Should be great set of games this week with spots in Waco on the line. A few too many Eagles have made Round 3 with 5 of 16 teams representing the National bird. A few games we expected to see, and a few others that a surprises. Divisions I and IV have 3 teams we expected and one surprising squad making a run. Nolan and Brazos Christian sneaking into the final 4. Division III has exactly the 4 district champions we've expected to see since September. Then Division II has a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place district finisher making up its ending quartet. Should be a fun final 12 games this season.
This Week: (Season: 72-28)
Division III
Lubbock Trinity Christian vs. Dallas Christian @ Clyde -- Even before the season started this seemed the likely showdown in Division III. The Chargers are the state champions from a year ago in Division II and the Lions were in the Division III state final a year ago. Lubbock Christian was the greatest resistance to the Lions a year ago in the playoffs and they moved to Division IV. Once Trinity dispatched Grace Prep in the regular season, it was clear that DC and TCS would be the battle in the North of Division III. The Chargers are 11-1 having only dropped a road game at Fort Worth Christian. The Lions 10-2 mark saw very good Albany and Argyle Liberty squads blemish the record. Both teams place a high value on running the football, so a quick game may be on order here. Which team can get the other behind the chains and in uncomfortable passing downs is deciding factor to me. Both teams have been absolutely dominant in the playoffs. The smallest margin of victory between them in 4 playoff games is 42. The Lions have scored 42 or more in 7 straight games. The Chargers have scored 60+ in 4 straight outings. Both defenses should be better than any the offenses have seen since September. A tight game should be mandatory here, but we know the leanings of this space. Chargers survive, 35-28.
Division I
Dallas Parish Episcopal vs. Houston St. Thomas @ Belton -- The Panthers have been the odds on favorite for the Division I title since winning the first of this run in 2019. So we are back again trying to find an opponent that can take down Parish Episcopal. The Eagles seemed at times to be a possible candidate to break up the Northern dominance in Division I. Wins over a UIL Lumberton squad that is still in the playoffs and SPC Champion Kinkaid points to a very good team for St. Thomas. Losing the regular season finale to Antonian dealt those chances a blow, and needing OT to beat TCA certainly doesn't raise expectations for the Eagles. The Panthers played a very challenging non-district scheduled and largely met the task with just one 2nd half slip up against South Oak Cliff. China Spring and Aledo are both figuring on deep runs in the postseason still and both lost to Parish this year. The Panthers are simply the best team in TAPPS on paper. While never a guarantee of victory, its hard to see this going any other way. Parish beat TCA 42-6 and St. Thomas needed OT. The Panthers beat Nolan by 35 and the Eagles by 17. The Panthers are inevitable it seems. Parish wins comfortably 38-20.
Plano Prestonwood Christian vs. Fort Worth Nolan @ Birdville -- The Lions lost a season opener to Argyle Liberty because they scored just 7. Now Liberty went on to have a great season finishing the regular season at 9-1. Prestonwood would win the next 8 after losing that opener, including a 42-7 win over Nolan. The district showdown with Parish did not go the Lions way and they settled for 2nd place. The Vikings 2-8 regular season was a not a good indicator of their quality. The 8 losses included single-digit defeats to quality opponents Dallas Christian and Bellaire Episcopal. A St. Thomas game got away from them with turnovers. The only bad loss was to Bishop Lynch in a non-district game, and they avenged that later in the district rematch. The playoffs though produced the Vikings best and they've doubled their win total since the regular season ended. Dominating Tomball Concordia didn't really change any opinions as we always though District 1 was much better top to bottom than District 2. The win last week over Antonian though upset the apple cart. The 42 and 38 points the Vikings scored in playoff wins the last 2 weeks are their most points in any game this season. That offense is needed to beat Prestonwood, but I just don't see it happening. Lions set up the expected rematch with Parish. Prestonwood wins 35-14.
Division II
Fort Worth All Saints vs. Fort Worth Christian @ Birdville -- The previous divisions saw most of what we expected, but Division II was wide open all year and the playoffs delivered on that expectation. A district rematch in the semifinals is pretty normal, but I can't remember it being the 3rd and 4th place finishers ever before. The Saints had an up and down season on the way to 6-5 thus far. They've really allowed too many points, but have produced the goods in the playoffs. A 3-point loss to Prestonwood is a good result, a 2-point loss at Midland is a good result, but it took the playoffs to get a good win. Dispatching Liberty in the regional though puts the Saints in position to be the champions. While the Saints season went up and down throughout, the Cardinals went way up and then way down. They were 5-0 after beating rival Dallas Christian. Then they lost 3 of 4 in district play. Their playoff success has been its own adventure. A 20-point 2nd half deficit at Dunne? Erased in a 41-40 win. A 13-point deficit to Midland Christian? Erased in a 28-27 win. Last time these two played on November 3 it was a 45-42 win for the Saints. If All Saints can score like that again its probably their day to reach a 1st ever TAPPS state title game. The Cardinals seem to be the Division II cockroach though so that's the way we'll go. Cardinals in another 1-point win. FWC advances 35-34.
Sugar Land Fort Bend Christian vs. Houston Second Baptist @ Houston Delmar -- The battle of Eagles happens for the 4th time in 2 seasons. Second Baptist leads this series 17-2 since 2005 with last season's district title being the rare decision that went in Fort Bend's favor. Second Baptist's defeat of The Woodlands Christian was expected. I think most had Fort Bend going out at the hands of Regents last week though. That is why we though the district title game between these two was so important. The October 14 meeting went Second Baptist way 28-7. Can Fort Bend turn the table? They need offense against a defense that hasn't allowed more than 13 points since September. After starting 1-4 with losses to Prestonwood (by just 4) and the SPC Houston trio it seemed Second Baptist might be off that top step, but a repeat visit to the title game feels like the choice. I think if the game gets up in the 30s though it will favor Fort Bend. That's the way I'll lean. Fort Bend turns the tables like Second Baptist did last year and prevents SBS for reaching back-to-back finals. Fort Bend advances to its first TAPPS title game, 35-30.
Division IV
Lubbock Christian School vs. Bryan Brazos Christian School @ Bangs -- The Eagles from Lubbock are 10-1 with a sole loss to Weatherford Christian on October 7. The Bryan based Eagles are the surprise entrant to the semis at just 6-5. Brazos lost the district title game to Northland in overtime before eschewing Waco Reicher for the 2nd time this season to open the playoffs. The upset though was last week, as they scored 45 points for the 4th time this season. The other 3 were against much less formidable foes. Brazos Christian seems to be playing its best now, but I just don't see them getting past this hurdle. Lubbock Christian slid past Central Texas Christian 52-0 last week in its playoff opener. Brazos Christian lost 13-6 to the same squad in September. Lubbock Christian reaches the final, 44-14.
Shiner St. Paul Catholic vs. Muenster Sacred Heart @ Robinson -- The Cardinals have won the last 4 titles in Division IV. This season though has been less impressive than last with 4 losses being the most since 2018, of course they won the state title that season too. The Tigers ascended to contender status with a win over Shiner St. Paul on September 10 in Frisco. That propelled Sacred Heart to 11-1 with the only loss in overtime to Lubbock Christian. One of the Eagles, Cardinals, and Tigers seemed to be likely title winner all season. This season it seems the Tigers are the favorites here with a high flying offense that hasn't been held under 40 points since September. The Cardinals though just don't lose playoff games with the last such loss coming in 2017. With 52 points last week against Rosehill the Cardinals seem to be finding their stride. I think the Cardinals turn the tables from September in a high scoring shootout. St. Paul wins 50-45.
Quick Hits finishes the season at 96-34
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