Another week approaches as the games that count draw near. We even have a couple of districts kicking off their round robin slates this week. It feels like things are little more open this year, but maybe that's just my dismal record so far. Still a top tier of contenders but those groups appear a little bigger this year. We'll see what twists and turns happen this week as we head out for another scorching Friday night.
This Week: (Season: 12-15)
Arlington Grace Prep @ Dallas Christian -- Its not the most historic rivalry in TAPPS but its also not far off. The Chargers dropped a pair of state title contests to the Lions in the early 2000s. Grace Prep won a 3OT semifinal game in 2004 with DC taking the most recent playoff matchup in 2012. The Chargers have won the last three meetings but the two have not shared the field since 2013. The Chargers dominated HSAA 56-21 a week ago thanks to a 42 point 2nd quarter. The DC defense always gives its opponents trouble but if you turn it over its going to be a very long night (or short night I suppose with a running clock). The Lions are 2-1 after Prince of Peace opted to forfeit last week. Grace Prep is in the middle of 6 straight road games with just two district home games to come in October. Their loss was a 44 point drubbing by Dallas First Baptist. This creates a big pile of mystery for this one. The Lions finished 2025 at 6-4 being ousted by the eventual champions, All Saints. Grace Prep should keep this one interesting and if they avoid the turnover bug they have a shot for sure. The Chargers appear to be the stronger squad but getting the offense moving early would be good to see for their chances at claiming the crown in November. DC wins handily, 33-16.
Dallas St. Mark's @ Dallas Covenant -- Looking ahead to the district campaigns, the Knights have a Week 10 showdown with Dallas Christian that we expect to be for the district title. So this space will look toward that for much of the season. Covenant is off to a 2-2 start to the season and lost to Dallas First Baptist last week. The Knights acquitted themselves well against the favorites of Division IV, losing 45-32. That offensive output can keep Covenant in the mix for Division III. After this one the schedule looks very favorable for the Knights. The Lions come in off a 27-13 loss to ESD last week. With two SPC wins so far and Covenant having played four TAPPS teams there is a lot of unknowns surrounding this matchup. Best I can tell, this is the first ever meeting between these two. The Knights did not even play an SPC squad last year. Much like DC-Oakridge two weeks ago, this will tell us a bit about how these divisions stack up against one another. The Covenant offense givens them a shot, but I think the Lions inch by in a shootout. St. Mark's wins, 48-42.
Boerne Geneva @ Bryan Brazos Christian -- The always feared Eagles vs. Eagles clash to open district play in Division III District 3. Brazos dropped the last two Division IV Championship games for their lone loss each season. This alignment they are in Division III, which looks to have a few contenders including these Eagles. Its been an extreme 2-1 start for Brazos, having wins by 48 and 56 and a loss by 31. BCS has a favorable schedule after this one given Holy Cross struggles so far this season. The winner of this one will have a leg up heading into October and its needed given the crowded playoff bubble in this district. Geneva has been a regular outsider in the Division III mix. After winning the 2019 title, they've been in the playoffs but not really battling for a title. A 4-0 start has these Eagles scoring 48, 49, 49, and 50 so far. So the Brazos defense should be on alert. This will be the closest game either team has seen so far and the offense should win the day. Which offense is the question. Home teams always a lean so that's where we land. Brazos soars past Geneva, 49-42.
San Antonio Holy Cross @ League City Bay Area Christian -- Sticking in District 3, the Knights travel to the coast to start district play. Holy Cross had a pair of title game losses to Dallas Christian before an earlier exit last season. That form is on the ropes early on with just 12 points scored in their first three games. They did manage to win the one they scored in, but having 0 points in September is a concerning sign. Particularly, the 4th place finisher in this district has to qualify with wild card points means the Knights are way behind in that race and will need to finish ahead of two of Bay Area, New Braunfels, Geneva, and Brazos. The Broncos are off to a much better start at 4-0 and have already posted 2 shutouts. Can the Knights reverse that trend? Seems like a tall task, particularly on the road. Bay Area Christian wins comfortably, 30-7.
Wellington @ Lubbock Trinity Christian -- Play fun mascots and you get in the picks. The Lions had a difficult alignment in Division II, winning just 7 games in two seasons. They won 19 the 2 years before. So sliding back down certainly engenders a bit of hope for Trinity. However, the season is off to a 1-2 start after allowing 108 points to Seagraves and Post. Last week was a better outing in a dominant over Albuquerque Legacy (the Silverbacks by the way, I should have done them last week). The Skyrockets make another appearance in this space but the first against Trinity rather than Lubbock Christian. They are 3-0 on the season after winning two low scoring home games in which neither team reached 20 points and then dominating Sunray on the road. That defensive form will be tough for the Lions to overcome. So Skyrockets win the football and mascot game, 30-8.
Bellaire Episcopal @ Austin Regents -- Somehow I found a battle of Knights for the picks as well this week. Regents has not had the top contender status since winning the 2020 title but has always been in that next group. With the All Saints win streak broken and two title on offer in Division II there is an opening for Regents to get back on top. They were soundly defeated by SPC 4A foe Kinkaid two weeks ago so their Knights opponents will get to measure themselves for the Conference slate. Episcopal is also 2-1 having lost a 3-point decision to Parish. They won by 7 over St. Thomas and by 26 over Fort Bend Christian. The Regents offense is the most impressive of the units so far this season and with the game deep in the forest of Austin we'll lean that way here. Should be a good one though. Regents wins 36-28.
Fort Worth Trinity Valley @ Episcopal School of Dallas -- The Trojans are the upstart of the season in SPC 3A. The schedule though just has them at 2-0 so far with an out-of-state win and a rivalry win over Southwest Christian. It doesn't give us much to go on, but suggests they could be trending upward. They will almost certainly be in the SPC playoffs with its expanded field this year. The Eagles are 3-0 on the season and set up well for a run in SPC 3A this year. Remarkably consistent so far with outputs of 24, 24, and 27 on the scoreboard. Based on the preseason expectations, ESD should be favored here but its seems like just the game that surprises you in a Conference opener. In the MaxPreps era its a 7-6 series in favor of the Eagles. Notably, ESD has won the last three with TVS scoring just 2 points across the streak. So I think the Trojans are closer this year, but Eagles move to 4-0. ESD wins 28-14.
Quick Hits: (Season: 28-11)
Frisco Legacy Christian over Addison Trinity Christian
Hitchcock over The Woodlands John Cooper
Houston St. Thomas over San Antonio Central Catholic
Fort Worth All Saints over Lucas Lovejoy
Paradise over Fort Worth Christian
New Boston over Tyler Grace Community
Fort Worth Southwest Christian over West
Austin Brentwood Christian over Austin Hill County Christian
Lubbock Christian over Bushland
Tyler All Saints over Fort Worth Mercy Culture
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