Game Night: Southlake Carroll Dragons vs. Allen Eagles

Aug. 31, 2013

For only the third time since Dragon Stadium was built in 2001, the Southlake Carroll Dragons suffered defeat on their home field. Last night, the job was accomplished with brutal efficiency by the defending 5A Division I state champions, the Allen Eagles, who systematically stymied the Dragon offense and overpowered its defense to coast to a 49-27 win.

 In handing the Dragons their collective ass in such a manner, the Eagles convinced me and most of the Dragon faithful around me that we were looking at some cold-eyed assassins likely to repeat as state champions.

 The Eagles’ junior phenom quarterback, Kyler Murray, quickly snuffed out Carroll’s hopes of getting revenge for last season’s 24-0 shellacking, completing 17 of 24 passes for 464 yards and three TDs. Lord-a-mercy, what is this kid going to be like as a senior?

 Truth be told, Carroll never had a chance. Allen demonstrated its superiority even while a series of penalties kept the score close. Then, close to the end of the first half, WR Cole Carter slipped virtually untouched past Dragon DBs into the open, nabbing a couple of Murray passes and loping leisurely for TDs of 88 and 74 yards, all within minutes of each other. What had been a tie game suddenly was out of control.

 Dragon kicker Drew Brown, whose brother Kris played in the NFL, put 3 on the board as the half ended. But most of us looked at the 28-17 halftime score and knew that grim business lay ahead.

 It took only a handful of seconds into the second half for Murray to hoist another 75-yard pass that set up another Eagle score, and …

But what the hell. Let’s just say my wife, Marice, went to sit with friends rather than endure my bitter commentary as the disaster unfolded.

 On the bright side, my son – who’s a member of The Crew, the spirit group that helps whip up student support from the sidelines and runs the flags at the beginning of each half – seemed to have a good time flirting with the cheerleaders and letting his freak flag fly. Last night, you had to get your enjoyment where you could. Did I mention how god-awful hot it was?

 For the Dragons, last night was a lesson in humility and in the need to work harder and get better. Some of us had been quietly nurturing hopes all summer of another state run, particularly if we could play No. 1-ranked Allen close. Those hopes look pretty goofy now, but it’s only the first game.

 And as followers of high school football know, anything can happen. And does. Junior Carroll quarterback Ryan Agnew – slipping into the big shoes left by Kenny Hill, who reportedly might start for the Aggies today – had a rough outing as a starter. But he still managed to connect regularly with his talented and experienced receiving corps. Expect big things from this guy. He’s a gamer. His older brothers are Dragon defensive legends.

 Next up for the Dragons, the Midland Lee Rebels. It’ll sorta be like homecoming for me. Back in the day, the Rebels were formidable members of the so-called Little Southwest Conference, the West Texas district that included football powerhouses Abilene, Abilene Cooper, Odessa Permian, San Angelo Central and – yes, alas – Big Spring, my hometown and the perennial cellar-dweller.