ESD Aims For SPC Title; Parish For District Title
With eight wins, this football season has already been ESD’s best since 2007. On Saturday, the Eagles will look to cap their year the same way that squad did — with an SPC championship.
The Eagles will face Oklahoma City Casady at 5 p.m. Saturday at Jesuit’s Postell Stadium in an attempt to reclaim a crown they haven’t held since capping a run of two straight titles seven years ago.
Last week, ESD had its second-lowest offensive output of the season but used a strong defensive effort to surge past Tulsa Holland Hall 17-7 in the semifinals. The Eagles (8-2) scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to clinch the win.
But overall, ESD — which won the SPC North division title during the regular season — has put up some of the biggest offensive numbers in school history this season.
Thomas Fitts has 28 touchdown passes and needs just five yards to surpass 3,000 for the season. Jack Johnson has rushed for 1,085 yards and 19 scores. Winston Guillory has 79 catches and needs just five receiving yards to reach the 1,500 mark on the year. And Nakeie Montgomery has 10 touchdowns as a rusher and receiver.
The teams split their last two meetings as divisional rivals in 2012 and 2013, with both games decided by three points or fewer. Casady last won a conference title in 2006, in the big-school bracket.
Other big games this week include:
Fort Worth Christian (8-1, 5-0) at Parish Episcopal (8-1, 5-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Both teams have momentum entering this showdown for a TAPPS district title. The Panthers rode 339 yards and five touchdowns by Dominic Williams to a 69-42 win over Grapevine Faith a week ago. The Cardinals have held seven of their nine opponents to 21 points or fewer, including Southwest Christian last week.
Jesuit (6-3, 4-2) at Carrollton R.L. Turner (4-5, 1-5)
7 p.m. Thursday at Standridge Stadium
Playoff positioning can’t be affected by the regular-season finale for the Rangers, which will provide a postseason tuneup and a chance for the defense to bounce back from a 69-30 loss to Irving MacArthur. The Lions fell to Skyline 56-21 last week, and have lost five of their last six games overall after a fast start.
Conrad (2-7, 1-5) at Hillcrest (8-1, 5-1)
7 p.m. Thursday at Franklin Stadium
This game also has no impact on the playoff race, as the Panthers are already locked into a bi-district matchup against Terrell. Hillcrest has won four straight, including a 40-17 victory over Newman Smith last week. The Chargers have been shut out five times, but did rally to beat North Dallas 41-35 a week ago.
Bishop Dunne (9-0, 6-0) at Trinity Christian (4-5, 2-4)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The offense had a big day for the Trojans during a 62-49 loss to Bishop Lynch last week, including 399 yards passing and five touchdowns from Christian Hutzler. The defense? Not so much. In its finale, TCA will try to spoil the unbeaten run of the Falcons, who toppled Midland Christian 24-14 a week ago.
Irving (2-7, 2-4) at W.T. White (4-5, 2-4)
7:30 p.m. Friday at Loos Stadium
After being eliminated from playoff contention with a 32-14 loss to Irving Nimitz a week ago, the Longhorns will play for pride in their season finale. But they also have a chance to win five games in a season for the first time since 2003. The Tigers had a season-high point total in a 55-6 drubbing of Sunset last week.
