Game Night: Southlake Carroll Dragons vs. Haltom Buffalos

The most important thing that happened at Dragon Stadium last night – at least for the Gunnels family – wasn’t the Southlake Carroll Dragons’ drubbing of the Haltom Buffalos, 65-7.

Yes, the game was the major reason we all were there. And the Dragons closed out the regular season much as they did last year – with a District 4-5A championship, an unbroken string of victories over lesser district opponents, and a 9-1 record, with only a loss to the mighty Allen Eagles marring the totality of their dominance. Talk about history repeating itself.

No, the significant thing that happened, the thing that I’ll remember long after the memories of that lopsided contest have faded, was the Senior Night recognitions before the opening kickoff.

I have looked forward to and dreaded that moment for a long time. As my friends and family know, I get pretty emotional over the passing milestones of my children’s lives. And so it was Friday night, as I stood on the field with Marice and Ethan and looked over the other parents and kids standing there before the gathering crowd.

I was thinking that when Ethan leaves for college next fall, Marice and I will have to figure out a new role for ourselves in our children’s lives. Because our front-line parental duties will be over. We’ll always be parents, of course, and we’ll always have a place in our children’s lives. But things will be different. They’re already different with my daughter, who graduates from UNT in May. And they’ll be different with my son, too, from the moment he pulls away from the curb on his way to UNT.

Our direct, daily impact on our children will end. We’ll have to hope that the values and hard-learned lessons we tried to impart will take root in the sandy loam of our kids’ heads and will help guide them to happy, successful and fulfilling lives. Our present roles as ATM machines and laundry maids, cooks and mechanics will continue for a while, yet, and no complaints there. But I was thinking last night about how much I was going to miss the tall, lanky kid with the goofy grin and big heart when he leaves. How much I was going to miss our nightly, bedtime routine. “Good night, Dad. Love you. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” “Goodnight, son. I love you, too.” (In case you were wondering, I DID NOT start bawling in front of everyone as I contemplated all this. But to be honest, it was a near-run thing.)

In the meantime, I hope Ethan will be able to enjoy his Crew duties during a deep run in playoffs this year. How I would dearly love to see him goofing around on the sidelines the weekend after Thanksgiving and beyond.

We’ll see about that. The Dragons’ real season begins Friday night in Coppell’s Cowboy Stadium when they face the Arlington Bowie Volunteers. The Volunteers have spoiled Dragon playoff dreams before, destroying a complacent Southlake squad 45-21 in 2009 at SMU’s Ford Stadium before a stunned Southlake crowd.

The Dragons got their revenge two years later, whipping the Vols 21-17 in frigid, near-gale winds at Pendleton Stadium in Bedford.

Bowie is pretty banged up this year and played a sloppy, losing effort against Martin on Thursday to draw Carroll in the first round. But the Vols always are dangerous customers, well-coached and disciplined, even when they’re riddled with injuries. The Dragons had best not put them in the same category as their last nine opponents, or they could be taking an early exit from the second season.

Last night, the Dragons had a couple of early hiccups against the Buffalos, going three and out on their first possession. But they scored on their next six possessions and iced the game early. The starters took their leave at halftime.

Quarterback Ryan Agnew completed 10 of 15 passes for 196 yards and three TDs. Two of them went to WR Luke Timian, who caught five receptions for 96 yards, and the other went to WR Keaton Duhon, who caught five for 62 yards.

On the rushing front, RB AJ Ezzard carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, kicker Drew Brown booted a career-record 51-yard field goal to end the half.

Sophomore running backs Lil’ Jordan Humphrey and Grant McFarlin got plenty of playing time against Haltom. Both scored running TDs in the second half.

Haltom only managed 218 yards of total offense, and the Buffalos were a fumble factory, mishandling the ball five times and losing it four.

Southlake barbers – and more than a few mothers – will be busy this week dyeing players’ hair blonde, and athletic department equipment handlers will be readying black uniform pants. Both are playoff traditions at Carroll. The dyed hair in particular drives our opponents nuts, which is a perfectly good reason to do it, don’t you think? Go Dragons!