faith scores a couple of home runs on the Southwest Christian baseball field and wins a close one, 28-21.
Argyle Liberty Christian @ Midland Christian -- The rivalry is renewed again, allowing us to revisit the "Game of Inches". The UNT soccer team now calls that field home as the Warriors moved up to Argyle. With the campus movements and stadium rebuilds, this matchup has been played at 6 different home fields and at least 1 neutral site. While the past is fun, the current teams will decide this one. The Mustangs are 3-2, but 0-2 in district play. They have played the top two teams already so could run the table to 5-2, and probably are favored to do so. Liberty lost by a bunch to Pulaski Academy from Little Rock last week and has taken a strange route to 1-4. Driving to the Permian Basin probably isn't the best choice for getting yourself right. The Warriors haven't been able to have good offense and good defense in the same week. Hold DC to 7, score just 6. Score 24 against All Saints, allow 41. I can't see them putting it together in Midland. Mustangs win 40-20.
Dallas Parish Episcopal @ Plano Prestonwood Christian -- The Lions had a COVID season last year at just 4-4, admittedly an asterisk season but it was Prestonwood's fewest wins in a season since 2008. While being known for offense for a decade or more, it was the defense the last few years that was leading Prestonwood. The offense has been back this year though, opening with 111 points in 2 weeks. The win over Coppell put everyone on notice and losing to Garland looks better and better with each win by the Owls. The Panthers are the defending champs in Division I and nothing so far has changed that. A tidy win over Midland Christian to get to 2-0 in district play put Parish in the drivers seat going into the off week. The showdown with Nolan looms in Week 10, and not getting tripped before then is the challenge. I don't think the Panthers run away in this one, but someone has to push the king off the mountain. Parish wins 35-28.
Dallas Bishop Lynch @ Fort Worth All Saints -- The Friars head West in search of a 2nd district win. An up and down 2-3 start leaves a lot of questions for Bishop Lynch. With a win over John Paul already, just one more district win would likely put the Friars in the top 6 and the playoffs. The Saints put up a respectable performance in a 14 point loss to Prestonwood and posted 41 against Liberty. While not a game for the district title, the winner is almost certainly in the playoffs. I'm not sure there is any trend to point to as obvious here, and COVID actually kept this district matchup from happening last year. Home team seems like the best play. Saints win 24-13.
Victoria St. Joseph @ Houston Second Baptist -- The Flyers are the up and coming program in District 4, and they get their shot at the top to start district play. A 4-1 with back-to-back shutouts coming into this one should mean St. Joseph could spring the upset. A long trip up from Victoria is a negative, but one they've made before. The Eagles are the perennial top contender in District 4. While Regents has kept them out of the title game, they've been the District 4 title holder for 5 seasons. A 4 game win streak after starting with a loss mean Second Baptist should be the contender again. They struggled to score a bit last time out against Port Lavaca Calhoun, but always good to see you can win without the 40 points. I think we point to a low scoring game here, and again home team always feels like the better play. Eagles win, 26-21.
San Antonio Holy Cross @ Shiner St. Paul -- We close this week with Division IV title holder and favorite taking on a Division III side in Holy Cross. The Cardinals do the most with the fewest every year, featuring a smaller enrollment than many TAPPS 6-man schools. They've won with good regular seasons and bad, winning state after a 2-8 record one season. This year's 3-1 start leaves open many questions. Just 14 point allowed in 2 weeks, seems like a good Cardinals team. Being handily defeated by Cypress Christian? Could be lack of depth or a sign that they might struggle. The Knights are off to a 3-3 start that has seen 5 blowouts in a row after a 3 point loss to open the season. The Cardinals need to be good early in this one, or the depth might catch up to them. No obvious pick again, so we go home team like the last 2. Cardinals win 35-21.
Quick Hits: (Season: 46-14)
Fort Worth Nolan over Plano John Paul II
Lubbock Christian over Colleyville Covenant Christian
Fort Worth Christian over Frisco Legacy Christian
San Antonio Antonian over Houston St. Pius X
Austin St. Michael's over Austin Brentwood Christian
Brownsville St. Joseph over Boerne Geneva
Addison Trinity Christian over Beaumont Kelly
Episcopal School of Dallas over Houston Kinkaid
Fort Bend Christian over The Woodlands Christian
Irving Cistercian over Arlington Oakridge
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