Week 3 Picks 2023

The TAPPS defending champions struggle on the field in the early goings of 2023. Parish is 0-2, Fort Bend Christian is 0-2, Dallas Christian lost last week to fall to 1-1, and Lubbock Christian...well they're 2-0 after a victory over the Skyrockets. Many more non-district showdowns and Eagles on the docket for Week 3. Good luck, safe travels, and good air conditioning to all.

This Week: (Season: 10-4)

Dallas Christian @ Tolar -- The Chargers travel West to continue our search for great mascots. The Rattlers from Hood County are a strong UIL 2A program that reached the 4th round of the playoffs a season ago and allowed less than 10 points a game in those playoffs. DC traveled East last week suffering a 17-14 defeat to Louisiana State Champion Ouachita Christian. In the 4 games that these two have played this season they've allowed just 40 points combined. So don't come to this one expecting an offensive shootout. The Chargers last lost 2 games in the same season in 2019 (TCCH and Faith) and last lost 2 regular season games in the same year in 2017 (All Saints and TCCH). Really hard to square these two since there isn't really any common opponents through the years. Tolar played Flower Mound Coram Deo last year, but it was a blowout much like their last meeting with DC. Low scoring is what I feel certain about, and we can probably guess who I'm picking. Chargers survive 19-18.

Tyler Grace Community @ Bullard Brook Hill -- The largest Smith County private schools meet for the 15th time. Last year the Guard staked a 13-0 lead in the 1st quarter before the host Cougars surged back to win 31-20. Tyler Grace would share the district title but wound up traveling in Round 1 anyway due to a 3-way tie. All of those tri-champions were wiped out by District 1 in the 1st round. However, 8 wins was the Cougars most since 2016 and another 2-0 start promises good things ahead. The Guard are 1-1 after allowing 42 points to Grapevine Faith in Week 1, but bounced back for a dominant win in Week 2. Finding a way to score enough to turn the tables is the challenge for Brook Hill. They've simply haven't been able to keep up against the top competition, getting blown out quite a few times even while scoring 20 points themselves. This space likes home teams, but I think Grace is better this year. Cougars outscore the Guard, 44-30.

Fort Worth Christian @ Arlington Grace Prep -- The Cardinals 2-0 start is good news in North Richland Hills, but they were 5-0 last season after topping Dallas Christian and then lost 3 of 4 district games. They rebounded for two playoff wins before the offense betrayed them against All Saints. A warm Saturday morning contest in Arlington sets up an interesting challenge in Week 3. The Lions have started 0-2 scoring just 21 points combined in 2 games. They score 53 against the same two opponents a year ago. Other than a little Saturday afternoon chaos and FWC looking ahead to consecutive games against rivals Faith, DC, MCS, and Liberty its hard to see Grace Prep catching the Cardinals in this one. FWC runs away with it, 42-14.

Grapevine Faith Christian @ Episcopal School of Dallas -- Our first Eagles of the week sees SPC contender ESD hosting the Lions. ESD started last year 6-0 before dropping their two biggest SPC counters and winding up outside of the championship game. That start included a 23-7 win over Faith. The offense though looks a bit behind the 2022 squad, scoring just 28 points against the same two schools that they scored 78 against last season. The Lions may be a tad ahead of the 2022 team, scoring 105 points in two blowout wins. The trip to Midway Rd. can be a slow one, but I'll be surprised if that slows the Lions attack. Faith Christian wins 37-20.

Bellaire Episcopal @ Houston Second Baptist -- Another Eagles hosting a cross-conference contender, but this one in the Houston area. Just 7 miles of Woodway Dr. and I-610 separate these two, but meet for just the 2nd time in the MaxPreps era. The Knights posted very notable road upset of TAPPS DI Champion Parish Episcopal last week, 27-20. They also defeated the Eagles 35-14 in 2022. Second Baptist got off to a big start with 41-0 thwacking of St. Pius X, but lost a road trip to Prestonwood 21-17. Not a bad loss by any means, but when the opponent was down the road beating the TAPPS favorites it doesn't induce a lot of confidence. Both defenses should be competitive and it shouldn't be a blowout, but the committee of one can't go against a team that just beat the consensus favorites in all of TAPPS. Knights win 30-16.

Fort Bend Christian @ Houston St. John's -- Our third consecutive Eagles is the defending TAPPS DII Champion. Fort Bend went from a 7-game win streak and State Title to an 0-2 start. They did lose two of their first three games last season though before getting things rolling. One of those losses was a 6-point decision against the Mavericks. Fort Bend is 0-4 all time against St. John's. The Mavericks tend to play close high scoring games with both teams scoring over 20 in 6 of their 10 contests in 2022 and the same happening in both games this season in their 1-1 start. This is a tough one to get on track if you're the Eagles, but at least the trip is just 16 miles up I-69. Home team has to be the choice given the track records. Mavericks win a close one, 44-40.

Brownsville St. Joseph @ Brownsville Veterans Memorial -- Houston wasn't far enough South for us, so we go 350 miles further South to find two schools separated by just 7 miles and somewhere that doesn't name all their teams the Eagles. The Bloodhounds have scored 131 points in two victories to open the campaign and are looking to build off last season's district runner-up and 8-3 finish. One of those losses was to the Chargers, 40-20. Veterans Memorial is just 0-1 on the season losing to San Benito (Greyhounds) in Week 1. A 3rd round playoff appearance last year says the Chargers are a good squad and despite the short trip we still like home teams in this space. Can never really go wrong picking the Chargers either. Veterans Memorial wins a high scoring one, 44-35.

Quick Hits: (Season: 12-8)

Dallas Parish Episcopal over Austin LBJ
Gunter over Addison Trinity Christian
Plano Prestonwood Christian over Little Elm
Frisco Legacy Christian over Irving Cistercian
Texarkana Pleasant Grove over Midland Christian
Houston Cypress Christian over Houston Lutheran South
The Woodlands Christian over Houston St. Pius X
Muenster Sacred Heart over Plano John Paul II
Houston Northland Christian over Willow Park Trinity Christian
Dallas St. Marks over The Woodlands John Cooper