GAMES
RANKINGS
PREVIEW: No. 1 Prestonwood Christian Academy vs. No. 2 Parish Episcopal
It's a Texas High School Football Week 7 matchup between the top two ranked private schools in the DFW area. No. 1 ranked Prestonwood will host No. 2 ranked Parish Episcopal in what will likely be one of the best high school football games in Dallas on Friday night- a match-up that will also more than likely determine which team will be crowned as the district champion at the end of the regular season.
Prestonwood Christian Academy Lions
Prestonwood enters Friday's game 4-1 on the season and undefeated in district play (2-0). The Lions sit atop their district's standings, just ahead of Parish Episcopal. Outscoring their opponents 202-114, Prestonwood has posted incredible wins against Legacy Christian (56-10), Coppell (55-41), Fort Worth All Saint's Episcopal School (28-14), and Plano John Paul II (42-0). Their only loss has come against a strong Garland team who defeated the Lions by a score of 49-21 in week three.
The Lions are led by junior quarterback Maguire Martin who boasts offers from the likes of Baylor, North Texas, TCU, and more. This season, Martin has thrown for 1,072 yards and 14 touchdowns. Junior running back Tarris Murray has also been a huge impact on the Lions' offense this season. Murray has accounted for four touchdowns and 292 rushing yards on 41 carries.
Parish Episcopal Panthers
The Panthers enter Friday's game with an identical 4-1 overall record and undefeated district record (2-0). After opening the season with a 34-14 win over Bellaire Episcopal, Parish Episcopal's only loss came in a hard-fought, extremely close battle against Austin LBJ in which the Panthers fell 49-47. Since their week two loss, the Panthers have only improved as they have posted big wins against the likes of Malakoff (35-9), a Cowboy legend Jason Witten coached Argyle Liberty Christian (45-14), and Midland Christian (28-14). Coming off of a BYE week, the Panthers should be more than rested and ready to play against Prestonwood on Friday night. On top of all of that, the Panthers are looking for a third-straight TAPPS state championship and aren't willing to let anyone stand in their way.
The Panthers are led by an unlikely hero this season- freshman quarterback Sawyer Anderson. Anderson has already thrown for 1,226 yards and eight touchdowns on the season and has been praised as one of the best quarterbacks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Senior wide receiver and Holy Cross commit Blake Youngblood has also been a strong, driving force for the Panters this season. Youngblood has accounted for four touchdowns and 350 yards on 24 catches. Moreover, senior running back Andrew Paul has been nearly unstoppable for the Panthers this season. Paul has scored 14 touchdowns while tallying 646 rushing yards on 112 carries.
What to Expect:
Fans will see an offensive-heavy game. Both teams are going into this with a strong offense that is quick and consistent when it comes to making big plays and scoring. The catalyst of the game will be as to whether or not Prestonwood's defense has what it takes to slow down the likes of Parish's Andrew Paul.
The game will take place Friday, October 8 at Prestonwood Christian Academy with a kick-off time set for 7 p.m.
Fort Bend Christian Academy freshman Layne Bulow.
Freshman Bulow exceeding expectations for Eagles
Fort Bend Christian Academy volleyball coach Alex Edwards had an idea of what she'd be getting before freshman Layne Bulow ever slipped on a green and gold uniform.
Edwards had watched Bulow play club ball for Houston Skyline in middle school.
"I knew she'd come in and have an immediate impact," Edwards said. "I knew she'd come in strong, especially as a passer, and taking on a six-rotation role."
But Bulow has surpassed Edwards' expectations. On a 19-3 Eagles team with legitimate TAPPS state championship aspirations, Bulow is second on the team in kills (2.3 per set) and digs (2.3 per set), and first in aces (42). She is also one of the team's best in serve receiving.
Bulow is the team's first outside hitter that goes to the back row during games, and Edwards has been beyond pleased with her defense and passing, feeding talented attackers Bailey Hanner and Bayleigh Minor, and middles Sophia Vrienlink and Oyinkansola Ajimotokan.
"I knew she was good, but she is my reliable back row player," Edwards said. "She's passing well. She's also a great server. Her consistency in the back row … it's so nice to have her back there. In the front row, she's stepping up, learning more. It's hard to swing on the varsity level. As she gets more opportunities, she's getting better."
Bulow said she was nervous before her first varsity game. But the confidence and trust of Edwards and teammates, especially senior leaders Hanner and Avery Hodge, eased the transition from eighth grade star to varsity standout.
"The players have given me a lot of confidence," Bulow said. "They have faith in me and trust me on the court. As I went on, I became more confident in my abilities and what I can bring to the court."
One of Bulow's specialties is serving. She leads the team in serve attempts with 272 and has a serve percentage of 90.1. The Eagles have scored 147 points when Bulow serves, by far the highest on the team.
"You just need to know or focus on what would not make a team pick up a ball," said Bulow, who said she's gotten better at serving simply by playing and learning more about the game. "It depends on the team, but you can tell which teams are better at passing deep balls or short balls. You serve short or deep depending on what that team can't handle. You can tell if you pay attention."
Edwards said it is not typical for a freshman to make varsity, let alone contribute at a high level. They often need that year of junior varsity to develop and get used to the speed of the game.
But the second-year coach had an opening, and Bulow seized the opportunity.
"For her, it's the confidence in herself," Edwards said. "She's her biggest critic. As the season's gone on, you can start to see her eyes open up a little bit more and her realizing she can do it. Her background growing up, she's played every position. She's never just stuck to one. So, I think what's nice for her is she knows her role, what it will be, and just keep grinding and pushing and things will keep opening up for her."
Bulow is taking it all in stride. She continues to work on hitting, specifically shot selection. She also is not content with her blocking and has pinpointed that as an area of improvement.
She is hungry to get better and stay consistent for the Eagles, winners of 17 of their last 18 games.
"I think we've played very well," Bulow said. "Going forward, we just need to keep playing as a team. When we play together, we can beat anyone. We just need to focus on ourselves and what we need to do."