I feel like there's more intrigue in 2 weeks of the 2022 season than we had in all of 2021. Division II is way more open than any group was a year ago. Even the winners of four straight titles, Shiner St. Paul, do not look as favored in Division IV after 2 weeks. Parish looks the best, but after that we have a bunch of good TAPPS squads this year. Keep the good games coming. Good luck and safe travels!
This Week: (Season: 11-5)
Dallas First Baptist @ Dallas Christian -- The Chargers secured a stirring victory over Fort Bend Christian last week, 32-28. A last minute touchdown secured the victory after a double turnover sequence got the Chargers to midfield with just over 2 minutes to play. A 2-0 start for DC, but not nearly as dominant as they were in 2021 so far. The Saints had to wait an extra week to join the fray and posted a 49-28 win over McKinney Christian to start the campaign 1-0. Coming across to another member of Division III appears to be a tough step up for the smallest enrollment to play TAPPS 11-man this season. These two used to be regular opponents when both were in Division II and 4A before that. The Chargers have won all 9 meetings in the MaxPreps era, last winning 42-0 in 2015. Its nice to see these two nearby opponents renew the series though the Chargers appear to be too much this week, but that's why they play the games after all. Dallas Christian wins 48-7.
Bullard Brook Hill @ Tyler Grace Community -- The Guard travel the Jacksonville Highway into Tyler to renew the rivalry with the Cougars. Brook Hill opened the season with an ugly 2nd half that led to a 40 point loss to Grapevine Faith, but rebounded nicely with a blowout win over Life Oak Cliff. The Guard return a good team that lost a tight playoff game to Faith last year, and should be competitive in Division III. A late season game at DC looms large in October. The Cougars struggled amidst some coaching turmoil last season, finishing just 2-9. They've already matched that win total in a 2-0 start. Grace has allowed just 21 points in their first two outings. Last season's meeting was a 44-7 drubbing by the Guard, but this figures to be a bit closer. If for no other reason, than the Cougar defense should be better. 37 points is a lot to turn around though. Guard with a road victory, 35-20.
Argyle Liberty Christian vs. Lubbock Trinity Christian @ Abilene Christian University -- The Warriors immediately jumped in the hypothetical rankings with a win at Prestonwood to open the season. They couldn't quite hold off ESD in week 2, falling 20-17 on the road. Liberty appears to be a way better team than last year's 2-8 squad. Even that squad played good defense, holding DC to just 7 (their lowest output of the season). The Warriors will still wait for their home opener as they travel to Abilene to take on the Division III runner-up from a year ago. The Lions have built a steady momentum in their 8 seasons of varsity football, reaching 9 wins and the state final in 2021. An opening loss to Albany followed a win over Clarendon. So two 1-1 teams meet in this one. Defenses figure to lead both charges here, but I suspect the Liberty depth wins out in the end. Also Prestonwood is a better win so far on the young season than Clarendon. I'll go with Warriors, 26-13.
Arlington Grace Prep @ Fort Worth Christian -- The Cardinals played a strange season last year, starting 1-7 before winning a playoff game and being very competitive in the regional round. This year its a 2-0 start with wins over Dublin and Bishop Dunne. The Lions dropped a 4 point game to Oakridge in Week 1 but rebounded with an impressive upset of Division II Southwest Christian on the road. Its a 3rd road game to start the season for Grace Prep and perhaps the best opponent of the bunch here in Week 3. The Cardinals offense should score here after their outings the first two weeks. With the game in North Richland Hills its just too much for the Lions to overcome. Cardinals get to 3-0, 40-20.
Episcopal School of Dallas @ Grapevine Faith Christian -- The Lions are off to a good start following blowouts of Brook Hill and The Woodlands Christian. The Eagles have their own 2-0 start, scoring 58 against TCA and holding a up and coming Liberty Christian squad to just 17. They haven't dominated either game though and the Lions should be very competitive. ESD lost only the SPC championship game last season and seem to be starting another run. If Faith is scoring points, their defense should be good enough to win. I don't think the Lions get to 30 points, but if they do I suspect they win this one at home. Eagles win a 3rd straight close one, 28-21.
Houston Second Baptist @ Bellaire Episcopal -- The Knights held the powerful and favored Parish Episcopal squad to just 24 in a tight 7 point loss. Perhaps setting a destiny of ESD and Episcopal in a 2nd straight title game. In a preview of Eagles vs. Knights, Second Baptist stands as the opposition this week. SBS won the season opener over St. Pius before falling to Prestonwood in Week 2. The Eagles are trying to get back to the state championship game after losing to DC in the final a year ago. The Eagles first title game of the decade came in the season they lost the district title for the first time in 5 seasons. In so many ways its all a prelude to November. The Knights probably have the best loss anyone will have this year with a 7 point game against Parish. It should be enough here, Episcopal wins 39-22.
Dallas Parish Episcopal @ Austin LBJ -- The Jaguars were the only team to knock off the Panthers in 2021 and reached the state final before suffering their only loss in the ultimate game of the season. The challenge for the Panthers is great, but they did score 42 in their meeting a season ago. Both offenses should score here as they did last year. They combined for 86 points last time and I suspect they'll score that many again. With the game in Austin, LBJ feels like the pick. Jaguars win, 49-45.
Irving Cistercian @ Frisco Legacy Christian -- The Eagles are a surprising 2-0 to start the season, already besting last season's 1 win total. A 9 win season in 2019 gave way to some real struggles post-COVID with just 4 wins in the two seasons that followed. Perhaps Legacy has turned that corner with last week's win over Oakridge. The Hawks probably pose a stiffer test after defeating St. Marks last week to reach 2-0 themselves. Cistercian was in the SPC title game a year ago, falling to John Cooper. The Eagles can bring me around on their chances in Division II this year with a win, but I think they're still a notch below the others. Cistercian wins 33-21.
Quick Hits: (Season: 12-8)
Arlington Pantego Christian over McKinney Christian
Texarkana Pleasant Grove over Midland Christian
Austin Regents over Boerne Geneva
Fort Bend Christian over Houston St. John's
Houston Lutheran South over Cypress Christian
Gunter over Addison Trinity Christian
Little Elm over Plano Prestonwood Christian
Fort Worth Nolan over Houston St. Thomas
Houston St. Pius X over The Woodlands Christian
Shiner St. Paul over Muenster Sacred Heart
No comments:
Post a Comment