Just three more weeks to go and after Friday we'll have just 12 games of 11-man TAPPS football to play. The weather forecast is looking better than it was early in the week and it should be a fun week as we head toward Waco.
This Week: (Season: 54-18)
Division III
Dallas Christian vs. Colleyville Covenant Christian @ Dallas Loos Stadium -- The Chargers enter the playoffs with another district title and 1st round bye. The season started a bit rocky with losses to San Antonio Cornerstone and Pittsburg in the non-district. They did not have that consistency that the Luke Carney led offense promised in the last 4 seasons. Its hard to knock out the champs though and they've rolled since the calendar turned to October. They'll have keep the offense on track to stretch the playoff win streak to 16. The Cougars have been very competitive in recent seasons, but have not put up the big win totals. They score and allow over 30 points per game so expect an active scoreboard. They scored 30 against the top team of District 1, Lubbock Christian. They also allowed 57. The DC defense has not been dominant when faced with comparable opposition. They both played Dallas Covenant with the Chargers scoring a dominant victory at home. The Cougars won their meeting on the road but be a smaller margin. So this will be a test, but favoring the champs is never a bad idea. We also know how this space leans. Chargers win a shootout, 44-30.
Dallas Covenant vs. New Braunfels Christian @ Mary Hardin Baylor -- The Knights seemed to be the 2nd best team in District 2 entering the season. They were expected to lead the group behind the "big 3" of Dallas Christian, Lubbock Christian, and Holy Cross. It hasn't played out that way in the regular season. However, a win here and we are right where we thought we'd be. Being blown out by Dallas First Baptist was the first sign that the Knights offense was not quite up to recent standards. The Wildcats are 9-1 having reaped the benefits of Holy Cross forfeits and gotten the first round bye. That saved them from a repeat of last year where they lost the opening playoff game at home. A 2nd straight 9-win season shows the progress they've made, but a playoff win would validate that success. They've won the games they should and now they need to back that up. They'll need to be better than the group that allowed 41 to Geneva and lost to Hill Country. The Knights will need to better than the group that lost to Colleyville Covenant and Tyler All Saints. I see this a low scoring affair and I like the Wildcats to get a signature win for their program and a 1st semifinal. NBCA wins, 20-18.
Lubbock Christian vs. San Antonio Holy Cross @ McMurry -- The forfeits move the Knights to 3rd in District 3 and force two of the "big 3" to meet a round early. The Eagles results look the best in the division so far this season. Just the lone loss to UIL Wellington has them at 9-1 after a 1st round bye. They've piled up over 46 points per game. The Knights will be the toughest defense the Eagles have faced outside of that loss. After the board decision and a disappointment outing against First Baptist, the Knights have returned to dominant form. Both teams completely squashed Lake Country as we look for common opponents. I think the Eagles are the better squad but they have their toughest test here. If the Knights can get their offense rolling it may be difficult for the Eagles to keep up. I think Lubbock Christian slows them just enough to overcome the strong Knights defense. Eagles win, 28-21.
Tyler All Saints vs. Boerne Geneva @ Little River-Academy -- The Trojans have finally found some form after years of struggle since starting football in 2007. They were so ravaged by the COVID season they played just 3 games. The three years that followed saw All Saints win just 3 games. A season ago they won 6 and upset New Braunfels Christian on the road in the playoffs. Their 7 wins this season earned them a 2nd place a finish and a home playoff win last week. At 39 points per game they have enough firepower to win this one. The Eagles have their own 9 win season going and dominated TK Gorman in Round 1. It was a similar win to that of the Trojans. They points allowed to squads like Cypress Christian and TMI leave some room for All Saints to capitalize on that side of the ball. I think the Trojans have just enough firepower to claim a victory and a 1st ever semifinal appearance. All Saints wins a pointsy evening, 50-41.
Division I
Plano Prestonwood Christian @ Argyle Liberty Christian -- The Division I Regionals always deliver and this should be no exception. These two and Parish have been the consensus Top 3 throughout the season. The Warriors are the holders of back-to-back titles and by that standard have struggled this year. Now struggle is 8-3 and a great season for many. They were doubled up by Parish Episcopal and just sneaked by Frisco Legacy. Three losses is a lot when you lost one in the previous two seasons. The Lions had a very strange start to the season with 2 open dates and a no contest within the first 4 weeks. So at the end of September Prestonwood was officially 1-1. They lost to Parish by just 3 points and are certainly a contender in Division I. A bit of a shame to lose one of these teams in Round 2. I think Prestonwood is in the better form and should be well prepared to deal with a bye week after El Paso Cathedral's withdrawal. That said with the game in Argyle, I think this goes the Warriors way. Liberty wins a squeaker, 37-34.
Frisco Legacy Christian @ Houston St. Thomas -- Flying above the storm is a pair of Eagles. Legacy has been a snake bit squad for their entire time in Divisions I and II. This year losing by just 7 to Bishop Lynch and by only 4 to Argyle Liberty. They completely dominated Austin St. Michael's in the playoff opener. St. Thomas earned the 1st round bye with an undefeated run in District 2. Finishing the season at 8-2 they proved the best squad of that bunch. Non-district losses to Prestonwood and Kinkaid show a lot of room to improve. With Prestonwood and Liberty playing it opens up another spot in the semis. Legacy has a great chance here to get to a 2nd straight semifinal. The results for Legacy and the general strength of District 1 have me leaning that way, but a road game against a very good team this a difficult pick. Ultimately, I'm disappointed that St. Thomas changed from Tommies to Eagles many years ago. So I'll lean Legacy to win, 31-28.
Division II
Fort Worth All Saints vs. Fort Worth Christian @ Grapevine -- The Saints won the 2024 title with a 14-0 mark and have chalked up 10 more in an undefeated regular season plus one playoff win. Three of those 24 wins are over the Cardinals. Will the 4th shot at the king be the one that gets through? The 8 point win over Lubbock Trinity is the only slow down the Saints have experienced against D2 competition. That seems to have been the aberration, taking out all others by at least 20 points. The Cardinals have their own 9-2 season going and will not be easy team to beat a 2nd time. The Friday afternoon game is a curious one that you have to wonder how it might effect things. Unless the Saints offense under-performs, I don't see FWC keeping pace. Its not a lock by any means and I think this will be the closest of the 4 meetings in the last two years. Saints win a good one, 42-36.
Midland Christian vs. Austin Regents @ San Angelo -- The Mustangs are always ready for the road but have a tall mountain to climb out of the Permian Basin. The Knights have rolled off another 11 wins posting double digits in that column for a 9th straight season. In 2024, Kinkaid and All Saints were the only squads to top Regents. They avenged the Kinkaid loss earlier this year and can get that shot at the champs with a win here. A season ago, Regents took out MCS 46-23. The Mustangs struggled to put away Brook Hill at Awtry Field last week but survive and advance is the plan. It was way back in September but Regents forced the running clock in a 42 point win over Brook Hill. I just see the dominant Knights as being too much for the Mustangs to answer. They would be the team that could find the upset, but I can't make that call personally. Knights win 40-20.
Division IV
Tomball Rosehill Christian vs. Fort Worth Mercy Culture @ Mexia -- Our final pick brings us to the smallest of the 11-man squads. A win here would get the Eagles (another one???) to 7 wins for the first time since 2019. They did not threaten the top teams in District 2 being shutout by both Brazos Christian and Central Texas Christian. The bracket has set up a huge chance to make the semis though. Perennial power Shiner St. Paul is out. First Baptist and Central Texas are on the other half. However, the Conquerors have to see this as their big chance as well. And with a great name like Conquerors we should have included them in this space sooner. Though I'm not being told that when Mercy Culture took over they changed the name to Royals. Not as good, but still preferred to Eagles. Since being dominated by First Baptist they've won five in a row and scored 48 or more in four of five. I think the Royals are the better team here, but its not a wide margin. The winner has a tough one coming up in the semis, but no reason to sweat that now. Royals win a fun one, 30-28.
Quick Hits: (Season: 97-23)
Dallas Parish Episcopal over Dallas Bishop Lynch
Tomball Concordia over San Antonio Antonian
Houston Lutheran South over Brownsville St. Joseph
The Woodlands Christian over Houston Second Baptist
Dallas First Baptist over Hallettsville Sacred Heart
Temple Central Texas Christian over Waco Live Oak
Bryan Brazos Christian over Muenster Sacred Heart
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