Find some wins out there if you're looking. We should know who the contenders are after this week with several showdowns coming early in the district slates. With a few Fall Break holidays on the books we get more Thursday games than I can remember. Should be a fun week, but make sure you're ready to go early. Good Luck!
This Week: (Season: 32-9)
Dallas Christian @ Tyler T.K. Gorman -- The Chargers travel east to rekindle a long time rivalry. DC and TKG have met on the football field dating back to before TAPPS formed. The Crusaders have hit hard times since the two last met on the field in 2018. TKG has not won more than 2 games in the 4 seasons since. The Crusaders already have 2 wins on the season and have been scoring a bit more than recent seasons. These two have played some great games. A 7-0 game in 2006 started the MaxPreps era and a 12-0 run since then. In the streak, the Chargers needed OT to beat the Crusaders in 2014 before a playoff rematch that year was a 7-point margin. The playoff game included a 98-yard punt. The DC defense has not been the dominant force of the past this season, holding just 1 team under 20 points in the first 5 games. The offense should score plenty here though. The grass of the valley on Loop 323 should be quite high for a DC team that doesn't play many on grass. Should be a fun game, and while the Crusaders have improved it should be a tidy win for the Chargers. DC wins 40-14.
McKinney Christian @ Dallas Shelton -- The search for a team to beat DC in district play finds another Chargers. The nature of Shelton's school mission can make athletics competitiveness a difficult task. However, some years they get the right mix returning and new and can be a tough out. The Chargers won 9 games in 2017 and are off to their best start since at 4-1. Shelton has scored 40 points or more in their 4 wins and 55+ in 3 of them. Only Pantego held the Chargers to less than 6 touchdowns. The Mustangs have struggled mightily since playing in the 2017 state final. This season is another slow start for MCA at just 1-3. The Mustangs defense has allowed over 45 points per game so far in 2024, and the Shelton offense seems primed to take advantage of that. Chargers win this one, 49-19.
Argyle Liberty Christian @ Plano Prestonwood Christian -- The first of the showdown games in Division I lands at the Plano-Carrollton border. The Lions 5-1 mark to start the season saw only FW All Saints blemish the loss column. The 5 wins include notable blowouts of DC and ESD in the non-district. The 2-0 district mark left a couple of questions last week as Bishop Lynch scored 33 but the PCA offense was up to the road test. The Warriors have only lost in the last 2 season to UIL stalwart Texas High. The 4-1 start to the season has Liberty averaging over 50 points per game. Whoever can find those stops wins this game. I'm just not sure either squad will find very many. The Warriors are just 3-14 all time against the Lions, but won last year's match, 48-19. The Lions offense should be improved, but I don't think enough to take down the Division II champs. I'll say Liberty gets the leg up in the district race with a strong offensive performance. Warriors win, 44-35.
Austin Regents @ Tyler Grace Community -- The Cougars have been building the last couple of seasons with 8 and 9 wins. With Liberty moving to Division I, its the perfect time for Tyler Grace to try to fill the void. They will vault up any Division II power rankings with a home win over Regents. After reaching 4 straight state finals, a run ending in 2020, the Knights are still a prime contender in Division II. This season, Regents is 5-1 and scoring their own bushel of points. Only SPC contender Kinkaid toppled Regents thus far. The Knights have held teams in check on defense as well with just one team eclipsing 21 points so far in 2024. The disparate opponents makes this a tough call. The Cougars offense seems to be up against it here with the Knights, but particularly at home I wouldn't think Grace would get run over. If the game was in Austin, I'd say no chance for the Cougars. However, in Tyler I think the Knights just barely survive. Regents wins a thriller, 22-20.
Bullard Brook Hill @ Austin Hyde Park -- The Guard are off to a disappointing start to the district slate. Regents and Grace are certainly two of the contenders, but an 0-2 hole never feels good. A loss here would put the Guard in real danger of missing the playoffs. Brook Hill just isn't scoring enough this season, averaging just 26 points per game. However, with 49 coming in 1 game its really a little more dire than that. A first ever visit to The Quarries is not a great place to look for district win #1. The Panthers 3-2 start to the season saw a district opening win at Grace Prep last week. An always tricky trip on a Saturday afternoon. I think the Guard have played the better schedule, but its close. If Brook Hill can score in the 20s they should win this one. However, I just can't have confidence in the Guard offense. Panthers win a slug fest at home, 16-14.
Fort Worth Christian @ Lubbock Trinity Christian -- The Cardinals make the trip west to start district play. Usually its been a trip to Midland for FWC, but this time its the Lions of Trinity to oppose them on the South Plains. With All Saints likely occupying the top spot in District 1, this seems to be an elimination game for that 2nd place finish and a 1st round host. The Cardinals 4-1 start was only interrupted by Second Baptist in a long road trip. They did win their last game on a long trip to Victoria. So many miles racked up by the FWC busses between Houston, Victoria, and now Lubbock. The Lions coming off back-to-back semifinal appearances in Division III face new challenges in this Division II district. These games are so hard to pick given the geography of Trinity's opponents. How does Denver City and Floydada stack up against Lake Country and Second Baptist? I'm not totally sure. I think the Cardinals are the better squad, but also they're wins aren't over a murderers row by any means. So when in doubt, pick the home team. Lions win 35-28.
Houston St. Johns @ Bellaire Episcopal -- The SPC Houston showdown seems to likely determine one slot in the SPC 4A title game. A 2-0 start puts you close to the finish line given you just need a top 2 finish and not the top spot. The Knights have been up and down at 3-2 so far. The schedule they've played has been quite tough though. The Mavericks are the more impressive 5-1 and with a similar schedule. With a 40 point per game average, St. John's stands to find the endzone in this one. This seems like a high-scoring shootout, and I think that favors the Mavericks. Only Second Baptist could slow the Mavericks attack and even then it was 4 TDs. The Knights have to keep pace, and I think they can but I also think they won't. Knights win with offense, 42-28.
Quick Hits: (Season: 46-14)
Dallas Covenant over Tyler All Saints
Lubbock Christian over Fort Worth Lake Country Christian
Dallas Parish Episcopal over Addison Trinity Christian
Frisco Legacy Christian over Dallas Bishop Lynch
Fort Worth All Saints over Grapevine Faith Christian
Midland Christian over Fort Worth Southwest Christian
Houston Second Baptist over Houston Lutheran South
Dallas St. Marks over The Woodlands John Cooper
Houston Kinkaid over Episcopal School of Dallas
Shiner St. Paul over Conroe Covenant Christian
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