WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS: Picking winners for Holliday-Idalou, Rider-Coronado and more

I recently was afforded the opportunity to return to a facet of media I’ve always loved – calling play-by-play for high school football games on a broadcast.

In this case, it’s the WFISD YouTube live stream. I made my debut last week with the Hirschi-Brock and WFHS-Hereford games, and the relationship will continue as long as I’m invited back to do it.

As I mentioned in my Random Musings earlier this week, there was a time when I had more experience as a sports radio broadcaster than I did as a writer. And I’d like to think I could have made some sort of career out of it had I chosen to pursue it.

So, if you’re not headed to Friday night’s game featuring Lubbock Coronado vs. Rider at Memorial Stadium, then tune into the live stream on WFISD’s YouTube channel or Facebook page. I’ll try to provide insightful play-by-play and am scheduled to be joined by special guests throughout the first half, including WFISD athletic director Scot Hafley for the first quarter and new superintendent Dr. Donny Lee in the second quarter.

This recent venture back into broadcasting gave me a good idea for this week’s Fave Five list.

FAVE FIVE SPORTS BROADCASTERS

This list is limited to play-by-play commentators and color analysts who broadcast college or professional football games. No studio commentators.

5. Kirk Herbstreit

I understand why some people don’t like Herbstreit. ESPN uses him for everything college football related and then some.

But I appreciate the way Herbstreit handles himself both on and off camera. He has every reason to let his ego be overpowering, yet it’s not. And his loyalty to his mentor and co-host Lee Corso is admirable.

Herbstreit doesn’t have the best knowledge nor is he the best color commentator, but he’s a great representative of the college football game.

4. Al Michaels

He’s been on the call for so many great moments, but none will ever top The Miracle on Ice. That USA vs. Russia Olympic hockey match made Michaels immortal.

Michaels is still one of the best at 77 years old. We can all only hope to be this good at our jobs when that age.

And now he’s teaming with Herbstreit games broadcast by Amazon, making up the second best football commentary team today.

3. Jim Nantz

If Nantz is on the call, then I’m an invested listener. There’s not an American sport he can’t expertly enhance with his play by play. He makes average color commentators sound good, and great ones sound like the best ever.

2. Tony Romo

I noted that Michaels and Herbstreit made up the best current broadcast team. That’s because Nantz and Romo are No. 1.

Romo is transforming what we expect of analysts during a game. Even during the NFL’s Thursday night debut, Cris Collinsworth was attempting his best Romo impersonation, trying to predict play calls on both sides of the ball. He failed at it.

Romo sees the game with an energy that has Cowboys’ fans begging him to leave the booth and become a head coach. But why would he? He’s got a no-pressure job making $17 million a year.

I do have to admit my man crush on Romo. He is my favorite Dallas Cowboy of all time. I don’t get defensive about many sports opinions, but I will fight tooth and nail for Romo. Former Rider tennis coach Kyle Apperson and I have had it out about Romo before with both of us knowing to walk away before it got more intense. I knew to always avoid the conversation from that point on.

As much as I loved Romo on the field, I like him even more in the press box.

1. Brad Sham

Massive bias here but there isn’t anyone better in my opinion than the Voice of the Dallas Cowboys. I grew up often listening to Sham on the radio while watching the Cowboys on TV. My grandad and dad both preferred Sham to Pat Summerall or anyone else calling the Cowboys’ games.

Sham defines the term, “biased but fair and professional,” which is critical in good home team broadcasting. It’s the rule I’ve based my brief broadcasting career around.

It’s OK to not call the game how it is and not try to optimize everything for the home team. There are times to be critical of the team you’re broadcasting for, and Sham has never shied away from doing that. Even when Jerry Jones fired Dale Hansen from being Sham’s partner in the booth for his criticisms, Sham did not relent from being honest with his listeners about what he was seeing.

I haven’t listened to a lot of other NFL broadcasts, although I heard a Redskins (that who they were at the time) game on SiriusXM once that made me want to puke.

It’s just hard for me to imagine it can get better than Sham.

On to the picks…

Cory Hogue and I had the best records among the TRN Sports “expert” panel last week, going 23-3. I remain in the lead for the season at 44-7 with Cory and Tobin McDuff two games back of me at 42-9.

You can find all the picks from the entire panel below, and remember, college and NFL picks from the TRN Sports panel are at the bottom of this article.

CLASS 5A

Rider 23, Lubbock Coronado 21 – I think this prediction is against the grain for two reasons. For one, Rider is favored by 22 points by PigskinPrep.com. The Raiders aren’t that much better than Coronado. Second, this is very low scoring for these two programs known more for high-scoring offenses. But Rider’s defense has been phenomenal through two weeks, and I think it’s ready to pass this test, too. Coronado hasn’t scored more than 21 points in its first two games. And Rider is better than Frenship and Midland High.

CLASS 4A

WFHS 40, Plainview 18 – Another PigskinPrep spread I disagree with has Old High favored by just eight points. Plainview has not improved that much, and Old High is underrated if that’s the best anyone thinks the Coyotes can do against an inferior opponent. The Coyotes’ experienced defense is going to make this game hard for a freshman quarterback.

Hirschi 44, Springtown 17 – The Huskies are in another league than the Porcupines right now. Springtown’s offense hasn’t been efficient enough to keep pace.

Glen Rose 37, Graham 16 – Graham is too inexperienced in this matchup, and Glen Rose already has a couple impressive wins on its resume. The only negative I can see for Glen Rose heading into this week is having former Rider girls basketball coach Ramsey Ghazal serving as the Tigers’ hype man. His services are better utilized on the court.

All kidding aside, Glen Rose may be the biggest threat to Hirschi in Region I-4A Division II.

CLASS 3A

Iowa Park 32, Burkburnett 24 – Obviously, I’m expecting a competitive game, which is great for this rivalry. Burk has improved, but Iowa Park seemed to find its identity last week against Benbrook.

Vernon 24, San Angelo Lake View 21 – One of the most difficult games to pick this week. It comes down to having more respect for Vernon’s two opponents than Lake View’s. And being from West Texas, it’s hard to imagine Lake View 3-0 to start a football season. Lake View is Old High coach Grant Freeman’s alma mater, and there’s not a Freeman on that roster best I can tell.

Henrietta 45, Bowie 26 – Bowie can make this game interesting. The Rabbits were more competitive with Graham than the 41-22 final suggests, and they fell just short of a monumental comeback in a 63-62 loss to Bridgeport last week. Henrietta gets to 3-0 for the first time since 2017, but it’s harder than a 45-point line from PigskinPrep suggests.

Holliday 28, Idalou 7 – Idalou is a good team but struggled to move the ball against New Deal last week. That doesn’t bode well against Holliday and its suffocating defense. The Eagles are ranked third in the state by DCTF and second by PigskinPrep.

Jacksboro 21, Peaster 18 – Another tough game to call, and this may be considered a minor upset. The Peaster football program is still young but has improved every season. I’ll ride with Jacksboro moving to 2-1.

CLASS 2A

Olney 35, Haskell 12 – The Cubs are good, and their defense may actually be ahead of a strong offense right now. This is a good litmus test after Olney’s district foe Stamford beat Haskell, 28-9, last week.

Nocona 34, Electra 8 – Nocona is playing sound football right now, while Electra is still searching for its identity. But it’s fun seeing this matchup on the schedule for the first time since 2005. It will be the 34th all-time meeting. Nocona is looking to start a season 3-0 for the first time since 2017.

Petrolia 19, Quanah 16 – A tough prediction. I’m not sure what I really know about either team. I’m giving Petrolia the edge based on its backfield, but I’ve gone back and forth on this one.

Morton 38, Munday 25 – It’s been a great start for Munday, but Morton is a step up in competition from the Moguls first two opponents. It’s a winnable game for Munday, though.

Albany 44, Seymour 13 – Can the Panthers pull what would be one of the biggest upsets in the state? I don’t see it happening. Albany loaded for a state title run. Seymour is good but not on Albany’s level.

Millsap 28, Archer City 26 – Another difficult prediction. I thought Millsap would be more competitive with and even beat Henrietta last week. But the Bulldogs are the best team Archer City has seen this season. I’m giving the edge to the larger classification team.

Muenster 13, Windthorst 10 – This 2A slate of games in the Wichita Falls area are hard picks this week. I’m giving the edge between these two winless state-ranked opponents to the home team that has played two strong programs in Bells and Paradise. I’m not sure the early open week benefits the Trojans.

SIX-MAN

May 57, Knox City 51 – I’ve always admired the way Knox City coach Caleb Callaway puts together a schedule. He always loads his non-district slate with some of the best teams in the slate. It’s not always great for the Greyhounds’ record, but it benefits them in the end. May is a state title favorite once again after losing the Class A Division I championship game the last two seasons. This is a chance for Knox City to prove it can be in the same class as the Tigers, and I think the Greyhounds are up to the task, win or lose.

Throckmorton 50, Bryson 6 – Maybe Bryson avoids getting 45’d, but it will be close.

Saint Jo 62, Crowell 36 – Give Crowell coach Mitchell Parsley similar props to what I just gave Knox City’s Callaway. While it’s not as difficult as the Greyhounds’ schedule, Parsley has put together a slate of non-district games that is going to make the Wildcats better. They’re likely 0-3 after this week, but in the long run, the Wildcats will benefit from losses to three quality teams.

Gold-Burg 42, Chillicothe 20 – It’s hard to tell how a team will perform when emotions like what Chillicothe has to be feeling factor into the matchup. The entire town was hit hard by the tragic deaths of sisters Lexi and Zoey Flynn – two Chillicothe High School students – in a car crash last week. But just getting back to competition and normalcy is a big step for the school and community. I’m certain the folks at Gold-Burg will do their part to honor the Flynns and the pain being suffered by the Eagle faithful in some capacity.

Trent 45, Harrold 0 – Hard to pick anything different for Harrold until we’re shown something different.

Azle Christian 56, Newcastle 50 – The Bobcats weren’t expected to be 2-0, but here they are. 3-0? That’s going to be more difficult to reach against a solid opponent.

Dallas Academy 46, Forestburg 29 – The Longhorns disappointed last week against Wichita Christian. Dallas Academy is a TCAF program that isn’t as strong as WCS on paper but still good enough to beat Forestburg. . WCS 45, Bethesda Christian 0 – The Stars roll to their first mercy-rule win of the season.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: 2022 Week 3 high school football predictions for Wichita Falls area