Another week approaches as we continue through the non-district slate. Some fun games this week, but we allow now Eagles in the main picks this time. So ESD and Second Baptist is relegated to Quick Hits. What surprises await us this week? Good luck and safe travels on the road to state!
This Week: (Season 10-4)
Dallas Christian @ Fort Worth Atlas Homeschool -- The Chargers travel west for a first time meeting with the Rattlers. Atlas has posted two wins on the season so far with 55 points posted against Malakoff Cross Roads and 50 points against Newman International. Certainly not a murderers row, but 50 points is 50 points. DC enters having posted a ton of points in a win over FW Southwest Christian and a loss to San Antonio Cornerstone. If the porous defense from Week 1 is back, it could be a tricky game for the Chargers. For expectations though, the Rattlers were beaten 53-0 by Cornerstone last year. Its probably closer than that in this one, but DC is clearly favored. Chargers win 44-14.
San Antonio Central Catholic @ San Antonio Holy Cross -- The Knights have started the 2024 campaign looking to avenge the unfinished business of a title game defeat. They've already turned around a loss to Antonian as part of a 2-0 start. While 50 points is always notable, its very notable when you're Division III Holy Cross talking on Division I Antonian. The tour of Division I continues for Holy Cross as they welcome in the Buttons (see how easy it is not to be the Eagles). Central has 110 points in 2 weeks for their own 2-0 start, but you have to wonder if its a little suspicious given the opponents. The Buttons are likely better than the 3-8 mark of 2023, but it appears the Knights are a better than they were last year as well. Another 50 points for Holy Cross would put them right at the top of teams who could knock of DC for the crow. Holy Cross wins at home, 34-20.
Dallas Covenant @ Dallas First Baptist -- The Saints hold the longest winning streak in TAPPS, but were slowed a bit last week by Tyler Grace. In the 15 wins it was the first time FBA was held under 40. The march to a back-to-back titles in Division IV may be well underway though, as no school FBA's size is going to match the numbers on the sideline for Tyler Grace. The Knights have their own 2-0 start this year complete with 0 points allowed. However, the Saints should be by leaps and bounds the best opponent Covenant has seen so far. Covenant was 7-5 a season ago including a 43-17 loss to First Baptist. I don't see a 30 point swing to the new season, but I don't think FBA will be as dominant. Saints win, 39-21.
San Antonio Cornerstone Christian @ Dallas Parish Episcopal -- The Warriors 2-0 start includes wins over Dallas Christian and Fort Bend Christian. Their offense won them the DC game with 49 points. The defense won them game 2 with just 3 points allowed. Cornerstone may be one of the more well rounded groups in the non-UIL ranks, but also do not have that one player, group, or unit that jumps off the page. Not having a Division to compare them to doesn't help that either. The Panthers are the 5-time defending champions, but All Saints defeat of Parish in Week 1 seems to have the door open for others to unseat the kings. The Panthers did respond with a dominant 28 point victory over SPC power Bellaire Episcopal. I think the Panthers are the better squad here and at home on the blue field it seems the logical choice. I just can't shake that something is up in this one. Maybe its the nature of the game being "bigger" for the Warriors than it is for the Panthers, who are really waiting for November given TAPPS forgiving playoff qualifying. Warriors with an upset, 37-30.
Midland Christian @ Bushland -- The Mustangs held Bishop Lynch to just 3 points last week to even their record at 1-1. Scoring has been the problem for MCS in the most recent seasons and at just 10 points per game through 2 weeks it may be again. The Falcons jumped up the UIL ranking boards with their win last week over Canadian. Bushland with 103 points combined in 2 weeks. If the Falcons are putting it in the endzone like they have been, its hard to see the Mustangs keeping pace. I do think MCS slows Bushland a bit, but not enough to score a road win. The Mustang offense will need to find its stride before district play. I don't think its this week though. Falcons win 30-7.
Corpus Christi St. John Paull II @ Shiner St. Paul -- This space is partial to schools playing 11-man with smaller enrollments than all of 6-man Division I. So the Cardinals make the list here. At 0-2, its the worst start since 2018 for St. Paul. A season they won a state championship though, after finishing the regular season at 2-8. So that helps, but scheduling an opponent named Centurions will also get you in this space. Unfortunately, its hard to see where the success will start for John Paul II. So even with the Cardinals looking a little down over recent years they should still top the Centurions comfortably. Shiner St. Paul wins, 35-7.
Tyler Grace Community @ Pittsburg -- The Cougars have opened 1-1 and enter off a loss to Dallas First Baptist. Grace's problem over the years has been finding two good units. They seem to either have a competitive defense or a top flight offense, but never both. This seems like it may be a defensive year for the Cougars after limiting FBA to just 28. The Pirates enter on a bad 0-2 start to the season and having gone just 2-8 a year ago. They Cougars were better last year, and its seems they probably are again. Tyler Grace wins, 28-7.
Quick Hits: (Season: 15-5)
Fort Worth Southwest Christian over Venus
Stamford over Lubbock Christian
Austin Regents over San Antonio Antonian
Houston Second Baptist over Episcopal School of Dallas
Fort Worth Christian over Fort Worth Trinity Valley
Corpus Christi Carroll over Brownsville St. Joseph
Plano Prestonwood Christian over Bastrop
From The Star:
Little Rock Catholic over Fort Worth Nolan
Dallas Bishop Lynch over OKC Bishop McGuinness
Muenster Sacred Heart over Plano John Paul II
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