Area Round: DeSoto 48, Southlake Carroll 30

For a half, it looked like last night’s meeting of Southlake Carroll and DeSoto might be a replay of their thrilling 2012 playoff battle, a hard-fought, well-played game in which the Eagles successfully defended their tight 49-45 lead with a classic goal-line defense as the clock wound down.

Throughout the first half last night, the two teams jockeyed for advantage, the lead changing with each possession. But there were signs of the stormy seas ahead for Carroll for those who chose to see them.

On its first possession, Carroll moved effectively to the DeSoto 4, thanks to a 66-yard toss by senior quarterback Mason Holmes to junior receiver Jacob Doddridge. But the stingy Eagle defense broke up two pass plays and kept star running back Audie Gaines corralled, forcing Carroll to settle for a 21-yard Kole Ramage field goal to seize the first lead of the game.

Later, trailing 7-3, Holmes found senior receiver Clayton Keyes on a 23-yard pass that brought the Dragons to the Eagle 21. Two plays later, Holmes connected with senior receiver Jackson Davis in the end zone, but the TD was negated by a procedural call. Once again, the Dragons had to settle for a Ramage field goal, this time a 38-yarder into a stiff north wind. Later, he boomed a 47-yarder.

That series was unsettling on several fronts. First, silly mistakes that cost you TDs can be fatal against a determined and talented team like DeSoto, as can trading field goals for TDs. Finally, the pass to Keyes, while a beautiful play, was costly. Keyes, one of the few remaining playmakers in the Dragon receiving corps, injured his shoulder and never came back.

Injuries are part of the game, of course. But this seemed like a particularly bad harbinger for what was to come. The Dragons have been plagued by injuries all season, particularly among their receivers. Keyes was only the latest on a casualty list that included junior Cade Bell and the Dragons’ true superstar, senior Robert Barnes.

Premonitions aside, there was plenty to like in that first half.

When Holmes connected with senior receiver Jackson Davis (2-84, 2 TDs) on a 60-yard touchdown catch and run with about 2 minutes left, it looked like the Dragons would take a 23-21 lead into halftime.

That’s when DeSoto’s peerless senior quarterback, the remarkable Shawn Robinson, staged a textbook 75-yard touchdown march that shifted momentum permanently to the Eagles and sank the spirits of shivering Dragon fans, who sensed in their hearts that DeSoto was finally asserting itself once and for all.

That smoothly operating drive threatened to sputter at the Dragon 34 when Carroll’s never-say-die defense sacked Robinson with 11 second left.  Even then, more than a few of us were thinking: Here It Comes.

On the next play, Robinson calmly dropped back and tossed the ball to his favorite target, receiver KD Nixon (11 receptions for 163 yards), who loped into the end zone. Robinson then added insult to injury by slipping through the Carroll D-line for a 2-point conversion. The Eagles took a 29-23 lead into the locker room and never looked back.

The tale of the tape in the decisive third quarter was brutal. DeSoto outgained Carroll 174-16, scoring on three of its first four possessions and holding the Dragons scoreless until the final seconds of the fourth quarter, long, long after the end had been determined.

It was a thorough beatdown for a proud team like Carroll. But in keeping with the traditions of the program, the kids never stopped fighting.

Holmes (6-20-1 INT, 158), denied most of his best receivers, kept scrambling, pursued by DeSoto’s swarming defense, trying to find someone to throw to. Audie Gaines (22 carries for 104 yards, 1 TD) kept trying, mostly in vain, to pierce the Eagle D-line, settling instead for more modest gains, if any.

Dragon defenders didn’t quit either, but they had no answer for Robinson, who dismantled Carroll’s D for the second year in a row. Last year, he guided Denton Guyer to a similar dominating performance against the Dragons in the second round. He followed his parents, who are both coaches, to DeSoto, where he encountered the welcoming embrace of coaches and players alike.

DeSoto has struggled to escape the second round of the playoffs for the past two years, falling in 2014 and 2015 to the Allen Eagles. Robinson and realignment allowed it to avoid Allen AND an early exit this year. It is well poised to make a deep plunge.

In DeSoto green and gold, Robinson was magnificent, leading the Eagles to 621 total yards. Of that, he accounted for an astounding 454, completing 18 of 30 throws for 245 yards and a touchdown, and rushing for 209 more and three scores. You can’t get much better than that.

As I’ve stated before, the goal of the Dragon football program is to play until Thanksgiving. In other words, to make it into at least the fourth round of the playoffs each year. That’s a tall order in Texas, where there are no easy routes to a state championship. But goals should be aspirational and difficult, or else what’s the point.

Alas, Dragon players won’t be distracted from their Thanksgiving dinners by a Turkey Day practice – another unshakeable Dragon tradition when Carroll makes a deep playoff run. Given the choice, I’m pretty sure the Dragons, to a man, would prefer the chilly practice field to the delights of a family holiday meal.

Disappointment reigns today in the toney confines of the Southlake Bubble, but it should be tempered with an appreciation of what this team has accomplished. It started the season with a desultory performance against Oklahoma powerhouse Tulsa Union, a performance shaped, it is fair to say, by the somber fact that eight starters were sidelined with injuries.

Carroll coaches overcame that, however, by moving their best player, the inestimable Barnes, from the defensive secondary, where he could play any position with skill and grace, to wide receiver. That was just the spark needed to energize the offense, and Carroll began a 10-game winning streak and a triumphant march through District 5-6A.

Injuries and more injuries continued to define the season, however, culminating in Barnes breaking his right leg last month in the Bryon Nelson game. Still, the Dragons surmounted the disruptions and continued to win.

With much of their receiving corps on crutches or in arm slings, coaches were forced to shift the focus of their offense from Carroll’s heralded vertical attack to a ground game centered around three talented runners.

The lead dog, as it were, clearly was Gaines, a Mansfield Timberview transfer who found his place and made his name in playing for Southlake.

Gaines ends the season with 1,523 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He rushed for 100 or more yards in nine games and scored a touchdown in every game. I’m not certain yet where he goes next year, but it’s a safe bet he’ll find a college playing home somewhere.

Filling out the Dragon running trio were seniors Tre Sledge, who ended up with 501 yards and four TDs, and Jack Johansson, who gained 436 and eight TDs.

Barnes, who has spent the last four games on the Dragon sideline in crutches, had successful surgery on his broken leg and will next be seen playing in Norman with the Sooners.

As for the future, sophomore quarterback Will Bowers, Holmes’ heir apparent, got valuable playing time in each of the last two playoff games. Last night, he guided a 90-yard TD drive in the closing minutes of the game, culminated by a 23-yard pass to Davis.

Bell, the junior receiver, will be back to form the core of the receiving unit, as will junior Hudson Shrum.

Two stalwarts on the Dragons' worthy O-line, juniors Matthew Leehan and Jackson Kimble, will be back. And on defense, freshman corner R.J. Mickens, who was called upon to step into Barnes’ very big shoes when he went down, played far above expectations, snagging multiple interceptions and shutting off passing routes like no other 15-year-old you’re likely to see. It’ll be fun to see how he develops in the next three years.

Meanwhile, the DeSoto Eagles travel to Wichita Falls next week to meet birds of another feather, the Abilene Eagles, in the Regional Round. Abilene dismantled El Paso Americas 55-0 last night, but it will face an opponent playing an entirely different game when it lines up against DeSoto.

West Texas teams once boasted about the hard-nosed brand of football they played, but the high school game has largely passed them by. They don’t fare well once they leave the dusty stadiums of the West. Next week, my money’s riding on Shawn Robinson and his shattering offensive line.

The state championships are back in Jerry’s World the weekend before Christmas. Perhaps I’ll see you there. Until next year, Go Dragons!

Area Round Preview: Southlake Carroll vs. DeSoto

Talk about a bargain. I bought tickets today for the Southlake Carroll-DeSoto playoff game on Friday. They were $6 apiece.

For that pittance, I’ll get to experience some of the best high school football in Texas, which is to say in the nation. The Dragons-Eagles matchup at Murphy’s Kimbrough Stadium will be the showcase game of the second round of this year’s football playoffs.

Mighty DeSoto, rated by The Associated Press as No. 2 in Texas, is undefeated this season, thanks to an explosive offense and stingy defense. Carroll, ranked No. 8, has lost only one game, its first, and roared into the post-season last week with a convincing win against Wylie.

 The Dragons normally potent air attack has been hampered by injuries to their receiving corps. But operating behind a quick-footed, muscular offensive line, a trio of bruising rushers, led by senior Audie Gaines, has picked up the slack admirably. Meanwhile, the Carroll defense has effectively smothered offenses and kept opposing quarterbacks scrambling.

The Dragon D will have all it can handle against the Eagles, who are led by well-traveled senior quarterback Shawn Robinson. That name is a familiar one for Carroll fans. Last year, Robinson, playing for Denton Guyer, dismantled the Dragons in the second round of the playoffs.

In the off season, both of Robinson’s parents were hired as coaches at DeSoto. By UIL rules, their son was immediately eligible to play for the Eagles. He’s a genuine double-threat, speedy and agile on his feet with a rifle for an arm. DeSoto is the third high school for whom he’s played, and he’s been a superstar at each one.

So for the second year in a row, the Dragons must figure out how to stop Robinson in order to escape the second round. It’s hard to imagine them being able to corral him with any degree of success. He will get his yardage – on the ground or in the air, or both.

The key to a Dragon victory will be whether it can match the Eagles in scoring. So far, no one has been able to stop the Dragon runners, but DeSoto certainly will try. Can the injury-plagued Carroll receiving corps rise to the challenge and mount a good-enough vertical attack to open up the run? Only time will tell.

All I can say is that for six bucks, it will be quite a show. Go Dragons!

Bi-District Round: Southlake Carroll 28, Wylie 3

Southlake Carroll’s convincing win over the Wylie Pirates in the first round of the playoffs last night was deeply satisfying, but a nagging question followed fans out of Dragon Stadium.

What the hell does AHMO mean?

After the outmatched Pirates put their first and only points on the board – a 20-yard field goal by kicker Wariebi Jitaboh as the first half ended – Wylie’s spirit squad ran flags across the field bearing the letters A, H, M and O. The same letters are emblazoned across Pirate jerseys.

The answer to the question is too convoluted to relay here (Google it if you’re interested). Suffice to say, it’s a nod to Wylie’s glory years as a state title contender in the 1970s.

Last night, the mojo it represented was no match for the Dragon defense, which held Wylie to only 71 rushing yards, 280 total. The Dragon D harassed and harried highly regarded Pirate quarterback Emilio Ames (19-41, 210 yards) all night, intercepting two of his passes and damned near snaring a couple more.

For its part, the Dragon offense, led by senior quarterback Mason Holmes (9-20, 195, 1 INT and 2 TDs) and powered by senior running back Audie Gaines (26 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD), brushed past the Pirates during a decisive 21-point second quarter.

It took Holmes and company a full quarter to shake off the cobwebs, but once they did so, the Dragon ground game and an effective aerial attack left the Pirates sputtering.

Wylie’s only sustained drive of the night came in the final moments of the first half. After marching his team from its own 16 to the Dragon 2, Ames ran the ball twice up the middle and tried a pass into the end zone, all to no result. Finally, after taking a time out to contemplate a risky fourth-down TD attempt, Jitaboh booted a 3-pointer, bringing the score to 14-3 with 54 seconds left.

Carroll quickly snatched momentum back, however, and killed any sprouting Pirate hopes. Holmes quickly moved the Dragons into Pirate territory with a couple of sharp passes to senior receiver Clayton Keyes (6-130, 1 TD). From the 39, he found senior receiver Jackson Davis (2-64, 1 TD), who made a diving catch in the end zone with 23 seconds on the clock.

On their first possession of the second half, the Dragons made it clear there would be no change in fortunes, methodically stitching together an 80-yard scoring drive that showcased powerful running by Gaines and senior running back Jack Johansson (9-97, 1 TD), who carried it in from the 1.

At that point, Carroll took its foot off the gas, and the rest of the half was a wash.

The Dragons won’t have that luxury next Friday, when they meet the DeSoto Eagles in Plano’s Kimbrough Stadium. The Eagles, who destroyed Killeen 51-7 last night, have been unstoppable this season, and next week’s game is shaping up to be another classic between the No. 2-ranked Eagles and No. 8 Dragons.

The last time the two teams met was in the fourth round of the 2012 playoffs. The Dragons were returning state champs, with Kenny Hill under center and all the talent necessary to win back-to-back titles again.

That game, a well-played, hard-fought affair judged by many to be one of the best of the year, came down to a heroic goal-line stand by the Eagles, with seconds left and the Dragons only two yards away from taking away DeSoto’s fragile 49-45 lead.

On three consecutive quarterback keepers, the Eagles barred Hill from the end zone and emerged exhausted winners. One week later, they were bounced by Allen.

For the last two years, DeSoto has been booted from the second round of the playoffs by undefeated Allen teams. This year, they’re playing in Division II and yearn to escape the second round to make a deep run.

To do that, they’ll have to get past the Dragons, who would dearly love to avenge the heartbreaking 2012 loss. That won’t be easy. The Eagles’ potent offense, led by star quarterback Shawn Robinson, will be a tough nut to crack for the Dragon D, which in five of its last six games has held opponents to 7 or fewer points in the first half.

Asked last night about the prospects of being the underdog in a DeSoto-Carroll matchup, Audie Gaines dismissed the idea.

“I don’t think we consider ourselves underdogs,” he said in a post-game radio interview. “Teams that think like that don’t win games. We’re the Dragons. We’ll fight hard.”

They’ll have to, sure enough. And while the smart money has to be on the Eagles, there’s more to Texas high school football that sheer athletic talent and smart coaching. Heart, desire and disciple play important roles, too, and the Dragons are well stocked in both tangibles and intangibles. It would be foolish to count them out entirely.

So come Friday, I’ll make the long northeast trek to Kimbrough. You’d be well advised to get your tickets early for this one. Word is that it’ll be a quick sellout. Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 52, Lewisville Hebron 34

When the time came to seize sole ownership of the District 5-6A championship, Southlake Carroll’s senior playmakers stepped forward last night and grabbed it, leaving in their wake the bruised and sullen Hebron Hawks.

And it happened on Senior Night at Dragon Stadium. Perfect. Just perfect.

The Hawks (7-3) will enter the playoffs as 5-6A first seed in Division I (big school). But they harbored loftier ambitions, hoping to steal a share of the district championship by whipping Carroll.

The Dragons, however, motivated by little else than pride and competitive drive, would have none of that, employing a crushing ground game to overwhelm the ambitious Hawks.

Carroll, the district crown poised jauntily across its sweaty brow, will host District 6-6A’s Wylie next Friday at Dragon Stadium in the Division II (small school) bi-district playoff round. The Pirates fell hard last night to mighty Allen, 49-0, as they finished up their first regular season in the 6A classification. They face Plano East in the first round.

While it isn’t unusual to see the Dragon O-line control the line of scrimmage and score at will against an opponent on its home turf, last night was a bit different. Known traditionally for its high-flying aerial prowess, Carroll pummeled the Hawks on the ground, gaining 409 rushing yards and employing a trio of senior runners to eviscerate the Hebron D-line.

Audrick Gaines led the way, gaining 237 yards on 28 carries and four touchdowns. In his best outing of the year by far, Gaines closed in on Carroll rushing records and almost achieved five rushing TDs, a feat never accomplished by a Dragon runner.

Gaines scored first for the Dragons, capping an 8-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 21-yard sprint to paydirt on a 3-and-7. And he helped set up the Dragons’ last TD in the fourth period, taking the ball on another third down at the Hebron 29 and barreling his way to what would have been his fifth TD. When Gaines crashed to the turf at the 1, a faint sigh escaped my lips as he narrowly missed making Dragon history.

 In the early minutes of the first quarter, it looked like the Hawks would be easy pickings for the local heroes. After Carroll’s quick first score, the Hawks coughed up the ball at their own 16 on their first offensive play of the game. Four plays later, senior quarterback Mason Williams (9 for 11, 89 yards, 1 TD) pitched the ball to senior receiver Jackson Davis (3-24, 1 TD) who took it in from the 5.

On their next possession, the Hawks once again fumbled on their first play, this time giving the ball up at their 29.  The Dragons then drove to the 9, where senior halfback Tre Sledge took the ball from Holmes and it into double coverage in the end zone, connecting with a  receiver wearing the wrong uniform.

Two plays later, Hawk runner Evan Powell bullied through Dragon defenders and raced 74 yards to the end zone to make it a one-score game.

From that point until the half, the Dragons and the Hawks traded TDs. Dragon defenders were unable to put pressure on strong-armed Hebron quarterback Clayton Tune, who peppered his receivers at will, completing 20 of 28 for 210 yards and 1 TD. Trejan Bridges caught11 for 106 yards and 1 TD, Jaren Mitchell got 8 for 72 and Powell snagged 3 for 49 and 1 TD.  Powell also led in rushing for Hebron, carrying 6 times for 87 yards and 2 TDs.

Hebron’s beleaguered defense had no answer for the Dragon ground assault. Carroll’s O-line blasted holes in the Hawk front line, and Dragon runners had a field day all night.

In addition to the formidable Gaines and Sledge (11 carries for 80 yards), senior Jack Johansson was a beast, running 8 times for 58 yards and 2 TDs. He also nabbed two Holmes passes for 24 yards.

In the decisive third period, Dragon defenders implemented halftime adjustments and managed to hold Hebron to consecutive 3-and-outs and a single first down on its third drive. That allowed Holmes and company to jump to a three-score lead they never relinquished, including an impressive 50-yard field goal by kicker supreme Kole Ramage. He’s already booted 3-pointers of 55 and 47 yards this season.

After the game, an ebullient Johansson said in a post-game radio interview that the Dragons took to heart head coach Hal Wasson’s verdict that the Hawks had the best offense the Dragons would face all year, including that of Tulsa Union, which handed Carroll its only loss this season.

“We knew they thought they could hang with us,” Johansson said. “We had to stop them and we did.”

For the seniors on the Dragon squad, last night was their last regular season game at Dragon stadium. They’ll play there at least once more, when they meet Wylie next week.

But the realization is beginning to hit home for many that their football playing days soon will be over.

Senior defensive lineman Luke Jeter, asked after the game about the significance of Senior Night, grew solemn.

“I hadn’t really thought about it,” he said. “Then it hit me like a truck. This is coming to an end. This is our last regular season game.”

The interviewer waited for Jeter to go on, but the senior had nothing left to say.

Next week, a playoff game at home. I can’t wait. Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 45, L.D. Bell 7

When a football coach starts talking about his progress in instilling a “culture of winning” in his players, dollars to donuts he’s presiding over a lackluster program with a dismal record and lowly prospects.

So it was with Hurst L.D. Bell head coach Mike Glaze last night in his pre-game radio interview.

His team was playing hard, learning from its mistakes and executing better every week – all part of the process of learning to win,  he said earnestly. Perhaps he even believes it.

But when his Blue Raiders took the field at venerable Pennington Field, they ran into a Southlake Carroll train that blew them off the winning track and left them dazed and bleeding in the ditch.

In doing so, the Dragons clinched at least a share of the District 5-6A title. They play Lewisville Hebron next week in a game that could assign them sole possession of the championship.

And they did it with a depleted roster. Senior safety/wide receiver Robert Barnes, the Dragons best player, watched the game on crutches. He suffered a broken leg in last week’s matchup with Byron Nelson, thus ending his high school career. The next uniform he’ll wear will be Oklahoma’s red and white.

His teammate, junior wide receiver Cade Bell, one of senior quarterback Mason Holmes’ favorite targets, also watched from the sideline last night. Bell could return to the field if Southlake can mount a lengthy playoff run.

Stellar running back Audrick Gaines saw his seven-game streak of 100-plus-yard games end when back spasms forced him out of the game after only a couple of series. Even so, he gained 65 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. He was ably replaced by backup Tre Sledge, who had the best night of his career, gaining 108 yards on 10 carries and 2 TDs.

As for Holmes, he’s still a little gimpy from a lingering leg injury, although he played for a full half last night before handing the ball to backup Will Bowers, a sophomore who shows great promise. Before departing, Holmes completed 8 of 13 passes for 88 yards and 1 TD.

Bowers made his presence known immediately. Leading 24-0, Carroll opened the second half by holding the Blue Raiders to a 3-and-out. Then Bowers took over at his own 38, driving the Dragons to the Bell 27 with a single pass and then hitting Sledge with a 27-yard TD throw.

After another 3-and-out by the overwhelmed Raiders, Bowers (a perfect 4-4, 83 yards) engineered an 8-play, 69-yard drive that culminated with him scoring from the 5 on a keeper. He also guided the Dragons to their final score of the night before Carroll coaches started emptying the benches in the fourth to give backups a chance to shine briefly under Friday night lights. In all four quarterbacks took snaps for the Dragons last night.

After the game, Bowers reflected on the events of Friday, his 16^th (!) birthday. He’s now eligible to drive, he’s playing varsity for one of the premier high school teams in Texas, and he just had the game of his young career.

“It’s been a pretty great day,” he admitted.

The starting Dragon defense held the Raiders in complete check last night, limiting them to a total of 172 yards. Bell’s lone score came late in last quarter, long after the starters had surrendered their duties to backups.

That score was set up by a muffed 52-yard field goal by standout kicker Kole Ramage, whose timing was marred by a bad snap. He got Dragon scoring off to the good start in the first quarter by booming a perfect 47-yarder through the still evening air.

Bell promised to make a game of it early, marching downfield 63 yards in 16 plays on its first drive. But freshman Dragon safety R.J. Mickens snuffed out the threat when he stepped in front of an Austin Brougham pass in the end zone.

The Raiders made five first downs in that first drive. They could manage only five more for the rest of the game.

The next three Raider possessions ended in another interception and two 3-and-outs. By that time, Carroll held an unassailable 17-point lead.

Mickens, at the tender age of 15, was the defensive standout. The freshman phenom one year out of middle school snagged his second AND third interceptions of the year to end two promising Bell drives.

Mickens, whose father Ray played in the NFL, was a beast, coming up on several plays to stuff Raider runners at the line of scrimmage. Asked after the game what he likes best, hitting people or making INTs, Mickens didn’t hesitate.

“Honestly, I like to hit because I don’t get to do it much,” he said, his voice squeaky with nervousness. “But interceptions are fun, too.”

As for his youth, Mickens said, “I don’t think too much about it. I just come out here and play. I don’t take anything for granted.”

I love this kid.

Even when things went wrong for the Dragons, the Raiders were ill-equipped to benefit from them. Leading 17-0, the Dragons sent set up shop at their 36 after yet another Bell punt. Holmes led the Dragons downfield to the Bell 28, setting up the wildest play of the night.

The play began with Holmes handing the ball off to junior Darryl Crockett, who usually plays in the secondary. Crockett pitched the ball to a second back heading left who hesitated and then pitched the ball back to Crockett. As Raiders descended upon him, Crockett turned and quickly tossed the ball to Holmes, standing alone in the back field. Holmes immediately hoisted the ball to a sprinting Sledge, who glided into the end zone for the score.

Was the play designed as a double reverse or a flea-flicker or both? Or was it just an improvised broken play? Damned if any of us in the stands could figure it out, but it propelled Southlake to a 24-0 lead at half.

So Carroll, 6-0 in district, sits alone atop 5-6A. Next week, it will host Hebron (5-1), who smashed Lewisville 51-27 last night, for sole possession of the district crown. If Hebron slips past the Dragons, Carroll can end no worse that sharing the crown.

But district championships are made to be won, not shared, so Carroll coaches will seek to keep the Dragons tightly focused on the dangerous Hawks, despite the almost irresistible lure of the playoffs.

In District 6-6A, with which 5-6A schools will be paired in the opening bi-district round, Wylie clinched a playoff berth, beating McKinney 28-21. Playing in its first season in 6A, it is Carroll’s likely first-round opponent in 6A's Division II.

Meanwhile, Southlake’s football mothers are checking their peroxide supplies to prepare for the traditional dye jobs ahead, and Dragon equipment managers are laundering the black pants of the playoffs. But first, the dreaded Hawks of Hebron.

Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 44, Trophy Club Byron Nelson 13

Southlake Carroll continued its march to the District 5-6A championship last night by overwhelming the upstart Byron Nelson Bobcats, dismissively swatting them aside before they could even dare hope to make the Dragons the final element of their hat trick of upset wins.

But the victory, easy as it was to accomplish, came at a steep cost. How steep a cost is still to be determined. But the loss of superstar Robert Barnes in the third quarter last night, presumably for the remainder of the season, can’t be overestimated.

Barnes, a standout safety on defense, pulled the Dragon offense out of the doldrums early in the season when he was given additional duties as a receiver and occasional running back.

It was in the latter role that Barnes, an oral commit to OU next year, went down last night.

The Dragons, struggling in the opening minutes of the second half after a dominating performance in the first, were operating at their own 9-yard when senior quarterback Mason Holmes handed the ball to Barnes. The senior star headed left and then appeared to lose his footing at the 5 and fall to the turf.

Fans in the stands said Barnes’ right foot was twisted at a grotesque angle, suggesting a fracture.

Trainers, medical personnel and coaches converged on Barnes, and he eventually was helped off the field wearing an inflatable cast on his right leg.

Details of such injuries in high school games generally aren’t discussed much, and head coach Hal Wasson was terse in his postgame radio interview.

“I hurt for Robert because I know how important this year was for him,” said Wasson, who celebrated his 60^th birthday last night. “The good news is that he can heal from this.”

That comment could be interpreted as leaving open the door for a return this season, but the tone in Wasson’s voice suggested that Barnes’ high school playing days are over.

What does that mean for the Dragons, who still face Hurst L.D. Bell next week and Lewisville Hebron in the final regular season game on Nov. 4?

In the first game of the season, the Dragon offense sputtered and stalled against Tulsa Union. When Barnes was shifted to WR the next week, he provided the needed catalyst to get the 0-machine in gear and humming. Meanwhile, he continued to play lights-out on defense, helping meld the secondary into an increasingly effective force.

He missed last week’s contest against Flower Mound Marcus when he went out on the Dragons’ first offensive play. His teammates, after shaking off the disruption in the game plan, came back in the second half to post a convincing win against the stout Marauders.

Given a week to adjust to Barnes’ absence, Dragons coaches should be able to overcome the loss of their best player in order to finish district play on a strong and winning note.

But the Dragons, who clinched a berth in the playoffs with their win against Byron Nelson, have loftier goals than winning district. Their sights are on the playoffs, where Barnes will be sorely missed, particularly if Carroll reaches the decisive second round when it is likely to face the soaring DeSoto Eagles, who demolished Duncanville last night 41-17.

The Eagles, who have bounced Carroll from the playoffs on more than one occasion in recent years, stand as a serious threat to the perennial Dragon goal of playing until after Thanksgiving – at least.

Carroll left the playoffs early last year, falling to Denton Guyer in the second round after a stunning first-round win against Cedar Hill, the reigning state champions. The team and its fans would dearly love to avoid that disappointment this year. But DeSoto could have something substantial to say about that.

There are no guarantees in high school football, of course. But at least the Dragons won’t face the returning state champs in the first round. It appears their first-round opponent, if they do indeed win district, will be Wylie, the likely Division II runner-up in District 6-6A.

The good news for Carroll is that both offense and defense are playing well as district play winds down. The Dragons racked up almost 500 total yards in offense last night, scoring on their first four possessions and jumping to 24-0 lead over the Bobcats, who in previous weeks had staged upsets over Euless Trinity and Lewisville.

   Last night, they were unable to sustain a drive until the closing seconds of the half. At that point, quarterback Eli Rusche connected with standout WR Pascal Mondombo, who sprinted 54 yards to paydirt. The PAT was blocked.

Mondombo, a hard-charging playmaker with sure hands and quick moves, was the Bobcats only bright spot. In addition to his TD catch and run, he helped set up Bryon Nelson’s only other score late in the fourth with a 27-yard reception from quarterback Hunter Meacham.

Holmes completed 10 of 16 passes for 166 yards and 1 TD, despite nursing a sore leg from last week’s game. He was pulled early in the third quarter and reportedly should be close to full strength by next week.

But the Dragons crushed the Bobcats on the ground. Stellar running back Audrick Gaines picked up his fifth- (or is it his sixth?) -straight 100-yard game, rushing for 139 yards on 16 carries and 2 TDs. Jack Johansson ran 69 yards on 4 carries and 1 TD, and Tre Sledge made 44 yards on 8. Four of the Dragons' six TDs came on the ground.

With an eye to the future, backup quarterback Will Bowers, a sophomore, got some valuable playing time, engineering two scoring drives. The first was a 28-yard pass to senior Royce Weigel, and the second was a 14-yard run by Johansson to close out Dragon action.

The Dragon defense was superb, holding Byron Nelson to only 7 rushing yards in the first half and keeping the Bobcats’ pair of signal callers off balance. Mondombo could have caused much more damage, but an effective pass rush by the Dragons forced him to chase off-target balls all night.

Perhaps last night’s most impressive performance came from the Dragons' superb kicker, Kole Ramage, who missed his second extra point of the season in the third quarter. But he more than made up for that earlier, when the Dragons, after intercepting a Bobcat pass, went 3-and-out at their 47. Ramage lined up to punt, but the snap sailed high over his head. He snared the bouncing ball inside the 10, as a host of Bobcats bore down on him, turned quickly and booted it, just as he was besieged by Nelson jerseys. The ball landed near the Bobcat 40 and rolled to the 29, preserving field position for the Dragons.

It was the most astounding performance by a kicker I’ve ever seen. Even now, I can’t believe Ramage, a great kid who prefers baseball to football, managed to reach the ball and get the punt off. After the play, the guy in front of me turned around, and we just started at each other, wordless.

Moments like that are why I love high school football.

An interesting side note. I saw considerably fewer mega-mums in Dragon Stadium last night than in previous years. Rest assured, there were more than a few dazzlers, but it wasn’t the shock-and-awe displays of the recent past. What does such a thing mean?

Next week, the Dragons travel to revered Pennington Field to meet the Blue Raiders of L.D. Bell. When Pennington opened in 1987, it was the first of the new generation of multi-use facilities designed not only for football, but soccer and other events, as well. Even now, almost 30 years later, it’s still a great place to play football – comfortable, with good sight lines and easy access and egress.

Glory be, perfect football weather is here, and the playoffs beckon.

Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 33, Flower Mound Marcus 21

When senior Robert Barnes, Southlake Carroll’s stupendous double-edged threat, went down last night on the Dragons’ first offensive play of the game, a chill swept through the visitor’s side of Marauders Stadium in Flower Mound.

Barnes, an oral commit to OU next year, is the straw that stirs the drink for Carroll on both sides of the ball. On defense, he’s disruptive and intuitive in the secondary, using his considerable athleticism to smother receivers and muck up pass routes. On offense, he’s a sure-handed, hard-running receiver who’s hard to bring down and serves as the spark that ignites the Dragon passing game.

So it was no surprise that senior quarterback Mason Holmes turned to his superstar as the Dragons prepared to answer Flower Mound Marcus’ opening touchdown drive. Barnes grabbed the ball from Holmes and headed left before being jerked to a stop for no gain.

His forward momentum halted, Barnes was struck by a vicious helmet-to-helmet blow that felled him face down on the turf. As coaches and trainers scurried to his aid, I had a flashback of another game and another standout Dragon leader downed at a critical moment.

In 2007, in the second round of the playoffs, the Dragons faced the Abilene Eagles in old Texas Stadium. As the first half ebbed, the Dragons lined up at the Eagle 2 and prepared to widen their comfortable lead. That’s when an Eagle defender crashed through and struck star quarterback Riley Dodge, who left the game with a separated shoulder. The Dragons, led by an inexperienced backup, lost that game in the final seconds on a botched goal-line snap, thus ending Carroll’s run of state titles.

That memory no doubt was sparked by the knowledge that the same Riley Dodge, now embarked on a coaching career like his dad, legendary coach Todd Dodge, was an offensive coordinator for the Marauders last night. Lordy, it’s a small world, ain’t it?

Fortunately for the present-day Dragons, Barnes’ injury wasn’t as devastating for him or his team as Riley Dodge’s back in the day. The edge of his opponent’s helmet sliced his lip and required a trip to the hospital and the attentions of an oral surgeon. How long he’ll be sidelined is unknown.

But the injury-plagued Dragons, after posting a lackluster first-half effort, managed to overcome the absence of their best player and limp to a solid victory against the upstart Marauders.

For the second week in a row, Southlake has faced a determined Lewisville ISD foe in a district road contest. Last week, it smothered an ambitious Lewisville squad fresh from a win over the Marauders. This week, it was Marcus’ turn to take a shot at the Dragons, the odds-on favorite to capture the District 5-6A crown after their inspiring win over Trinity two weeks ago.

Marcus indicated early it was prepared to assume the role of king killer by staging an 8-play, 75-yard opening drive that gave it a 7-0 lead. That impressive drive was highlighted by a 50-yard dash up the middle by Marauder running back Justin Dinka, a scary-good sophomore who can out-maneuver and out-run the field once he’s unleashed.

Dinka finished the night with 189 yards on 28 carries and 2 TDs. His yardage is somewhat misleading, however, since the Dragon defense played lights-out for most of the game, keeping the Marauders out of the end zone for the remainder of the half and limiting Dinka and the Marcus offense to relatively short yardage.

That success came despite a spat of injuries that has decimated the Dragon secondary. In addition to Barnes, both starting corners, senior Barrett Buck and freshman R.J. Mickens, had been sidelined with injuries before the game. Their backups didn’t miss a beat, however. Marauder quarterback Michael Henry could only manage 52 yards in the air last night.

Asked about the impact that Barnes’ injury had on the Dragon game plan, Carroll players repeated the mantra drilled into them by their coaches.

“We were let down because he’s our friend, and we didn’t want to see him hurt,” defensive back Jake Murphy said in a post-game radio interview. “But it didn’t affect the game plan. The coaches say, ‘The next man up,’ and that’s what we did.”

But from my spot in the stands, Barnes’ absence did appear to disorient the Dragons, at least on offense. Holmes struggled in the first half, his timing off, many of his passes off target. Meanwhile, the Marauders succeeded in bottling up RB Audrick Gaines, threatening to end his string of 100-yard games.

The only first-half score the Dragons could manage was a 23-yard field goal by Kole Ramage, set up by an interception by Zion Sales as the first quarter ended.

The second half, in which there were five lead changes, was like a different ball game. Holmes and his offense finally found its mojo, and the defense, with two notable exceptions, kept the Marauders largely on their heels.

Carroll began the scoring spree by pinning Marcus to its own 1-yard line with a beautiful punt by Ramage. After a 3-and-out, the Dragons took over at the Marcus 44.

Holmes (10 of 23 for 246, 2 TDs) lofted a 39-yard pass and run to WR Clayton Keyes (3-139), who drove to the 5. From there, Gaines (21 carries for 126 yards, 1 TD) took it in to snare the Dragons’ first lead of the night, 10-7.

Marcus soon responded. Beginning a drive at the Carroll 34, Henry handed the ball to RB Aaron Kovacevich, who swept past Dragon defenders to regain the lead.

The Dragons continued the scoring flurry. Beginning at their 25, Holmes connected with Cade Bell for 52 yards. One play later, he pitched a 20-yard TD pass to Jackson Davis (5-51, 2 TDs). Score:17-14.

After the kickoff and a penalty, the Marauders set up shop at their own 19. Three plays later, Dinka tucked the ball and skittered 81 yards to the end zone, making a deft deflection at midfield that left befuddled Dragons in his wake.

With the score 21-17, that set up the decisive 4^th quarter, which belonged entirely to the Dragons.

A 39-yard Ramage field goal brought the Dragons to within 1. The Dragon defense then dug in and held the Marauders to consecutive 3-and-outs, freeing up the Dragons to seize the lead for a final time with a 3-yard run by Gaines and then widen it with a 15-yard toss to Davis.

Dinka’s heroics aside, the Marauders (4-2, 2-2) could manage only 281 total yards to 512 for Carroll (6-1, 4-0). The Dragons gained 21 first downs to Marcus’ 8.

Next week is Homecoming, and Southlake’s mum factories have been humming for some time. Southlake’s young ladies are doing neck exercises in preparation for the mountains of mums they will reveal to the world under Friday night lights. And the town is braced for the expected grumbling about excess, waste and uncontrolled hubris that homecoming here provokes.

To all of that, I say pish-posh. I like homecoming, I love the glorious abundance of mums, mini-teddy bears, flashing lights and ribbons, ribbons, ribbons. I can think of a lot of things more wasteful and less gratifying than the money spent on mums,  homecoming dresses and limousines.

But on to more serious topics. I’ll say one thing for District 5-6A. It poses more of a challenge than the Dragons’ last district home. The Lewisville schools have proven to be worthy opponents, well-coached and disciplined, full of determination and dedication. The path to district offers good preparation for the playoffs, and the Dragons need to stay focused and alert between now and the end of district play.

A reminder of what’s to come came last night from the radio commentators, who observed that DeSoto coaches were in the broadcast booth scouting Southlake. In all likelihood, Southlake meets the Eagles in the second round of this year’s playoffs, a prospect that comes with a certain degree of dread. The Dragons don’t have a good playoff history against DeSoto.

That’s for the future, however. Now is the time to hope for the quick and sure recovery of our injured young men and for a successful, injury-free outing against Trophy Club Byron Nelson next week.

Byron Nelson, who knocked off the mighty Trinity in this season’s biggest upset, schooled Lewisville last night, 38-21. They appear unwilling to accept the accustomed role of homecoming cupcake so Carroll had best be prepared.

Go Dragons!