Area Round: Denton Guyer 48, Southlake Carroll 35

As we neared Allen’s Eagle Stadium last night, after fighting our way across the Metroplex in rush-hour traffic, a sense of impending doom came over me.

That premonition, which I dismissed uneasily at the time, proved to be prophetic as the Southlake Carroll Dragons fell hard before the powerful – and unstoppable – running attack of the Denton Guyer Wildcats, thus ending their season too soon, too soon.

In the end, it came down to defense, the part of the Dragons’ game that has caused consternation all season. Young, under-sized and lacking depth at virtually every position, the weakness of the Dragon defenders in confronting the run was exposed in rather spectacular fashion by Guyer’s triple-threat ground game.

Three Wildcats rushed for more than 100 yards. Superstar junior quarterback Shawn Robinson dominated the field, rushing for 263 yards on 23 carries and four touchdowns. Following in his cleat-steps were running backs Noah Cain – a freshman, dear God, what is he going to be when he grows up – who carried 19 times for 172 yards and a TD, and Myron Mason, who ran 14 for 104 and 2 TDs.

In all, Guyer piled up 609 total offensive yards, 2 more, if you’re counting, than Euless Trinity achieved earlier this year in its 37-35 defeat of the Dragons. Most of those yards, 547 of them, came on the ground as the overwhelmed Carroll defensive unit stood virtually helpless before TCU commit Robinson, Cain and Mason.

Robinson, however, was the star among stars, engineering slow, methodical drives that ate up the clock and kept Carroll’s hard-charging offense cooling its heels on the sideline, and staging spectacular runs through the dazed Dragon D-line when the need arose.

His value was never more apparent than in the closing minutes of the first half, when a 92-yard drive by the Wildcats, ending in a 13-yard TD run by Cain, extended the Guyer lead to 20-7 with 2:30 remaining.

On the next drive, the Dragons came roaring back, putting together a three-play drive that saw senior running back Shemar Coleman sprint 39 yards to the end zone and bring the score to 20-14.

The Dragons then recovered a pooch kickoff and launched another successful drive that featured a 29-yard TD pass from quarterback Mason Holmes to Kam Duhon in the end zone, handing the Dragons a narrow lead, 21-20, with less than a minute left in the half.

But just when the momentum began to shift Carroll’s way, Robinson stepped up and shut it down.

With the aplomb of a skilled efficiency expert, Robinson put together a 3-play drive that culminated in his 55-yard streak to the goal line. That reclaimed the lead for Guyer, 27-21. It never trailed again.

During the third quarter, with victory still in reach, the Dragons pulled within 6 again, after Holmes (15 of 22, 287 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) hoisted a 50-yard pass to WR Zach Farrar (9 receptions, 215 yards, 2 TDs).

Once again, Robinson stood tall, sprinting 47 yards for his third TD of the night and extending Guyer’s lead to two scores, 41-28. Both teams would score again, but Robinson’s heroics on that drive was the stake that pierced the Dragon breast.

Head coach Hal Wasson summed it up to the Star-Telegram, “We didn’t control Robinson. We never controlled him.”

It’s ironic, perhaps, that the Dragon season ends only a  week after one of its most impressive achievements – knocking two-time state champion Cedar Hill out of the playoffs in thrilling, last-second fashion.

But it calls to mind another Dragon playoff defeat under similar circumstances. In 2009, the Dragons fell to Arlington Bowie in the third round of the playoffs after an emotional, heart-stopping 35-34 win against the Allen Eagles in Cowboys Stadium.

Like this year’s Dragons, the 2009 team was heavy in talent and carried lofty ambitions. Flush with pride and exhilaration at its gutsy goal line stand in defeating Allen in double overtime, it entered the Bowie game with full expectations of brushing aside the Volunteers as it continued its march to state.

Bowie had other ideas. Well-coached, disciplined and playing with fierce determination, the Vols dominated the game and embarrassed Carroll in SMU’s Ford Stadium before its stunned fans.

Denton Guyer came into last night’s game the clear underdog. Most experts predicted a comfortable Dragon win. But many of the Dragon faithful saw the Guyer game for what it was – a trap game full of treacherous cross-currents.

We all feared the Dragons might suffer an emotional letdown after the histrionics accompanying their Cedar Hill win. And there was the question of overconfidence against a team that, while displaying some inconsistency earlier in the season, had a potent offensive machine fully capable of exploiting Dragon defensive shortcomings.

One thing is clear. Guyer coaches studied game film. Their strategy of eating up the clock with a steady drumbeat of Robinson, Cain and Mason worked like a charm, with Guyer controlling time of possession by a 2-to-1 margin. On the other side the ball, they devised a defensive scheme that effectively bottled up the Carroll ground game.

Dragon offensive star Lil’ Jordan Humphrey was limited to 53 yards rushing, while his hard-charging sidekick, Shemar Coleman, was held to only 51. That forced Holmes to the air, where Carroll enjoyed most of its success.

In fact, exactly half of its 378 total yardage came on four scoring plays, a 71-yard pass to Farrar, a 39-yard run by Coleman, a 29-yard pass to Duhon and another 50-yard pass to Farrar.

Humphrey ends his Carroll career just short of an achievement never attained by anyone wearing a Dragon uniform – 1,000-yard seasons in both rushing and receiving. He ends this season with more than 1,200 yards rushing but a bit less than 900 yards receiving. Don’t worry, though, you’ll be seeing plenty of him on upcoming Saturday afternoons. His future in D-1 college ball is assured.

As for the rest of the Dragons, Holmes will be back next year, but many of his offensive weapons are moving on – Humphrey, Coleman, Farrar and Duhon all graduate, as does outstanding kicker Jake Oldroyd. RB Jack Johansson and kicker Kole Ramage, who enjoyed a perfect season of PATs, will return, however.

On defense, standout safety Obi Eboh is a senior, as is linebacker IV Seacat. But linebackers Robert Barnes and Will Quillen will be back, along with noseguard Ryan Miller.

 For me, last night’s result means I’ll be putting up Christmas decorations next Friday, instead of sitting in AT&T Stadium with the rest of the Dragon Nation watching Carroll face the San Angelo Central Bobcats.

That job now will be left to the Guyer Wildcats, and frankly, I can’t decide which wretched felines to root for.

I’ve hated the Bobcats since the days they humiliated my Big Spring Steers in the dusty, windswept West Texas stadiums of my youth. But the haughty Guyer is a hard program to support, particularly if you’re a Dragon fan. The Wildcats humbled Carroll twice in 2010, defeating it once during the regular season in Dragon Stadium and again in the playoffs. And they did so with arrogance and distain. A pox on them, then and now.

For Carroll fans, any season that ends in the second round of the playoffs is a letdown. But I’m very proud of these young Dragons, a special band of brothers who faced one of the most difficult road schedules of any Carroll team and did so with grace and much success. May their futures be full of promise and achievement.

Happy holidays everyone, and … Go Dragons!

Bi-District Round: Southlake Carroll 37, Cedar Hill 33

Ironically, the decisive drive of last night’s epic contest between Southlake Carroll and Cedar Hill in the first round of the 6A Division II playoffs was one in which they didn’t score.

Clinging to a 2-point lead in the draining minutes of the fourth quarter, the Dragons, held scoreless to that point by a stingy Longhorn defense, staged their first sustained drive of the half, an 11-play, 82-yard effort powered by an electrifying 50-yard run by Lil’ Jordan Humphrey that propelled them into Cedar Hill’s red zone.

It was there that things got sticky. Faced with a fourth down, quarterback Mason Holmes handed off to Humphrey, who smashed his way to the 7-yard line for the Dragon’s fourth straight successful fourth-down play of the night. There the Longhorn defense, with the game and their hopes for a third straight state championship on the line, dug in.

Holmes and company were only able to claw their way the 4-yard line where they faced yet another fourth down decision with about a minute left.

What to do, what to do? Kick a field goal and extend your lead to 5, then hand the ball over to the explosive Cedar Hill offense? Or push your chips into the center of the table and go for it all?

The problem was that 5 points might not be enough to hold off the Longhorns, who had bounced back from a 35-21 halftime deficit with a pair of efficient workman-like drives in the third quarter. Even with no timeouts remaining, a minute was plenty of time for Cedar Hill quarterback Avery Davis, who had shredded Carroll’s defensive squad all night, to engineer a last-second miracle for the Longhorns.

In the end, Carroll offensive coordinator Clayton George gave in to his riverboat gambler instincts and kept his offense on the field. Holmes tossed the ball to Humphrey in the end zone, but a Longhorn defender snagged it at the 1 and fell to the turf.

And on the next play, Davis, standing 5 yards in his end zone, couldn’t corral an errant snap, which bounced off his chest and out of the end zone for a safety. Carroll recovered the resulting onside kick, and Cedar Hill’s quest for a third straight Division II state title ended in the chill of a November evening.

By defeating Cedar Hill, Carroll avoided the ignominy of exiting the playoffs in the first round, a feat it has managed for the last 20 years or more. And it proved it can play with the state’s best teams and beat them.

The Dragons have every reason to expect a long playoff run this year, but absolutely no one believes it will be easy. Division II is packed with talent.

Next up is Denton Guyer, a familiar foe who holds the distressing distinction of being only one of two teams to beat Carroll in Dragon Stadium. (Coppell is the other.) The Dragons will face the Wildcats in Allen’s Eagle Stadium next Friday.

Southlake was the only team from District 7-6A to advance into the Area Round. Shockingly, Euless Trinity fell to South Grand Prairie 24-21, ending the proud Trojans’ perfect season. DeSoto defeated Coppell 35-31, and Mansfield easily handled Colleyville 45-22.

Last night’s game was thrilling high school football. The first half featured rapid-fire offensive displays by both teams. The Dragons scored on their first five offense drives, completely dominating the crucial first quarter, where they jumped to a 14-0 lead that proved decisive.

The Dragons never trailed, although even a 14-point lead offered them little comfort because of the Longhorns’ irresistible combo of lighting ground attack and aerial bombardment, all centering on the amazing Davis.

Davis, a top D-1 college recruit, was 10 for 14 for 172 yards and three TDs. He also ran 15 times for 73 yards. Interesting tidbit from the radio broadcast: Davis has played in only two losing games since he started peewee football – the defeat by Mansfield earlier in the season and the loss to the Dragons last night.

The second half was an offensive shootout, with both Carroll and Cedar Hill mounting big-play drives. During one particularly dizzying period that spanned the second and third quarters, five touchdowns were scored in only 13 offensive plays.

As usual, Carroll’s offensive standout was Humphrey, who carried 23 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 5 passes for 113 yards and another TD. He was ably complemented by Shemar Coleman, who rushed 21 times for 134 yards and one TD.

Holmes completed 13 of 16 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, a formidable 81 percent completion rate only marred by a single INT. He can thank his sturdy offensive line for giving him plenty of time in the pocket to pick apart the Cedar Hill secondary.

But the real heroes of the night might be the Dragon defenders, who took a huge step forward, asserting themselves at the perfect time in the season, when every stop can be a game changer.

Carroll coaches have been tinkering with the defensive line all season, trying to find the right talent mix and chemistry to meld the squad into an effective unit. Standout safety Robert Barnes, the Dragons’ leading tackler, moved to linebacker to play next to IV Seacat, the team’s second-leading tackler. For last night’s game, defensive end Luke Jeter and nose guard Ryan Miller switched jobs.

Something must have clicked.

With Carroll leading 7-0, the Dragon defense stopped Davis and company on the Longhorns’ first possession, graciously handing the ball back to its offense, which took advantage of the opportunity to carve out an insurmountable two-TD lead. Although it couldn’t completely shut down Cedar Hill’s quick-draw offense, Carroll’s defense made plays when the Dragons needed them the most.

For instance, in the fourth quarter, Carroll defenders, aided by a flurry of Cedar Hill miscues, protected the Dragons’ fragile 35-33 lead by forcing the Longhorns to punt it away, leading to the clock-gobbling drive that ultimately sealed Carroll’s win.

The playoff atmosphere at Dragon Stadium was electric last night, although I wonder at the official pronouncement that it was a sell-out. There were plenty of seats in the new wings at either end of the home side, and Cedar Hill didn’t come close to filling its side of the stadium. We were told that 200 standing-room tickets were sold in the west end zone, but it was empty as a ghost town.

I like the new policy the UIL is testing this year, which awards a first-round home game to the top seed in each division within a district. Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire expressed dismay before the game that his team, which like the Dragons finished No. 2 in its district, was forced into the inhospitable confines of Dragon Stadium because of the UIL’s complex rules.

I might feel the same way if the Dragons had traveled south to play in Cedar Hill. And, who knows, the difference in venue might have impacted the final result. All I know is last night was simply grand, a great game played by two of the state’s best programs in absolutely perfect football weather. Nobody got hurt, and the good guys won. What’s not to like?

Beware, Guyer. The Dragons are breathing fire and heading your way. Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 56, L.D. Bell 7

Not much drama accompanied last night’s drubbing of the lowly L.D. Bell Blue Raiders by the Southlake Carroll Dragons. The Dragons scored on their first six possessions, pulled their starters after the first half and turned their full gaze toward next week’s playoffs opener against reigning state champions, the Cedar Hill Longhorns.

And it’s with more than a little trepidation that the Dragons confront the Longhorns on their own home ground. But more about that later.

All went as expected against Bell last night. Carroll’s reserves ruled the second half, just as it should be on Senior Night. As such, it’s only fitting that the leading rusher for the Dragons wasn’t superstar Lil’ Jordan Humphrey, only Lord knows he had a stellar night. That honor belonged to 5-foot-6, 150-pound senior reserve running bank Alex Simpson, who piled up 146 yards on 20 carries during his best outing under Friday night lights.

It did the old ticker good to see the reserves, guided by senior quarterback Montana Murphy and powered by Simpson’s downhill running, push the ball downfield during the Dragon’s final TD drive, which ended with Simpson smashing 5 yards into the end zone.

Although the end result was never in doubt, last night’s slaughter offered the Dragons an opportunity to fine-tune both offense and defense in preparation for their high-stakes contest against Cedar Hill on Nov. 13. And Carroll took full advantage of it.

I’m happy to report that the offense over the last two games has come out with guns blazing, in sharp contrast to the lackadaisical efforts that characterized first-half performances earlier in the season. Of course, some of that can be credited to the quality of its opponents. But the change in attitude of late was in full evidence last night, when junior quarterback Mason Holmes and company operated against the Blue Raiders with crisp efficiency and maximum effectiveness.

For instance, when the Dragons closed out scoring in the first half with the recovery of a high snap during a Bell punt attempt and a 1-yard TD run by Humphrey, radio commentators reported Carroll had scored its last four touchdowns in only 11 plays. I wasn’t counting, but that sounded right to me.

Holmes completed 11 of 15 passes for 246 yards and two TDs before taking his rest. Humphrey ran 102 yards for three TDs and caught two passes for 67 yards. Shemar Coleman ran for 62 yards and a TD, and he caught a Holmes pass before scampering 50 yards for another TD in the first quarter.  Senior receiver Zach Farrar was another offensive standout, catching four passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.

It’s harder to judge the progress of Carroll’s defense, a youth-dominated squad that suffers from the perennial Dragon problem of being undersized compared to most of its opponents.

Hal Wasson, who enjoyed his 100^th win last night as Carroll head coach, has been tinkering with defensive assignments during the last two games, looking for the right mix and chemistry to take into the playoffs.

Last night, for instance, Wasson moved standout safety Robert Barnes to linebacker, where he performed admirably.

Except for a momentary lapse by the reserves in the third quarter last night, when they allowed Bell quarterback Shaun Daniels to slip around the right corner and speed 75 yards to the end zone, they have held their last two opponents scoreless. But once again, you have to consider the quality of Haltom and Bell when citing that achievement.

The proof of the pudding, for both offense and defense, will come next week, when the Dragons host the Longhorns in Dragon Stadium for the bi-district round of the playoffs.

The proud Longhorns, who whipped stout South Grand Prairie last night 39-28, have something to prove. Denied a district championship in 8-6A by the upstart Mansfield Tigers, who defeated Cedar Hill in a shootout two weeks ago, 46-43, the state champs come into next week’s game in Southlake with a sizeable chip on their shoulder.

And based on the historical record, they must feel pretty good about their ability to handle the Dragons.

In 2008, the 8-2 Dragons faced the Longhorns in the second round of the playoffs in venerable Texas Stadium, falling to them 31-18. More recently, in the fourth round of the playoffs last year, the Longhorns booted the Dragons from post season with a 62-42 defeat, overwhelming a game Dragon squad with their high-powered offense.

This isn’t the same Cedar Hill team that schooled the Dragons last year, but it’s pretty damned close. And it is defending back-to-back state championships, which give it plenty of reasons not to be particularly intimidated by the home-field advantage Carroll will enjoy next Friday.

Elimination in the first round this year would be Carroll’s earliest playoff exit in recent memory. But it’s a very real possibility, based on the strength of its bi-district opponents in District 8-6A, one of the state’s toughest, most talent-laden districts.

As the first seed in Division II (small school), Carroll faces the second seed in 8-6A in the first round. Last year, it narrowly avoided elimination by Mansfield, and it would have faced an even more potent Tiger team this year if Cedar Hill had managed to slip past its district rival.

If it does manage to whip Cedar Hill next week, an outcome to be devoutly wished but hardly counted upon, Carroll might look forward to a deep run into the playoffs. A sell-out crowd at Dragon Stadium is anticipated. I’ll be in line for tickets first thing Monday morning.

Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 59, Haltom 0

    I first noticed The Reader about 4 minutes into the second quarter of last night’s massacre of Haltom by Southlake Carroll, just a few minutes after the Dragons pulled ahead of the Buffaloes, 35-0.

   There he was, sitting a couple of rows in front me, dressed in shorts and a green hoodie and surrounded by the parents of Emerald Belle drill team members. His nose buried in the open book on his lap, he was oblivious to the events on the field.

   Granted, the outcome of the night’s District 7-6A contest was never in doubt, and the harassed and harried Buffaloes didn’t put up much of a struggle as the Dragons trampled over, through and around them.

    But for the football fans present, Carroll offered up a pretty impressive offensive show, with junior quarterback Mason Holmes (8 of 10 for 199 yards and five TDs) peppering his receivers with well-aimed passes and with running back Shemar Coleman twisting and twirling through the Haltom D-line like he was at the Spring Prom.

   The Reader missed all that. Head down, eyes focused on the page, he never looked up when Coleman staged an electrifying 62-yard touchdown run in which he broke at least four tackles on his way to the end zone to extend Carroll’s dominance to 42-0.

   Coleman’s feat ended Dragon scoring for the first half and heralded the departure of Carroll starters. Everyone in a Dragon uniform got some playing time last night.

   Here’s the kind of game it was. Backup quarterback Montana Murphy relieved Holmes well before half and posted impressive numbers, completing 10 of 12 passes for 165 yards and two TDs.

Backup WR Blake Berwick caught two Murphy passes for 120 yards and two TDs, more than varsity star Zach Farrar, who had an excellent night in his own right, catching three passes for 78 yards and two TDs.

   Holmes shredded Haltom’s overwhelmed secondary. When he left the game two-thirds of the way into the second quarter, six of his last eight passes had resulted in touchdowns. He engineered two consecutive two-play TD drives, the first ending in a 36-yard toss to Kam Duhon and the second in a 29-yard throw to Farrar. 

   The junior, who also scored with TD passes to Lil’ Jordan Humphrey and Jack Johansson, showed his athleticism at one point during a scoring drive that strandled the 1^st and 2^nd quarters.

   Dropping back for a pass, Holmes turned left, saw an approaching Buffalo, then pirouetted like a ballerina and threw right to Farrar. Three plays later, he connected again with Farrar for a 44-yard TD.

   At times, last night seemed like a practice session for the playoffs, which begin week after next. Although the Dragons were unstoppable on the ground, Holmes and Murphy staged an aerial display, sending their receivers to all corners of the Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex. They misfired only once, when Murphy’s slightly under-thrown pass in the end zone landed in a Haltom defender’s arms.

   Meanwhile, Carroll’s recently acquired taste for misdirection and deception was on full display. Leading 7-0 early in the first, it ran back-to-back trick plays, the first a double reverse that saw Farrar scamper 29 yards into the end zone, only to have the ball called back on a penalty.

   On the next play, Coleman received the ball from the wildcat formation and lateralled it to Holmes, who then hefted it to Johansson across the goal line.

   None of this razzle-dazzle was needed to subdue the overmatched Buffaloes, but that and more will be necessary for the Dragons to make it out of the first round of the playoffs.

   Two weeks from now, they meet reigning state champ Cedar Hill, who lost a barnburner last night to Mansfield. By nature of their first seed in Division II (small school), they’ll play in the warm confines of Dragon Stadium, but the Longhorns will be an extremely tough nut to crack.

   First things first, however. Carroll ends the regular season next week at home against the L.D. Bell Blue Raiders, who are tied for last place with Haltom in 7-6A. That should be another slaughter of the innocents and offer yet another chance for reserves, who labor in obscurity through most of the season, to shine once more. What could be more appropriate on Senior Night?

   Perhaps The Reader will have a chance to finish his book. Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 49, Colleyville Heritage 14

There’s a moment – a decisive moment – in every football game when things change: momentum shifts, a hesitant offense shifts into gear and begins to hum, a sluggish defense awakens and begins to exert its will.

For the Southlake Carroll Dragons, tied 14-14 with neighboring Colleyville Heritage, that moment came last night late in the 2^nd quarter.

Up to that point, the weather-postponed contest had been a desultory affair, with the impressive Panther offense striking first behind its hotshot junior quarterback, Camden Roane, and phenom sophomore receiver, Ke’Von Ahmad.

But the Dragons, coming off a deflating loss to Euless Trinity the week before, gamely responded, finally drawing even with the surging Panthers when Lil’ Jordan Humphrey capped a seven-play drive with a 9-yard surge across the goal line.

On the next drive, Dragon linebacker Will Quillen intercepted a Roane pass and handed the Dragons an opportunity to finally take the lead.

The Dragon offense, guided by junior quarterback Mason Holmes (12 of 19 for 175 yards and 2 TDs), began a determined march downfield, but not for long. It found the way muddied by a couple of holding penalties that threatened to choke off the drive. But stellar, hard-nosed running by Humphrey (22 carries for 198 yards, 2 TDs), Shelmar Coleman (13 for 141, 2 TDs) and Jack Johansen (4 for 31) brought the Dragons to the Colleyville 36, where the drive stalled.

Facing a fourth and 4, they appeared ready to chance it, then called timeout. As expected, kicker Jack Oldroyd led the fieldgoal team out after the break, and it appeared the Dragons were ready to settle for a 3-point lead as halftime loomed.

Instead, in a move that had the paltry Carroll crowd blinking in confused delight, they faked the ball to Humphrey, who sprinted 28 yards around the left end. Two plays later, Holmes connected with Coleman in the end zone, and the Dragons never looked back.

Colleyville, which has never defeated Carroll, came into last night’s game with the same 2-1 District 7-6A record as the Dragons. It had high hopes that this might be the year to beat the Dragons, considering the Panthers’ much-touted offensive firepower and the hope that Carroll still might be reeling from its narrow loss to the No. 2-ranked Trojans.

But despite a couple of showy big plays in the first half, the Dragon defense contained the explosive Roane, a speedster with a rocket arm, intercepting him twice and staying in the face of his favorite target, the soft-handed, hard-running Ahmad. Roane finished the night with a pass completion rate well under 50 percent and only 71 yards rushing.

Beginning with the tying score in the 2^nd , Carroll ran up 42 unanswered points against the gasping Panthers, who had no answer for the Dragons in the air or on the ground.

Saturday’s win guarantees Carroll a spot in the playoffs, which begin (oh, my!) in a mere three weeks. It will have to settle for that, since the Trinity Trojans, no surprise, officially captured the 7-6A title on Friday with their rout of Coppell.

The Dragons, of course, are playoff veterans, and they have been readying themselves for the post season, even as they play through the tough segment of their district schedule.

In falling to the Trojans, they demonstrated the power of their multi-faceted offense to keep them in games. While the unstoppable Trinity amassed a breath-taking 603 yards against the Dragons, the final score was 37-35.

The strength and effectiveness of its running game was on full display last night. The tall and lanky Humphrey was elusive as always, twisting around tackers and deceptively difficult to bring down. Coleman, who uses a little stutter-step to confuse defenders that’s sheer poetry, is fast and slippery. On his single rushing TD, he launched himself at the 2-yard line, sailed over struggling Colleyville defenders and crashed into the end zone.

The Panther defense managed to exert pressure on Holmes early, rushing throws and disrupting his rhythm. But he stayed calm and collected and, despite several missed catches by the Dragons’ deep and talented receiving corps, he connected when it counted.

 The Carroll defense, a young, under-sized squad at the beginning of the year, has gained in skill and confidence as the year progressed. It was overwhelmed by the mighty Trojans, true, but who hasn’t this season? In most of its other matchups, it has played splendidly in the second half, limiting opponents’ ability to score while its offense has run the field.

Meanwhile, Carroll has demonstrated a fondness for misdirection and deception. It has employed the wildcat formation with great effect, with both Humphrey and Coleman taking snaps from center last night on a number of key third-down plays.

The fake field-goal, sold beautifully by the wily Oldroyd and executed brilliantly by the amazing Humphrey, caught the Panthers completely by surprise. They saw nothing like that in any game films, I can assure you.

Carroll even launched a series of pooch kicks in the second half in the hopes of catching Colleyville off guard. None of them worked, instead handing Colleyville good field position it wasn’t able to capitalize on. But I like the confidence it showed in the defense and the buccaneering spirit it displayed.

As expected near the end of a bruising regular season, Carroll is nicked up some. Safety Obi Eboh sat out last night from an injury he received against Trinity. Humphrey limped off the field late in the game with a twisted ankle, but coaches had to take his helmet away to keep him on the sidelines, a hint that the injury isn’t too bad. Other key personnel also are nursing hurts.

Luckily, Southlake’s last two district games are against Haltom, in the Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex on Friday, and L.D. Bell, on Senior Night at home on Nov. 6. The hapless Buffalos and Blue Raiders have but a single district win between them. That offers the Dragons valuable time to rest starters and heal the injured, and to prepare for the onslaught of the playoffs.

The wind coursing through Dragon Stadium last night had a bite to it. It’s football weather for sure, folks, and, glory be, the post-season is nigh. Go Dragons!

Game Day: Euless Trinity 37, Southlake Carroll 35

It looked for a moment like it actually might happen. The Southlake Carroll Dragons, battered and bruised all last night from the onslaughts of the No. 2-ranked Euless Trinity Trojans’ stellar rushing game, had clawed to within 3 with 3 minutes left in the game.

Victory, sweet victory, was within reach. And against a fearsome opponent everyone expects to see in the state finals.

The Trojans had failed to bury the Dragons with their crushing frontal assault, even though by night’s end, they compiled an astounding 603 yards rushing on 53 attempts.

Trinity’s offensive star, running back Ja'Ron Wilson (31 carries for 339 yards), continued his phenomenal drive to D-I college football, slashing through the beleaguered Dragon defense at will or simply out-sprinting it. Trinity’s 6-2, 240-pound quarterback, the massive Tyler Natee (10 carries for 157 yards), couldn’t be stopped.  On one crucial drive in the fourth quarter, Natee ran 82 yards on six carries.

And yet, the Carroll offense, led by junior quarterback Mason Holmes (24 of 36, 238 yards and 3 TDs), had kept the Dragons close. At midpoint in the fourth, trailing by 10, the desperate Dragons brought their offensive weapons to bear. Running backs Lil’ Jordan Humphrey (16 carries for 92 yards) and Shemar Coleman (6 for 46 rushing and 4 for 34 receiving) powered the drive, with Humphrey even taking two snaps from the wildcat formation.

Against Trinity, you reach deep into the bag of tricks.

That critical drive brought the Dragons to within a mouth-watering 3 points of the Trojans, 31-28, after Coleman, who ended the night with two rushing TDs and one passing score, punched the ball over from the 1.

That’s when a tingling glimmer of hope began to compete with the knot that had been in my stomach all evening. If the Dragons could just get the ball back – and keep the irresistible Trojan giants out of the end zone – they were within reach of an implausible upset.

The anticipated onside kick failed, setting up the Trojans at their 40. And on the first play from scrimmage, running back De’Jaun Garrett (8 carries, 103 yards) darted around the left end and roared 60 yards to the goal line, essentially putting the game out of reach.

But the agony wasn’t quite over. Trinity muffed its extra-point attempt, leaving the score at 37-28. That offered the mournful Dragon faithful the tantalizing, if unlikely, scenario that if the Dragons could score quickly, then get the ball back, they might, just might, have time to get close enough for a field goal, thus eking out a 1-point victory in their storied series against Trinity.

They accomplished the first part of the fantasy. Setting up shop on their 40, the Dragons moved smartly against the Trojans, thanks in part to a double-reverse pass bit of trickery that brought the ball to the Trinity 15. And with 1:46 to play, Holmes rifled the ball to Humphrey (10 receptions for 105 yards) for the score.

Another onside kick failed, and thanks to the efforts of the amazing Wilson, the Trojans ran out the clock. Game over.

Wilson clearly was the star of the night. His 339 rushing yards hand him a team record and demonstrate why he’s one of the most celebrated runners in the state.

On a key series in the fourth quarter, with the score 24-21 and Natee sidelined briefly with a leg injury, Trinity backup Malini Maile put the game in Wilson’s hands. Good decision.

Wilson first converted a third-and-13 with a breathtaking 49-yard run, then followed with an dazzling scoring play that had even Dragon fans nodding grudgingly with admiration and respect.

The Trojans faced a third-and-11 on the Dragon 16 when Wilson took the ball and headed left. Seeing Carroll defenders scramble to cut him off, he reversed field and sped right. At midfield, he spotted a seam and turned for the goal line, slipping easily across for the score.

By defeating Carroll, Trinity remains undefeated. It stands at No. 2 in state rankings behind the Allen Eagles and almost certainly will make a deep run in the playoffs, where it could very well face Allen in the finals for the big-school division of 6A. What a Christmas present that would be for high school football fans across Texas.

For Carroll (5-2, 2-1 in 7-6A), last night’s loss is painful, but not devastating. It still will make the playoffs, probably in the small-school division, and the strengths it demonstrated against the Trojans could keep it playing until Thanksgiving, the goal of all top-flight programs.

Its multi-faceted offense kept it in the game last night until the very end. Humphrey and Coleman on the ground, Holmes and his receivers – led by Humphrey and senior Zach Farrar (6 for 71, 1 TD) – in the air proved they can keep up with anyone.

And strange as it may sound after the overtaxed defense gave up more than 600 yards in rushing, there’s even some good news there. Dragon defenders were bloodied by Trinity’s aggressive 0-line and shredded by its wicked-good runners, but they never gave up and never were  overwhelmed. They stood firm at key moments and managed to hold Trinity scoreless in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Trinity’s defense accomplished the same goal against Carroll in the third, stopping the Dragons on two successive series that helped seal their doom.

 Thus ends another chapter in the phenomenal history of these two programs, which have met five times and produced classic high school football matchups each time, contests characterized by hard, gritty play, high emotion and good sportsmanship.

Like many Southlake fans, I root for the Trojans in every game except this one. Trinity is a class act and the Trinity kids are terrific – fierce competitors on the field, but respectful off it. They exhibit a strong work ethic and put in the time and effort it takes to be winners. They’re disciplined athletes who play with skill and emotion.

And what can you say about the Haka, except that it’s the neatest, and most inspirational, spirit tradition that I’ve ever seen. Here’s good luck to the Trojans the rest of the way.

Carroll, meanwhile, returns to Dragon Stadium next week to face Colleyville Heritage, which also stands 2-1 in 7-6A play after smashing hapless L.D. Bell last night 52-3.

The Panthers, another likely playoff team, shouldn't be treated lightly. They have never beaten the Dragons, a shameful legacy they would dearly love to erase. All the more reason for Carroll to be faithful to its mission: “Protect the tradition.” Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 52, Richland 21

Watching the Southlake Carroll Dragons stumble and stall before a significantly inferior opponent last night in Dragon Stadium, many of us in the stands were wondering, “Dear God, what’s going to happen to us next week?”

Because next week the Dragons face a familiar old foe, the Euless Trinity Trojans, behemoths who stand just behind the soaring Allen Eagles in state rankings.

If the Dragons roll out a first-half performance against the Trojans like they did last night against a sturdy, but unremarkable Richland Rebel squad, it could be a blood bath of epic proportions.

The Trojans, despite a certain historical affection for their Southlake neighbors, would love nothing more than to open a can of whup-ass on the Dragons, who narrowly defeated them last year in a hard-fought game that broke an impressive streak of district championships by proud Trinity.

And they could do it, particularly if Southlake can’t break a season-long trend of sloppy, slurpy first-half endeavors and demonstrate from the opening kickoff the kind of offensive power and defensive stinginess that characterizes its play in the second halves of its first six games.

It’s churlish, I know, to complain about the 52-21 butt-kicking the Dragons ultimately gave the Rebels. But honestly, it almost was painful to see Richland push Southlake all over the field on offense, while quarterback Mason Holmes and the Dragon offense operated in a bumbling stupor.

Richland actually led 13-7 at one point in the second quarter. And while the Rebels entered the game on somewhat of a roll – they had won three straight and stood 2-0 in District 7-6A play – they were hardly a steamroller.

They marched confidently down the field on their first possession, scoring easily in less than 2 minutes but missing the extra point. That was evidence, if such was needed, that the Dragons weren’t facing a polished, formidable opponent.

But Rebel quarterback Jordan Wiley (10 for 10, 164 yards and 2 TDs) was able to scorch the Dragon secondary in the first half, tossing freely to WRs Aaron Denson (8-138) and Landon Le (4-51). Wiley also was the best Rebel rusher, piling up 65 yards on 12 carries.

For their part, the Dragons got off to a good start, with Holmes guiding his forces for a clockwork series to the Dragons’ first score. That’s when offense operations  slowed to a crawl, with Holmes having trouble connecting with his receivers and a bottled-up Lil’ Jordan Humphrey getting smothered at the line.

When the Rebels pulled ahead of the Dragons in the second quarter, thanks to a 32-yard run by RB Rylee Johnson, I heard a disgusted grunt to my left and an exasperated exhale two rows in front of me. I may or may not have uttered an expletive – or two.

The Dragons managed to counter the Rebels with a pair of TDs before the halftime whistle, but the 21-13 score seemed to most of us an accusingly narrow margin over such a humble foe.

When a friend of mine arrived at my seat for our usual halftime consultation, we both stared at each other for almost a half-minute, too disgusted to speak.

The same thought was on our minds. If we can’t handle a Richland squad any better than this, how could Carroll hope to counter the mighty Trojans, who show all the signs this year of making a credible run for their fourth state title.

Should the Dragons follow their natural pattern next week – a first half marked by ineffective defensive play and uncoordinated offensive drive – the Trojan mammoths will pulverize the young, undersized Dragon O-line and run rampant over Pennington Field. They’ll carve such an insurmountable lead that a resurgent Dragon squad, bolstered by halftime adjustments and an inspirational kick in the seat of the pants, won’t be able to answer.

Our fears unresolved, my friend and I settled into our seats for the second half. As it has all season, the Carroll team that took the field after a splendid halftime show by the Dragon Marching Band was different in attitude and execution.

The Dragon defense finally asserted itself, growing more dominant as the Rebel O-line tired, and limited Richland to a single touchdown. Meanwhile, Holmes (14 of 18 for 208 yards and 3 TDs) and backup Montana Murphy (2 of 2 for 51 yards) engineered five straight offensive drives that ended in scores, pushing the Dragons to a comfortable – and respectable – final tally.

In the end, Humphrey led Carroll rushers with 121 yards on 18 carries. RB Shemar Coleman proved crucial in carrying 9 times for 73 and 2 TDs. In the passing game, Holmes spread the wealth among his talented receiving corps. And while Zach Farrar snatched two TD passes of 14 and 16 yards, respectively, Jack Johanson led receivers with three catches for 60.

The fact that the Dragons eventually got their act together and pummeled a lesser team, serving up a homecoming victory to fans, isn’t the point. Carroll goals for the season are bigger than just a winning record.

It seeks to make the playoffs – pretty much a guarantee, barring catastrophe, despite a likely fall to Trinity – and stage a deep run there. But performances like the one it demonstrated in Dragon Stadium last night won’t cut it against the teams it likely will face in the post-season.  

For instance, District 8-6A foe Mansfield, who the Dragons barely beat in the first round of the playoffs last year, awaits, having destroyed DeSoto 35-21 last night. So does Cedar Hill, seeking a three-peat state championship and licking its chops at the prospect of ending Dragon playoff hopes…again.

So while it may seem like gluttony to peruse a 52-21 drubbing and cry, “More, more,” there’s a bit more at play here.

 What’s disturbing to many of us is the continuing lack of focus early in games and the Dragons’ pick-a-flower, smell-the-roses approach to the job at hand in the opening quarters. That attitude could lead to an unprecedented slaughter next week in the inhospitable confines of Pennington.

Until now, Trinity-Carroll encounters have produced classic high school football games, hard-fought, closely matched affairs that could have gone either way and left fans exhilarated, even if their team lost.

It would be a shame for the Dragons to ruin that record of excellence and allow themselves to be obliterated by the Trojan tsunami.

Gut-check time, gentlemen! Go Dragons!