With just three weeks remaining in our game (two regular season games, plus first round of the playoffs), I’m feeling pretty comfortable with my 72-point lead. It’s not insurmountable, but I feel like the other four guys are playing for second place.

Then again, it’s probably pretty dumb for me to think that way. After all, with the performances several players have had this season (like Phillip Miller, Jarryd Garza, Joseph Walton, Clay Honeycutt and Corey Thomas) no lead is safe.

Here are this week’s teams. Feel free to tell us who you think has the best squad.

SPORTS WRITER EVAN MOHL
QB: Phillip Miller, Springs (1)
RB: Joseph Walton, Santa Fe (2)
WR: Brent Comardelle, Creek (3)
DEF: La Marque (4)
WC: Corey Thomas, Dickinson, RB (3)

EVAN’S TAKE: This is not good news. For the third straight week I find myself in last place. It makes me lament the days when I was upset for just being in third.

But I will not give up hope. Which makes this week important. And I’m going to need some help.

With my first pick overall, I took quarterback Phillip Miller. He’s been one of the highest scorers the last month. I probably should have taken him first last week, but hindsight is 20-20 right? I’m betting the bank on Miller and I don’t think he’ll disappoint against a suspect Brook defense.

My next two picks surprised some of our players, prompting someone to say I’ll stay in last place. He may be right. But I need to take some chances. So I took Joseph Walton and Corey Thomas. Thomas has scored in every game in October and also, as sports editor Josh Buckley pointed out, has been given an increased workload. I expect 20-30 touches, and even though it’s a tough defense in Ball High, Thomas should get some scores and yardage.

Walton may surprise people the most. He only gained 14 yards last week against La Marque. But Angleton has been known to give up a few points and I’m not sure how the Wildcats will handle a power runner. Plus I expect a rebound week for Walton. And even with those 14 yards, he did score twice. I expect Walton to reward me for keeping the faith.

With my last two picks, I chose the La Marque defense going against a weak Manvel offense. Then I chose Mr. Brent Comardelle. He hasn’t been drafted much this year, despite ranking among the top 6 in receptions in District 24-5A. I like this pick, especially against a very weak Alvin team.

Alright boys, time for a comeback.

FORT BEND SUN SPORTS EDITOR COREY ROEPKEN
QB: Jarryd Garza, Creek (1)
RB: Marcus Mata, Creek (3)
WR: Jonathan Johnson, Friendswood (2)
DEF: Friendswood (5)
WC: Emanuell Williams, La Marque, QB (4)

COREY’S TAKE: So it appears I have slipped back to fourth place. I have no excuses and I will not whine. I simply got my butt kicked last week. I have licked my wounds and I plan to come back strong - like Texas vs. Colorado strong.

I was happy to get Garza with my first pick. I had him ranked ahead of Miller this week because of what Miller did to the same Alvin team Garza gets to play this week. Combining him with Mata means I get pretty much every Creek TD against a bad Alvin team unless Chief Joseph McElroy scores on a rush.

Johnson should get back to his scoring ways against a below average Brazosport team, and Mandy Williams should do well against Manvel. I even was the fourth person to draft a defense and took my No. 1 ranked team in Friendswood. I can't believe these other guys took a defense as early as they did and did not take Friendswood.

In other words, I like the upside of my team this week. I'm probably too far behind to catch Josh, but I like my chances to end up in second place after this week.

PHOTOGRAPHER KEVIN M. COX
QB: Peter Maetzold, Friendswood (4)
RB: Tim Wright, La Marque (2)
WR: Deche Milburn, Springs (1)
DEF: Springs (3)
WC: Rodney Artmore, Ball (5)

KEVIN’S TAKE: Sorry for my lack of updates in recent weeks. I've been up and down, it seems like every week I think I've got a great team I don't do so well and when I think I've had a bad draft I end up doing great.

I'm pretty happy with me team this week, hopefully that doesn't mean I've jinxed myself again. I'm fairly confident I'll pass up Ian (who I only trail by two points) but it remains to be seen if Corey will catapult past both of us into second place.

APPLAUSE EDITOR IAN WHITE
QB: Clay Honeycutt, Dickinson (2)
RB: Andrew Cole, Friendswood (1)
WR: Michael Gilmore, La Marque (3)
DEF: Creek (5)
WC: James Cunningham, Springs, WR (4)

IAN’S TAKE:

SPORTS EDITOR JOSHUA BUCKLEY
QB: Morris Tuck, Hitchcock (1)
RB: Justin Branch, Texas City (3)
WR: C.J. McElroy, Creek (2)
DEF: Dickinson (4)
WC: Derrick Bernard, Texas City, QB (5)

BUCKLEY’S TAKE:Once again, I managed to hold on to my lead. A big reason is Creek quarterback Jarryd Garza, who kept slipping to me for some reason in the later rounds.

This week, Corey smartly picked Garza No. 2 overall, forcing me to go a different route. I decided to take Tuck with my top pick, despite him going up against a good defense. I trust Tuck, especially at home, to put up some passing numbers despite the opponent.

My next two picks I felt were steals. McElroy is a stud at receiver, and should have a monster game against Alvin.

Branch has surprisingly gone undrafted the last two weeks. Not smart by us, seeing as he has scored five touchdowns in those games. Mr. Rodney Dangerfield has a spot on my team this week.

With my last pick, I took a chance and in the process made everyone else in the league a little upset. You see, Bernard has been out for most of the year with a serious knee and ankle injury.

Well, Bernard has been active the last two weeks after getting cleared by doctors. At Texas City practice on Tuesday, I saw him taking snaps at quarterback, running back and receiver. Lots of snaps in fact.

I’m not certain how much Bernard will play on Friday, so it’s a chance. But I like the upset and am hopefully he’ll give me an edge this week.