Game Day: Southlake Carroll 42, Flower Mound 7

What’s not to like about the Southlake Carroll Dragons’ 42-7 shellacking of overmatched Flower Mound in their district opener last night?

Well, a couple of things.

Yes, the Dragons overwhelmed the Jaguars on both sides of the ball and posted a satisfying final score to build momentum for next week’s contest with their legendary rival, the undefeated Euless Trinity Trojans.

But to feel really good about that, you have to ignore a huge swath of the first half when the Dragon offense, helmed by senior Mason Holmes, sputtered and stalled, largely because of a blizzard of procedural penalties that derailed several promising drives just the Dragons seemed to be catching offensive rhythm.

The Dragons ended the night with an astounding 14 penalties for 136 yards.

An exasperated Hal Wasson, Carroll’s head coach, was asked after the game if he knew what had caused the avalanche of penalties.

“Oh, yes,” he said. “I know exactly what caused it – lack of concentration. The very thing we’ve been working on for two weeks. Concentration is a skill, like anything else. We’ve got more work to do.”

The Dragons started things off in good form. Running back Audricke Gaines powered a promising 7-play, 65-yard opening drive that ended with a 7-yard sprint into the end zone. Then the Dragons seemed to hit a wall. They were 3-and-out on their next four possessions, gaining impressive negative yardage as the yellow flags flew.

Luckily for the Dragons, the Jaguars were having their own problems. Jag quarterback Jackson Averitt (11 of 28 for 131 yards, 1 TD) was intercepted three times in the first half, the last of which Southlake was able to capitalize on for its second TD.

When Averitt wasn’t tossing the ball to Dragon safeties, he was having trouble connecting with own receivers. The sole bright spot for Flower Mound came in the second quarter when Averitt flipped a screen pass to WR Ifeanyichukwu Uzowihe. What should have been a modest gain turned into a wild, 65-yard TD scamper by Uzowihe as he improbably broke through the oncoming D-line and careened past four or five Dragon secondaries. As the desperate Dragons let panic overcome training, he weaved his way to the left sideline and put on the gas.

With that humiliation fresh on their minds, the Dragons squared their shoulders and set to work, although they continued to get bit by the penalty bug. On their next possession, they overcame a pass interference call and a holding penalty before pushing inside the Flower Mound 10.

Holmes (12 of 16 for 165 yards and 1 rushing TD) carried it to the 4, where Gaines breezed untouched into the end zone with 13 second left in the half.

In the decisive third quarter, the Dragons helped erase its sloppy first-half performance by employed an impressive, balanced attack to post 21 unanswered points. Gaines was Carroll’s leading rusher, 141 yards on 24 carries and 2 TDs, posting the best performance of his Dragon career.

WR Clayton Keyes was Holmes’ favorite target, snagging 5 passes for 80 yards, followed by Jackson Davis, with 4 for 74 yards.

It’s noteworthy that the Dragons were without the services last night of perhaps their best player, receiver/defensive back Robert Barnes. They seemed to take his absence in stride on both sides of the ball, despite the best efforts of the radio commentators to make his loss the defining element of the game.

Keyes, in post-game interviews, refused to fuel the narrative that the Barnes-less Dragons had faced a daunting challenge in game planning for the Jaguars.

 “We know that when someone goes down, someone else has to step up,” Keyes said. “So we did.”

The formidable Barnes, an Oklahoma commit, is expected to be back soon.

Injuries have plagued the Dragons this year. Wasson said that a total of eight players identified as starters in preseason have been sidelined by injuries.

“That’s the reason we think we can be something special when some of these players come back,” he said.

Speaking of injuries, a scary moment occurred on the Dragons’ first scoring drive in the third quarter when Holmes was slow to get up after a quarterback draw through the middle of the Flower Mound line.

He was only out for a single play, but prospects of continuing the season without Holmes under center would be a lot more challenging that finding shoes to fill for Robert Barnes, and that’s no slam on Barnes.

Holmes came out for good near the end of the third, which set up a long, scoreless fourth quarter that seemed to last forever.

As I mentioned, getting off to the good start in District 5-6A is important for the Dragons since their next opponent without doubt will be their toughest. Just as it was last year, next week’s contest very well could decide the district championship.

The Euless Trinity Trojans won that matchup, and no doubt will be favored to do the same this year. It’ll be a tough week of preparation for Carroll and one of sweet anticipation for its fans.

Although Carroll and Trinity are historic rivals, there’s not much animosity between the two programs. In most respects, mutual admiration reigns. Let’s hope that continues and that history holds true. I expect a memorable game at Dragon Stadium on Friday – full of hard knocks, good sportsmanship and the special magic that is Texas high school football.

Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 30, Rockwall 23

The Rockwall Yellowjackets stared at visiting Southlake Carroll with hungry eyes last night, sizing up the Dragons as the main course in the victory dinner they have yet to enjoy this season.

And the Dragons responded to the dangerous attention by handing the Jackets all the ingredients for a successful feast. For much of the night, their potent offense sputtered, and their improving defense took a step backward, apparently forgetting the fundamentals of tackling.

But just as the Jackets appeared ready to swallow the Dragons whole, Carroll shook off its lethargy and denied Rockwall its seat at the head of the table.

Southlake coach Hal Wasson said the Dragons knew they were encountering a treacherous foe who believed it was better than its 0-2 record indicated.

“I’m not surprised at the dogfight we had tonight,” he said after the game. And he was candid about the execution problems his team suffered on both sides of the ball.

“We have work to do,” he admitted, “we’ll spent the next two weeks getting it done.”

Rockwall, perhaps the best 0-3 team in the area, was trampled by Highland Park in Week 1 and narrowly lost to Rowlett last week.

Taking the opening kickoff last night, it came roaring out the gate, with quarterback Matt Jones marching the Jackets decisively downfield. Jones, 17 of 29 for 229 yards and 1 TD, executed the Jacket game plan to perfection, spreading the ball to a talented corps of speedy running backs and peppering his receivers with well-timed and on-target passes.

 Southlake initially responded as its fans hoped, scoring quickly on its first two possessions, including a dramatic, and completely unexpected, quarterback draw that saw senior Mason Holmes dart through Jacket defenders and sprint 60 yards to paydirt.

In years past, such a feat would hardly be worth a mention. Dual-threat quarterbacks are as common in Southlake as Tiffany crystal and Armani suits. But unlike many of his predecessors, Holmes (18 of 27 for 280 yards and 1 TD) normally stays snug in the pocket, leading some skeptics to underestimate his overall effectiveness.

But Dragon coaches, perhaps realizing they needed something extra to counter victory-starved Rockwall, unleashed their senior quarterback last night, and Holmes seized the opportunity. As a result, he also was Carroll’s leading rusher, rolling to 81 yards on eight carries and 1 TD.

After the Dragons pulled ahead 14-7, many of us settled back with satisfaction, expecting Southlake to retain control of the game as the plucky Jackets faded.

But Rockwall wasn’t ready to call it a night, and their determination revealed itself on the next drive. Taking advantage of his speedy ground corps, Jones staged sweeps on both ends of the line, forcing Southlake to soften coverage in the center. Jones took advantage of the overtaxed D-line and bullied through repeatedly for key yardage. He ended the night with 51 yards rushing on nine carries.

Jones also enjoyed success in the air, sharing the wealth with Sam Crawford (9 receptions for 82 yards), Cameron Crayton (4 for 73) and A.J. Blacknall (2 for 60).

Southlake’s difficulty in stopping the pass allowed the Jackets to escape 4^th down situations seemingly at will and helped them craft a beautiful fake punt that set up a 37-yard field goal. That cut the Dragon lead to 4, blunting Carroll momentum and signaling the night was young and full of surprises.

Rockwall was most effective in slowing down the Carroll ground game, limiting leading RB Audricke Gaines to only 51 yards on 17 carries. Luckily for the Dragons, Holmes performed well in his debut as a running QB.

While the Dragons enjoyed some success with end-around sweeps featuring WRs Robert Barnes and Cade Bell, they were most reliable in the air. Bell ended the night with five receptions for 117 yards, followed by Jackson Davis (3 for 60) and Barnes (3 for 48).

Despite a sloppy first half, the Dragons showed poise and character amid the disarray.

When Rockwall scored early in the second quarter, taking a 16-14 lead, the Jackets threatened to take over the game. But it flubbed the snap for the extra-point try.

“All of a sudden, the ball was in my hands, I don’t know how,” said Dragon lineman Jacob Doddridge after the game. He rumbled all the way for 2 points, knotting the score at 16-16.

Later, as the first half drained down, Southlake stopped the Jackets near midfield and were driving for the score when Jacket defender Abbas Bell stepped in front of a Holmes pass and darted 71 yards to the Dragon 22. Crawford carried it in, and the Dragons trailed the surging Jackets once again, 23-16.

I caught a whiff of disaster at that point as it wafted faintly through Southlake’s side of Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium, but it dissipated soon enough. On the next series, the Dragons staged an 8-play, 75-yard drive culminated by a 34-yard Holmes pass to Barnes with 22 seconds left. Tie game, 23-all.

The second half was a different story. Southlake scored on its first possession with another eight-play, 75-yard drive. Then it dug in and held Rockwall scoreless for the remainder.

The Jackets had one more chance late in the final quarter. But Jones, after back-to-back illegal procedure calls, was sacked at his own 36. On 4^th and long, he lofted a Hail Mary into a scrum of players that bounced off two Dragons before falling to the turf. Game over.

And thus ends pre-district play for Carroll. Next week is a bye week for teams in District 5-6A. I predict there won’t be much rest for the Dragons after their uneven performance against the beleaguered Yellowjackets.

They begin district competition on Sept. 23, traveling to Flower Mound to take on the Jaguars, who are 1-2 for the season, falling in consecutive weeks to Keller Fossil Ridge and Keller Timber Creek.

Nothing is guaranteed in Texas high school football, but the Jags should be easy pickings. Not so, the next Dragon opponent on Sept. 30.  The mighty Trinity Trojans are undefeated thus far.

The Carroll-Trinity series is legendary and has produced some of the best high school football ever played. I expect this year to be no different.

Until Friday night lights burn bright again: Go Dragons! 

Five years down the road

It had been a nervous, anxiety-filled morning. So when the phone call came, I expected the worst.

For weeks, rumors had been swirling around The Dallas Morning News that yet another round of layoffs was imminent. On the previous Friday, just before the Labor Day weekend, the rumor mill had confirmed that the layoffs would occur the Tuesday after Labor Day Monday. And they would hit the newsroom hard.

Senior managers, who had been carefully briefed on proper layoff procedures, either were tight-lipped or absent on that Tuesday. But everyone knew what to expect. Despite the best efforts of management to keep such information confidential until the “right” moment, the word always got out. Good reporters, and The News still had plenty of them, always found out.

Five years ago today, I left the newspaper business after 37 years. It wasn’t the worst day of my life. The deaths of my parents and of my maternal grandmother were worse. But it was pretty bad. I remember it as if it was yesterday, but I’ve never written about it. Until now.

Being kicked to the curb from the only job you’ve ever had – and ever wanted to have – is a demoralizing, disorienting and defeating event. When it happens a month after your 60^th birthday, it’s terrifying.

I’ve recovered nicely from the dispiriting events of that day a half decade ago. Although I was out of work for six months, I managed, with some luck, to establish myself in a second career in which I’m able to use many of the skills I acquired in journalism and to perform valued work in which I believe.

Some of my present colleagues are former journalists, and we all agree we’re better off where we are now than in the dramatically diminished newsrooms we left, either voluntarily or against our wishes.

I can’t speak for them, of course. But my wife knows the truth about me. The truth that I bob and weave to avoid in my daily encounters, but which I confront head on as I lie awake at 3:30 in the morning and can’t get back to sleep.

I miss journalism. I miss newspapers – the daily deadlines and the heart-racing pressure and the thrill of being in the midst of a big story, when the stakes are high and the world is waiting for the details you and your colleagues have uncovered.

I miss knowing the secrets you can never get into print or online. The details too gruesome to present to a family audience. The unimportant, but highly entertaining, tidbits that never make the final edition, but which fuel many a bar tale as the alcohol slowly dissolves the knot in your stomach and begins to sooth stress-roughened nerves.

I miss, most of all, the camaraderie of the newsroom, the company of journalists who by training, experience and temperament look at the world in a unique way. They laugh at inappropriate things, take delight where others recoil, embrace unflinchingly the essential inevitability of facts and the infuriating and often heart-breaking elusiveness of truth.

They hold themselves apart from the rest of society. Others may plant political signs in their yards and paste political bumper stickers on their cars. But not journalists. Others can support political causes, go door-to-door for candidates, speak loudly and passionately for school bond issues and other local initiatives. But not journalists. They should – and almost universally do – remain removed and above the fray in a largely unsuccessful effort to convince the public of their fairness and impartiality.

Even now, in the midst of a presidential campaign I truly believe is the most important in American history, in which the stakes have never been higher, I can’t bring myself to put a bumper sticker on my SUV or erect a sign in my front yard. The habits of a lifetime in newspapers are stubbornly hard to break.

For better or worse, I still think of myself as a journalist and always will.

That’s why, I suppose, my heart was in my throat five years ago today when I answered the ringing phone on my desk. As I most feared, it was Cindy McFarland, HR representative for the newsroom.

“Kerry, can I speak to you in my office?” she inquired in a carefully neutral tone.

“Of course,” I replied, unconsciously copying her deliberate, impassionate delivery. “I’ll be right down.”

For a few moments, I just sat there, thoughts swirling. What in the name of God do I do now?

Finally, I stood up, squared my shoulders, walked quickly to the elevator and rode down two floors to McFarland’s office. Executive Editor Bob Mong was waiting with her.

The conversation was thankfully brief. An uncomfortable Mong assured me the decision to dismiss me had nothing to do with performance. It was, he said, just a necessary business decision. Clearly, he wanted to be somewhere, anywhere, else at that moment. As did I.

He offered to let me come back later to clean out my desk. I looked at him sharply.

“No, Bob, I think it’s best I clear out of here as quickly as possible,” I said, picking up my exit packet and heading for the door. I’m fairly sure we shook hands, but I have no memory of that.

By the time I got back to the newsroom, word had spread about those of us who had gotten the ax. As we dully gathered our belongings, colleagues averted their eyes and carefully avoided our sections of the newsroom.

I was loading some personal files into a box when Rudy Bush, a reporter in my local government cluster, and Roy Appleton, a close friend for more than 30 years, approached. Both looked stricken and distraught. I avoided making eye contact, not trusting my ability to control my emotions.

Soon I was ready. I took one look around, and we headed for the hallway to the back dock. As I moved around the edge of the newsroom, I noticed a small group of metro desk editors gathered in an office across the way. I remembered the times I had been a part of such groups, which instinctively form for mutual emotional support at such traumatic moments.

Fighting a desire to bolt for the door, I swallowed hard and walked over to say goodbye. Knowing that I only had moments before the tears began, I quickly shook hands.

“Happy trails, everyone,” I said, turning to go. “I’ll see you down the road.”

I then joined Roy and Rudy, and we carried my stuff to the car. Half an hour later, I was home in Grapevine, contemplating a bleak and complicated future.

I understand that the DMN newsroom today is but a shadow of the one I left in 2011, which already had been decimated by cutbacks and layoffs. The newspaper career I miss doesn’t exist anymore as print publications fight what I sadly believe will be a losing battle for survival.

I know, with conviction, that I’m blessed today by virtue of the pain I experienced that awful day five years ago. I am comforted by that. Except for the times I awake in the small hours of the morning, sometimes from a dream in which I’m still in the newsroom fighting deadline and telling stories with friends and colleagues.

At those moments, I lie staring at the ceiling and think of how things were and how they never will be again. Eventually, mercifully, I fall back into a troubled sleep.

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 37, Arlington Martin 14

The University of Alabama’s marching band, which entertained Southlake Carroll fans before the Dragons' Week 2 contest with Arlington Martin, is officially known as the Million Dollar Band.

But the real top-dollar performer at Dragon Stadium last night was senior defensive back Robert Barnes, a 6-2, 190-pound commit to OU.

To the surprise of very few, Barnes lined up as a wide receiver and immediately ignited the Dragon offense, leading it to a surprising, maybe even shocking, 37-14 win over a talented Warriors team that destroyed Dallas Skyline last week 55-7.

He snagged six Mason Holmes passes for 153 yards that set up Carroll’s first two unanswered touchdowns. All the while, he was his normal disrupting self on defense, forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter that set up one of the Dragons’ scoring drives.

After Carroll’s undistinguished and losing effort last week against a powerful Tulsa Union squad, the consensus was that something had to be done to shift the sluggish offense out of low gear. Rumors swirled that Barnes, perhaps the most talented athlete on the Dragon squad, would be tapped to play a position he hasn’t embraced since – wait for it – the FIFTH grade.

Head coach Hal Wasson told the Star Telegram that coaches had Barnes working at the receiver position throughout preseason training, a well-known secret in Southlake football circles.

So there was widespread grumbling when Barnes stayed on defense against Union, leaving senior quarterback Holmes to deal with a swarming defense and an inexperienced receiver corps bedeviled by a swift and skillful Redskins secondary.

Last night was a different story – in many respects. Holmes, harassed and harried last week as he dodged Union behemoths pouring through his porous offensive line, had plenty of time to find his receivers. Kudos to the OL Big Guys for stepping up their game.

For their part, Dragon WRs, inspired by the brilliant example being set by Barnes, eluded Warrior DBs and joined in the fun. Junior Cade Bell caught five passes for 73 yards and senior Hudson Shrum got two for 76.

Meanwhile, Southlake also found a ground game against the overwhelmed Warriors. After being bottled up by Tulsa, transfer senior Audricke Gaines, whose father is a new coach in Carroll ISD, scored twice last night while rushing for 140 yards on 22 carries. Senior RB Jack Johanasson had fewer yards, 55 on 11 carries, but he made them count, rumbling to another three TDs.

After obliterating the traditionally strong Skyline last week, Martin cruised into Dragon Stadium full of vim and vigor. It had every reason to believe it was on the brink of setting history, handing the Dragons their first back-to-back defeat in Dragon Stadium and branding them with their first 0-2 season start since 2000.

The proud Dragons had other plans, however. They racked up 565 total yards against the Warriors, roaring out of the gate on their first possession with a four-play, 70-yard scoring drive, accomplished in less than a minute.

Holmes, 15 of 27 for 319 yards for the night, promptly marched the Dragons downfield on their second possession, connecting with both Barnes and Bell to set up a 2-yard blast by Johanasson for Carroll’s second TD.

Martin’s offense punch was dulled all night by Southlake’s solid defense, which for the second week in a row showed impressive grit. The Warriors were held to 320 total yards, with quarterback Matt Cook managing 18 of 35 for 179 yards.

Martin punted on its first four possessions. It took until late in the first half for the Warriors to show any offensive spark. Capitalizing on a successful fake punt at their 28-yard line, they fought downfield to score with less than 5 minutes left. Likewise in the second half, Martin was kept out of scoring range until the closing minutes of the game, when, trailing 37-7, it put together a smart drive capped by its second TD.

The Warriors apparently didn’t appreciate the manhandling they received on the Dragons’ home turf. Several drives were scotched by personal-foul penalties. While the Dragons snared a couple of those on their own, Martin racked up 11 total penalties for 129 yards. A messy, undisciplined performance.

After a nervous, soul-searching week, last night’s victory over a worthy opponent soothed the football souls of many Southlake fans. And it ought to please the coaches, too.

Next week, the Dragons travel to Rockwall to end their pre-district schedule.  Rockwall, which faces Rowlett today, will take the field after a short week. The Yellowjackets should brace themselves for a well-balanced Southlake team that is battle-tested and battle-adjusted.

After the solid performance of its offense and the continuing standout play of its defense, Southlake Carroll can feel pretty good about its entry into District 5-6A play two weeks from now.  

Go Dragons!