We move closer to the playoffs and many district races are pretty clear at this point. But just one surprise would make any district quite chaotic. I'm sure a few surprises await us, but we can't help but look forward. The weather may be the story of Week 10 as Friday's forecast looks bleak. Stay safe and dry this week!
This Week: (Season: 54-15)
Dallas Christian @ McKinney Christian -- The Chargers travel north with a chance to secure their 7th district title in the last 11 seasons. Dallas Christian struggled through the first half last week against Brook Hill before dominating the 2nd half in a 62-14 final. Finding a way to the endzone is the challenge against DC, only allowing five touchdowns in one game so far this season. For perspective, the Chargers have scored five TDs in six of their eight games. The Mustangs have struggled in 2022, just 2-6 on the season so far. The district opening win over Shelton likely puts MCA in the playoffs. The back to back of DC and Brook Hill is a tough way to close the campaign. The Mustangs have allowed 301 points on the season already and it just seems they won't have enough to battle the Chargers this week. The 40 point loss to Covenant after DC beat them by 40 isn't a good omen for the Mustangs. Chargers win 48-8.
Dallas The Covenant @ Dallas Shelton -- The Knights were not the team we expected to be hosting Round 1, but a win here will guarantee a top 2 finish for Covenant. Only Dallas Christian has been able to solve the Knights in 2022. A strong rushing attack has seen the Knights to a 7-1 mark so far and averaging over 40 points per game. The Chargers are 4-4 on the season, but have been struggling in district play being outscored 112-38 in 2 district games. Is there a path to victory for the Chargers? I think so, but finding a way to slow the Covenant rushing attack will be difficult. I think the Knights consolidate their opprutunity and will open the playoffs at home. Covenant wins and eliminates Shelton from the playoffs, 50-14.
Fort Worth Lake Country Christian @ Arlington Pantego Christian -- The Eagles started the season 6-0 before Lubbock Trinity came to Fort Worth and walloped them 49-0. A 6-point victory over Colleyville Covenant puts the Eagles back on track, but another hurdle awaits in Pantego. Lake Country also finishes with Grace Prep who figures to be the other host team from District 1. So the path to 2nd place is open for the Eagles, but its a tough road. The Panthers got their 1st district win of the season last week, but see Lubbock Trinity next week. Probably will take 2 wins to reach the top 4 and the playoffs, so Pantego likely needs a win here to make the playoffs since next week looks like a tough hill to climb. Spring an upset here and there might even be a path to 2nd place. Just the Covenant common results put the Eagles as the favorites here, but a trip to Pantego is never a given. The Lake Country offense should be too much here. Eagles slide by 32-20.
Dallas Bishop Dunne @ Tyler Grace Community -- The Cougars have left last year's disappointing 2-9 season in the dust, running off a 7-1 mark so far. Grapevine Faith really dominated Grace in the district opener, but the Cougars rebounded by scoring 108 points in the next two district games. A win here would secure 2nd place for Grace as it closes their district season. The Falcons took two opening losses to DC and FWC to start the season and have won 6 in a row since. They've also scored 40 or more in all of those wins. This one looks to be "pointsy." Cougars always tough at home and this will be no different. Who gets the big stop or the big turnover? Both teams will have a tough playoff opponent in either Fort Worth Christian, Midland Christian, or Fort Worth All Saints, but you'd rather get that game at home than on the road. Cougars survive a shootout at home, 48-44.
Fort Worth All Saints @ Argyle Liberty Christian -- The Warriors declared it would be different than last season with a season opening win at Prestonwood. They've only dropped a 3-point decision to ESD since then in route to an 8-1 mark. They'll be one of the first teams finished with the regular season, but haven't clinched the district title yet and haven't even secured a 1st round home game. A win here earns the district title for the Warriors. The Saints are a bit of an odd 3-4 on the season. An out-of-state loss and being a bit snake bit in close games makes the record feel worse than it is. The three in-state losses are by just 21 combined points and include Prestonwood and Midland Christian who figure to be highly placed in their respective districts. The All Saints defense leads the way, allowing just 20 points per game to in-state opponents. So this is the opposite expectation from the Dunne-Grace contest. This should be a defensive struggle. A loss here could mean the Saints are out of the playoffs as a Week 11 meeting with FWC will be huge. A win here and the Saints could win the district title. The Warriors are too good this season though, and win this defensive slugfest in the rain. Liberty wins 12-10.
Fort Worth Southwest Christian @ Fort Worth Christian -- The Cardinals finished September 5-0 and having just vanquished long time rival Dallas Christian. They've since dropped both district games to Midland Christian and Argyle Liberty. They were in both games, but allowing 40+ points is a hard way to win. This sudden turn in fortune has the Cardinals staring down the possibility of finishing out of the playoffs completely. A loss would send FWC to All Saints in Week 11 having to win to make the postseason and the wrong results this week could mean they're already eliminated. The Eagles face the same dilemma but with even higher stakes as a loss will eliminate them from the playoffs since they could only tie teams they would have lost to already. Southwest is just 4-4 so far on the season, but has covered all the bases in their season results. The win over Trinity Valley looks pretty good. The loss to Grace Prep looks really bad. The win over UIL playoff contender Hallettsville looks excellent. Being TCA's first win of the season not so much. Limiting Liberty to just 18 points means the path to 40 points may not be as open for the Cardinals as we would have thought entering last week. If the Cardinals offense finds its early season form, they'll win comfortably. If not, this will be a playoff sweat for both teams at the end of this rainy night. Cardinals win at home, 34-20.
Houston Kinkaid vs. Houston St. John's @ Rice Stadium -- SPC 4A featured some incredible twists and turns this year despite only 5 teams in the division. All signs pointed to ESD through September with a 6-0 mark and a win over Bellaire Episcopal. Then Kinkaid and St. John's both beat them in consecutive weeks. This wound up putting ESD out of the title game and Bellaire Episcopal sitting at home this week securely in the title game already after they ran off 3 wins in a row. The Falcons were just 3-3 going into the game with ESD and a 20-17 win in OT pushed them to the brink of the title game. The Mavericks are 7-2 going into the regular season finale including wins over Fort Bend Christian and Second Baptist. By defeating ESD last week it sets up this meeting as the decider for the other spot in the title game. The Mavericks have been better all season and thus have to be the pick here, but the Falcons win over Second Baptist and their own victory of ESD mean they won't be an easy out. The site of Super Bowl VIII makes a great setting for this defacto semifinal game. Mavericks win 35-28.
Quick Hits: (Season: 65-25)
Fort Worth Nolan over Dallas Bishop Lynch
San Antonio Antonian over Tomball Concordia Lutheran
Grapevine Faith Christian over Frisco Legacy Christian
Austin Hyde Park over San Antonio Christian
The Woodlands Christian over Houston Lutheran South
San Antonio Holy Cross over Corpus Christi John Paul II
Houston Cypress Christian over Austin Brentwood Christian
League City Bay Area Christian over Magnolia Legacy Preparatory
Lubbock Christian over Fort Worth Temple Christian
Fort Worth Trinity Valley over Fort Worth Country Day
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