Another week on the road to state is upon us. Some teams making pushes, some teams are where we expected, some are behind schedule for getting things going. Shelton is making a push and if they get to 4-0 they'll have to make the top section. Prestonwood and Regents are what we expect of perennial contenders. The DC defense and MCS offense are just a little behind schedule right now. What new twists and turns await us this week?
This Week: (Season: 16-5)
Plano Prestonwood Christian @ Dallas Christian -- The Chargers are 2-1 after defeating the Atlas Rattlers last week. Its has typically been the defense that has carried the charge (get it?) for DC, but this year its been suspect through 3 weeks. They've scored 42+ in every game, but have simply lacked the stops that will be needed against the top contenders in the division. So often though, it comes down to quarterback play and the Chargers have that ace up their sleeve right now. The Lions have been tagged by me as Division I's other semifinalist, maybe a little unfair given Parish dominance. This year though, Parish and Prestonwood both lost to All Saints and Liberty is now introduced to the Division I dance. The Lions annihilation of ESD in Week 1 puts them in the mix and given the suspect DC defense so far this smacks of a spot for lots of points. Its hard to go to Wheeler Field and win and Prestonwood hasn't been since 2011, the last time these two clashed. The Lions look like a good candidate to pull off the smash and grab, but we know the leanings of this space. Chargers ward off the challenge is a point-sy affair. DC wins 46-42.
San Antonio Cornerstone Christian @ Midland Christian -- The Mustangs are constantly difficult to evaluate given the far flung nature of their schedule. Geography just makes it hard. UIL contender Bushland controlled the game from the jump last week, but is probably better than Cornerstone. The Warriors are very good though, having already beaten DC and scoring quite a bit against Parish Episcopal a week ago. Cornerstone's defense has not slowed two out three opponents, having allowed 42 and 69. They held Fort Bend Christian to just 3 though. The Warrior defense should be happy to see the Mustang offense, as MCS has averaged just 11 points per game through three outings. MCS has to find a way to score as the season progresses maybe they can get on track this week. The Warriors have already proven good on the road in 2024, and I just don't see the Mustangs scoring enough. Cornerstone wins 28-14.
Brownsville St. Joseph @ Austin Regents -- If you want in the picks be good and have interesting mascots. The Knights long run at the top of Division II isn't too far in the rear view mirror. They might have a team to get back to the title game. A 2-1 start with only a loss to Kinkaid points to Regents being on the right track, particularly with 59 and 51 points in the two wins. The long drive from the Valley poses some challenges, but they are challenges the Bloodhounds are used to facing. The 3-0 start puts the 'Hounds in a position to announce their contender status with this road win. While this space loves to see some new blood (get it?) kick around, I don't think they have quite enough this year. The return game next year in Brownsville should be good though. Knights win, 35-21.
Fort Worth Country Day @ Fort Worth Trinity Valley -- The Battle of Bryant Irvin heads to TVS. The Trojans enter at just 1-2 on the season. Trinity Valley was completely outmatched by ESD and FWC in back-to-back weeks, a combined 82-3. The Falcons are 3-0 with a mixed bag of opponents. The Trojans should be better than McKinney Christian and Colleyville Covenant, but probably not as good as St. Marks. The last 20 in this series are 12 to 8 in Country Day's favor, but when you consider the Trojans won the first 5 of those meetings that is 12 of the last 15 to the Falcons. TVS did win a 23-19 decision last year. This is a really close long time rivalry, so it should be close. I think the Falcons get to 4-0, but not by much. Country Day wins 32-27.
Lubbock Christian @ Wellington -- The Eagles manage to poke through to the top section this week, but only by visiting the Skyrockets. Lubbock Christian proves a difficult challenge in the picks during district play due to the geography of their non-district schedule. Wellington reached Round 3 of the UIL playoffs in 2023 and is 2-0 on the young season. The Eagles are 2-1, but were dominated by Stamford last week. Finding the offense again will be a requirement this week as I can't see holding Wellington in the 20s being an option. However, Lubbock Christian did just that in a 17-16 win over the Skyrockets last season. So we lean home teams and anti-Eagles in this space, so Skyrockets win a high scoring affair, 40-30.
Refugio @ Houston Cypress Christian -- The Warriors have started 2-1 and seem to be a bit off from the team that was in the Division III state final in 2022. Trying to find your stride against Refugio is not ideal. The Bobcats feature the 7th highest win percentage in the state all-time. Very few have taken down the Bobcats in a given season and they have to be smarting a bit after dropping a 7 point game to Edna last week. If the Warriors are ready for the fight, then it will tell us not to leave them out of the wide open Division II picture. I just see the UIL power as being too much here and having lost 2 regular season games only once in the last nine season says this won't be back-to-back losses. Warriors go right to the top of the heap with an upset win though, but not this time. Refugio wins, 42-14.
Episcopal School of Dallas vs. Fort Worth All Saints @ Frisco's The Star -- The Saints 3-0 start includes the best of TAPPS. Having taken down Parish Episcopal and Prestonwood in the first two weeks. Not much to be drawn from an out-of-state win in Week 3, but its right back to private school contenders in Week 4. The Eagles are off to a rare slow start at just 1-3, and really need to find their form before they hit the Houston SPC murderer's row. Trying to get healthy on your game against All Saints is not the ideal need for sure. ESD found the offense against Second Baptist last week, but the defense let them down. While there is a lot to be decided this season, I think All Saints is just better right now. Saints win 40-16.
Quick Hits: (Season: 22-8)
Addison Trinity Christian over Dallas St. Marks
Dallas Bishop Lynch over Rice
Frisco Legacy Christian over Dallas Bishop Dunne
Bullard Brook Hill over Price Carlisle
Tyler T.K. Gorman over Willow Park Trinity Christian
San Antonio Holy Cross over Weimar
Dallas Covenant over Muenster Sacred Heart
Dallas Shelton over Arlington Pantego Christian
Fort Worth Christian over Fort Worth Lake Country Christian
Sugar Land Fort Bend Christian over Austin LASA (the Raptors! get it?)
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