Game Night: Southlake Carroll Dragons vs. Richland Rebels

Oct. 12, 2013

At first blush, last night’s contest between the Southlake Carroll Dragons and the Richland Rebels was just another dreary drubbing by the Dragons of another overmatched District 4-5A opponent.

But behind the impressive statistics – and there are plenty to choose from, beginning with the 48-9 final score – lurk dark shadows that give one pause in assessing the slaughter.

 True, the Dragon offense romped to 603 total yards, with junior quarterback Ryan Agnew, who played most of the game, gaining in command and control with each passing series. He threw for 266 yards and four TDs and rushed for 120 yards and another score.

 Agnew’s target for all four passing TDs was senior WR Luke Timian, who had an absolutely splendid game. On his first reception in the end zone, he and a Rebel defender connected with the ball at the same time, with both wrestling desperately for control. By the time, the entangled pair hit the turf, the powerful Timian had wrenched the ball out of his rival’s grasp.

 The Dragons held the Rebels to only 42 yards of offense in the second half, rolled up three times as many first downs, and gained more than twice as many rushing yards and five times more passing yards.

 So what’s the problem? Well, perhaps the fact that Agnew, who in district play has rarely seen the far side of the third quarter this season, was still in the Richland game until late in the fourth last night indicates something was amiss.

 A series of sloppy missteps by the sleepy Dragons emboldened the Rebels and seemed to elevate their level of play, convincing Dragon coaches the smart thing to do was to keep a boot pressed firmly against the Rebel neck.

 At one point early in the second quarter, in fact, Richland closed within 5 points of the Dragons, who should have allowed the bedraggled Rebels no closer than three scores. This surreal moment came after a rare blocked extra point by kicking superstar Drew Brown was returned by Rebel defender Carter Barke for 2 points and after a momentarily befuddled Dragon defense allowed Richland to march down field for another 7.

 Adding to sense of malaise were two Dragon fumbles and an Agnew pass interception in the Rebel end zone. Finally, even late in the game, Agnew was getting heavy pressure from the Richland D-line, although it never managed to nail Carroll’s slippery junior phenom.

 Let's don't even mention the two mishandled punt returns by the Dragon's normally sure-handed receiving corps.

 I know this doom and gloom seems ridiculous considering the outcome last night. The Star-Telegram game story this morning gushed about the Agnew-Timian partnership and how hapless Richland was sliced and diced by the Dragon bullies. Sportswriter Mark Zeske pointed out that since the beginning of the Keller Central game two weeks ago until the fourth TD reception by Timian in the third quarter last night, Agnew has thrown 54 passes in 10 quarters, scoring eight TDs and making only eight incompletions. Not too bad, not too bad at all.

 But to repeat the mantra I’ve been chanting since August, winning a district championship ain't near enough for this team. A state championship – or at least a deep playoff run – is the goal. Sloppy, unfocused and uninspired play like the Dragons displayed last night won’t achieve it.

 Facing opponents like Richland doesn’t help sharpened skills and expose weaknesses, but you have to play the teams on your schedule. It’s up to the coaches – and the kids themselves – to keep their heads in the game – even in the midst of the annual Cupcakes Parade in District 4-5A.

 The good news is that Carroll faces Justin Northwest next week in the last of a three-game road trip. The Texans are tough customers, relatively speaking, and will pose the strongest 4-5A challenge so far this year. Let’s hope for a good game and no injuries. Go Dragons!