Another week is upon us as district play ramps up across the state. The high percentage of playoff qualifiers in TAPPS can make some of the games less dramatic than they might seem, but anytime you take the field on game night in Texas its a special occasion. We have some interesting curve balls this year as the Holy Cross sanctions create a bizarre district standing in Division III District 3. The newly released brackets create even more intrigue. Should be a fun stretch run as we head toward Waco. Good luck and safe travels on the road to state.
This Week: (Season: 33-14)
Dallas Christian @ Dallas Shelton -- Its the rare Chargers on Chargers matchup. This will be the 8th meeting all time between the two with DC winning the previous seven by a minimum of 38 points. The big games for Shelton are after this one. With 4 of the 5 squads in District 2 headed to the playoffs, Shelton will just need to win one of their final 3 to make the postseason. The Preston Road based Chargers had one of their best seasons a year ago winning 7 games for the first time since 2017. This season has been more of a challenge with just a 2-4 start. The Mesquite based Chargers had an up and down non-district entering this one at just 3-2, but coming off a big district opening win that included 2 safeties. Shelton looks to be better than Gorman, but this one is unlikely to be close. DC wins 50-6.
Argyle Liberty Christian @ Dallas Parish Episcopal -- A season ago this was the showdown of champions as the 2023 champions of Divisions I and II were matched in the same district for this biennium. In 2025, we'll settle for this being a state final rematch. The Panthers had won 5 state titles in a row before Liberty took them out twice last year, including the final game of the season. After an opening loss to All Saints, Parish has won 6 straight and is very much in the mix for the Division I crown. The Warriors lost their opening pair against top UIL squads and now have 4 straight wins themselves. Both teams are piling up points with over 40 per game. The defenses are going to decide this one but they're also going to allow some points. Last year this signaled the changing of the power in Division I as the Warriors took a win and the district title. This season it feels like a prelude to a December showdown. For this picker, the Warriors are the champs until dethroned. Liberty wins a squeaker, 43-41.
San Antonio Holy Cross vs. Dallas First Baptist @ Belton -- The clash of Division III and Division IV contenders has taken a turn with the sanctions announced against the Knights. Holy Cross is 5-2 based on game ending scores, but 1-6 in the record books. This space is not going to wade into the situation. All that matters for us is how it effects the standings and the playoffs. The Knights will almost certainly not finish 1st in District 3 and as such will wind up on the opposite side of the bracket. Though this week's game will not decide any of that since its a non-district clash. The Saints are the favorites as the defending champions in Division IV and nothing about this season has changed that. Two losses to a Division I team and an out of state team does nothing to erode the Saints chances. FBA will be looking to avenge their only loss from 2023 and 2024 and the Knights seem a little down from the last two seasons. This should be a really good game and I love that they've kept this late season neutral site game for a 2nd season. I think FBA squeaks by as the defenses rise up. Saints win, 20-18.
Fort Worth All Saints @ Lubbock Trinity Christian -- The Saints opened 2024 with notable wins over Prestonwood and Parish and have not slowed down since, winning 19 in a row. All Saints filled the void of Liberty's move up a division and seem to be unstoppable. None of the remaining 4 district games look like walkovers though so we'll probably see the Saints as regulars in this space. The Lions have held a similar win pattern to a season ago, entering this one at 3-3. That squad did not get another win, finishing 3-7. This included a 43-6 drubbing by the Saints. The Lions defense may keep this one interesting for a minute, but I just don't see them having enough to keep this in range. The road trip makes it a tiny bit more interesting, but not by much. Saints win their 20th consecutive, 45-8.
Fort Worth Christian @ Midland Christian -- The Cardinals have demonstrated that they are a stronger squad than 2024. At 6-0, its clear they are in the group in closest chase of All Saints. Only a thunderstorm has kept the Cardinals under 45 points so far this year. The Mustangs were a bit of a mystery entering the district slate at 3-2 and owing to the geographic separation of their opponents. MCS completely dominated Southwest Christian in the district opener setting this up as a clear showdown game. The winner has a clear path to a top 2 finish and a home playoff game. Further, the winner will have their shot at the district crown. A season ago, MCS went to Fort Worth and took a 21-19 win to earn the 2nd place district finish. The Mustangs defense should slow the Cardinals attack more than previous opponents and with the long road trip I think this favors the Mustangs. MCS deals the Cardinals their first loss, 28-21.
Houston Kinkaid @ Bellaire Episcopal -- After 2 losses to UIL power Gunter and TAPPS contender Regents, the Falcons have 5 wins and scored 40+ in their last 4. Notably, they've dominated the SPC 4A counters and win here would almost get them a spot in the title game. The Knights are in a similar position, but already have a win over St. John's in the bag. Their remaining schedule makes it even more likely that win would put them in the top 2 of SPC 4A. The Episcopal defense should be better than the recent squads Kinkaid has seen. A season ago it was a defensive struggle as the Falcons took a 16-14 home win and then blew out the Knights in the title game. A home game makes this a better matchup for Episcopal, but this also feels like a prelude to another SPC 4A championship game as these two have contested the last 3. Kinkaid looks like the better team to me, but it should be another classic. Falcons win, 35-32.
Hallettsville Sacred Heart @ Shiner St. Paul -- Encompassing all the divisions and areas of the state we check in on the legendary South Texas clash. This will be the 66th meeting since 1971 and given the size of the two schools you wonder how long it will continue at the 11-man level. The Cardinals once won a state title from a 2-8 regular season so at 4-2 they are very dangerous in the Division IV ranks. They scored 56 points in a district opening win over Conroe Covenant and seem to be back on track. The Indians lost a district opening rock fight to Brazos Christian just 14-6. That type of defense will surely lead them to victory this week. This district looks extremely competitive but also behind FBA in the northern half of the Division. The Indians won a season ago at home, but I think the Cardinals have moved ahead and with this one at home we'll favor them. Its just 14 miles from door to door between these two and that proximity always makes for great games. Cardinals win, 30-26.
Quick Hits: (Season: 51-19)
Tyler All Saints over Tyler T.K. Gorman
Fort Worth Southwest Christian over Grapevine Faith Christian
Bullard Brook Hill over Arlington Grace Prep
Austin Regents over Austin Brentwood
The Woodlands Christian over Houston Second Baptist
Plano Prestonwood Christian over Frisco Legacy Christian
Dallas Bishop Lynch over Fort Worth Nolan
Arlington Pantego Christian over Fort Worth Lake Country Christian
Boerne Geneva over Austin Hill Country Christian
Fort Worth Trinity Valley over Addison Greenhill
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