Week 3 Picks 2026

Not sure why you want to read these after last week's 7-10 performance. However, we get right back on the horse and try to find some fun games and fun mascots. Even a couple of Thursday contests this week to get things started early. Good luck and safe travels, maybe it will get cooler soon...

This Week: (Season: 10-10)

Dallas HSAA @ Dallas Christian -- The Chargers offense is off to a slower start to the season, particularly to start games. They've scored just 10 first half points in their first two outings. The deficit last week proved to big to overcome but they did close a 22-3 gap to 22-17 before running out of time. Will that late offensive form be more the norm going forward? We'll have to wait and see. The Angels have the same 1-1 record as DC, having dominated a Cincinnati homeschool orginization before a 33 point loss to Blue Ridge. Historically the Chargers are the stronger side here, leading the series 4-0 all time. Last season DC took a 45-7 victory and I don't see this being a ton different. Getting the offense going though is critical for the Chargers title plans. DC wins comfortably, 40-8.

Fort Worth All Saints @ Plano Prestonwood Christian -- The marquee matchup among the northern private schools is a big one. The Saints seemed unbeatable at a 29 game streak but fell to Argyle Liberty last week. In the last 4 seasons, All Saints has lost 4 games and 3 of them have been to Liberty. After dominating Parish in the opener this provides a great comparison point for Division I. The Lions piled up points last week in a 49-35 win over Fort Worth Christian. They did not need the late heroics of their opening win but still needed almost all of 40+ points. In the last two seasons, the Saints have scored 31 and 28 in two wins over Prestonwood. So if the Lions offense can get going they may be able to hold off the Saints. If Prestonwood can score like they have in the 2-0 start it will be a 3-00 start. That is the rub as the Saints defense projects as the best of the bunch so far. Lions win a close one at home, 35-31.

Houston Kinkaid @ Houston St. Thomas -- The Falcons win streak was 9 after claiming the SPC 4A title a season ago, but started 2026 with a pair of losses. Their 3rd game a season ago was a 21-6 win over the Eagles and they did not lose the rest of the year. For 2026, Kinkaid notched an impressive win over Regents, 51-28. A huge number of points to post on the Regents defense. The Eagles are off to a 1-2 start and allowing over 40 points per game. Now they are also scoring over 40 per game so perhaps a unmovable object vs. unstoppable force situation here. In recent years the Falcons have been the stronger side and should score enough to win this one. Will be interesting to watch the Eagles offense to see if they can threaten the Division I District 1 powers in the postseason. Kinkaid too strong right now though. Falcons win 48-30.

San Antonio Cornerstone Christian @ Dallas Parish Episcopal -- The Panthers were largely wiped out by All Saints to open the season starting with a loss to the Saints for a 3rd straight year. They responded with two very good wins over Kinkaid and Episcopal who will compete for the SPC 4A title. Particularly with Kinkaid scoring 51 on Regents the next week that win looks even better. A season ago Parish went to San Antonio and got a 43-38 win. The Warriors though will be a tough test on the blue field. Cornerstone enters off a 6-4 season with a 1-2 start this year. Very difficult group of opponents to compare in this one. The Panthers were better last season so we'll go that way. They need to stay away from the offensive struggle they had against All Saints and if they do so they'll stay in the win column. Parish wins 35-27.

Temple Central Texas Christian @ Waco Live Oak Classical -- The Lions had a dud of a trip to the coast with a 54-21 loss to Bay Area Christian. After a 10-2 season last year, they are still one of the contenders in Division IV and likely to finish high in District 2. These two played twice last year with Central Texas winning by a combined 97-7 aggregate. The Falcons finished 6-5 a season ago and have made some quick roads into 11-man. The 2-0 start is impressive, but we'll have to see some games against contenders to see where they stack up. I think Live Oak is still below that top tier of Division IV, but a win here would give some notice to FBA and Tyler All Saints to be on the lookout. Lions win this one handily, but closer than last year, 35-14.

Atlanta @ Bullard Brook Hill-- The Guard continue to schedule the fun mascots of East Texas and thus make the picks. The Rabbits make their 3rd appearance in this space, all against Brook Hill. These two split a pair in 2022 and 2023 and are both off to 2-0 starts in 2026. So this should be a good tilt. Atlanta played two different Arkansas squads from Ashdown and Arkansas High to start off. The Guard have dominated Brownsboro and San Augustine to start the year, allowing just 9 points so far. I think the Rabbits win over Arkansas High is the best of the four between these two so I lean that way. However, Brook Hill is at home and appears to be a candidate for making some noise in the split Division II playoffs depending on who winds up in each bracket. Big unknown here, but we don't get to pick the Rabbits very often. Atlanta wins a tight one 30-27.

Arlington Newman International @ Waco Reicher -- I promised if they won two in a row I'd include them, so the Cougars are in the top section for the first time since the 2020 State Championship Game. After going 3 years between wins it was just 7 days between wins for Reicher's 2-0 start. They've already scored more points this season than they did last season. To say the Cougars have improved would be an understatement. Big props for those that stuck with it. The opponent this week suggests that it could be a 3-0 start for the Wacoans (Wacoites? Wacoians? Wacos?). The Warriors dropped their opening pair by a combined 106-6 margin. and also failed to secure a win in 2025. Nothing to expect that changes with the Cougars clear progress this season. Reicher wins 42-6.

Quick Hits: (Season: 20-10)

Frisco Legacy Christian over Grapevine Faith Christian
Austin Regents over San Antonio Antonian
Dallas First Baptist over Dallas Covenant
Arlington Grace Prep over Carrollton Prince of Peace
Fort Worth Southwest Christian over Fort Worth Country Day
Episcopal School of Dallas over Dallas St. Mark's
Houston St. John's over Houston Lutheran South
Lampasas over San Antonio Central Catholic
Boerne Geneva over Shiner St. Paul
League City Bay Area Christian over Danbury