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!