TLN: Week 2 predictions include Carroll losing second in a row
When you’re in demand and didn’t know you were in demand, it could attributed to a respected reputation. OK, well that sounds self-serving.
But what I can share with you is that this weekly fall entry’s reputation is apparently reaching more eyes and making for more conversations. For that, we say thank you.
Because of our popularity, we’ve been asked to add more area teams into our predictions. So starting with this week and for the balance of the season, we will be picking the games involving Euless Trinity, Hurst L.D. Bell, Birdville, Haltom and Richland along with our other teams. Of course, when district play starts, you will see those teams anyway.
Last week, we may have shown some blind faith in some cases and got trapped in the process. But you live and learn. Yet the Keller ISD didn’t let us down. We went 4-0 with those teams. Of course, you can always count on the Central Chargers for the drama.
So let’s get started.
Last week: 6-3
Season: 6-3
Mansfield Lake Ridge (1-0) at Keller Fossil Ridge (1-0), 7 p.m. Thursday, Keller ISD Athletic Complex, Keller: The first one to 60 wins. Each could hang half a hundred on each other because Fossil Ridge scored 59 last week against Tyler Lee. Lake Ridge had 52 against Cleburne. Defense? They don’t need no stinking defense.
Prediction: Keller Fossil Ridge 55, Mansfield Lake Ridge 38
Southlake Carroll (0-1) at Tulsa (Okla.) Union, 7 p.m. Friday, Union Tuttle Stadium, Tulsa: Another long road trip for the Dragons. Things appeared somewhat ragged in the opener. This is the first out-of-state game Carroll has ever played. Could Carroll start 0-2? I think it happens.
Prediction: Tulsa Union 32, Carroll 22
Grapevine (1-0) vs. Colleyville Heritage (0-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mustang-Panther Stadium, Grapevine: The Panthers have owned the Red Rail Rivalry in recent years. Despite the loss to Abilene, this team is going to get better. I really like how Grapevine started its season last week against North Crowley. But this is solid Class 6A team against an up-and-coming 5A team. I can’t see a Mustang upset. Not this year. Grapevine, though, will play better.
Prediction: Colleyville Heritage 35, Grapevine 21
Birdville (0-1) vs. Mansfield Summit (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, R.L. Anderson Stadium, Mansfield: This is a pretty tough non-district schedule the Hawks are playing. They struggled in the opener against Prosper (a 35-10 loss). Summit is always athletic. Not sure if the Hawks can stay with the Jaguars.
Prediction: Mansfield Summit 33, Birdville 20
Haltom (1-0) at Terrell (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Stadium, Terrell: Well, the Buffalos get a quasi-taste of East Texas football. It wasn’t pretty, but when you go winless the year before, any win (10-3 over Grand Prairie) makes you feel good. Now, going out to Terrell to play the 5A Tigers won’t be easy. That defense had five interceptions against Little Elm. Side note, Tiger Stadium used to serve the press the best ham sandwiches.
Prediction: Terrell 27, Haltom 10
Justin Northwest (0-1) at Prosper (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Prosper: I’m sure Northwest head coach Bill Poe is asking if the offense he saw late at Corsicana is going to be the one he will see on the road Friday. Prosper had a tough season last year at 3-7 but started the right way with an impressive win over Birdville. Still, I’m going to give the Texans another chance on the road.
Prediction: Justin Northwest 31, Prosper 28
Keller (1-0) at Flower Mound (0-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Wilson Stadium, Flower Mound: A great road win for Carl Stralow and his crew in Midland. The Indians are going to be a good team this year. I really believe that. I respect Flower Mound coach Dane Johnson because of days he spent at Carroll. The Indians, though, have some ingredients on defense that will complement the offense.
Prediction: Keller 25, Flower Mound 21
Keller Timber Creek (0-1) at Burleson (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Elk-Spartan Stadium, Burleson: You feel for TC’s Kevin Golden, who had a lead going into the fourth quarter against Irving Nimitz and couldn’t hold it. But that’s just the way it works sometimes. Now, the Falcons will be better than Burleson’s Week 1 opponent, FW Western Hills. But I like the Elks.
Prediction: Burleson 29, Keller Timber Creek 23
Richland (0-1) at Lewisville (0-1), 7:30 Friday, Max Goldsmith Stadium, Lewisville: A long time ago, these two programs used to be in the same district. The Rebels’ 30-29 loss to Arlington Lamar was a real kick to the gut because of a two-point INT return that gave the Vikings the lead for good instead of the Rebels trying to make a three-point lead. Lewisville’s defense appears to have some holes.
Prediction: Richland 33, Lewisville 27
Rockwall (0-1) at Euless Trinity (1-0), 7:30 P.M. Friday, Pennington Field, Bedford: Chris Jensen’s debut as the Trojans new head coach was as it good as it gets: beating the No. 1 team in the nation on national TV. Now, the challenge will be to get his team re-focused quickly for the Angry Orange. Rockwall tripped in its opener but is a good program.
Prediction: Euless Trinity 35, Rockwall 17
Byron Nelson (1-0) at San Angelo Central (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bobcat Stadium, San Angelo: No doubt it was a great start for the Bobcats holding off Flower Mound last week. But going on the road against these other Bobcats, who now have TCU QB commit Brennon Wooten, just seems to be too much. Central is going to have to help Nelson for an upset to happen.
Prediction: San Angelo Central 28, Byron Nelson 17
Hurst L.D. Bell (0-1) at Rockwall-Heath (1-0) 7:30 p.m. Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium, Rockwall: I kind of liked what new Blue Raiders coach Mike Glaze showed in his debut. He was one possession away from pulling off the upset of Keller Central. But Heath is pretty explosive. Traditionally, Bell hasn’t been a very good road team.
Prediction: Rockwall-Heath 34, Hurst L.D. Bell 23
Arlington Lamar (1-0) at Keller Central (1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Keller ISD Athletic Complex, Keller: Two teams who won in wild fashion in their openers last week. But they all count. This is a pretty interesting matchup because the Vikings feature Texas QB commit Shane Buechele. But Central’s Reese Robertson really opened some eyes – probably his coaches more than anybody else – with more than 300 passing and rushing yards. This could be the most entertaining game on the card.
Prediction: Keller Central 38, Arlington Lamar 35
This story was originally published August 31, 2015 at 1:20 PM with the headline "TLN: Week 2 predictions include Carroll losing second in a row."