Game Day: Southlake Carroll 49, Lewisville 7

The Lewisville Farmers strode into Max Goldsmith Stadium last night full of confidence and a bit of swagger, convinced their unexpected 41-14 victory last week against Flower Mound Marcus signaled the return of their storied program, which dominated in the 1990s on the way to two state championships.

They believed they were ready for the next challenge: a District 5-6A matchup with Southlake Carroll, which in five previous encounters had easily rolled over the Farmers. Not this time, they vowed.

And why shouldn’t they feel good about themselves? Their sturdy defense had enjoyed good success thus far in limiting offense firepower, even in losing efforts, and their lively offense operated behind a wall of flesh that included three 300-pound-plus O-linesmen.

Not only that, their head coach, Greg Miller, had been schooled in the heady confines of Katy High School football, a perennial powerhouse and reigning state champions. As an assistant at Katy, Miller knew well what it took to build and maintain a top-flight program and had been hired to do so in Lewisville.

Perhaps the Farmers could even take advantage of a possible hangover effect from Southlake Carroll’s stunning win over Euless Trinity last week. Rumors reached the Dragon locker room that Lewisville players had even dared to engage in some trash talk.

Big mistake.

“We heard about the trash talk,” offensive/defensive standout Robert Barnes observed grimly in a post-game radio interview. “We came with a chip on our shoulder.”

The Dragons eased that burden by demolishing the Farmers in an offensive and defensive display that solidified their grip on the 5-6A championship and bodes well for an extended playoff run. As for Lewisville (3-3, 1-2), it fell to earth with a solid thud, knowing it still has serious work to do.

If the goal of the Dragons is to improve from week to week, which of course it is, then they can consider last night’s performance on both sides of the ball as an indication of  mission accomplished.

Senior quarterback Mason Holmes (18 of 27, 223 yards and 4 TDs) masterfully guided the Dragon offense to six consecutive touchdown drives, scattering passes to a half-dozen receivers and sharing rushing success with RB Audrick Gaines, who is running stronger and smarter with each passing week.

Gaines was the top Dragon rusher, piling up 125 yards on 15 carries and 1 TD. Tre Sledge ran 62 yards on 8 carries, followed by Holmes with 61 on 3. Most of Holmes’ yardage came on a 55-yard keeper around the right end that brought the Dragons to the Lewisville 14 as the first half waned.

Two plays later, Holmes connected with senior wide receiver Clayton Keyes, who twisted into the end zone to push the Dragons to a 21-7 lead.

After holding the reeling Farmers to a 3-and-out, the Dragons staged another scoring drive with 4 minutes left. Holmes marched Carroll downfield, surmounting two penalties that threatened to stall the drive before bringing the Dragons to the Lewisville 35. Facing a 3 and 7, Holmes dropped back, found Barnes (6 for 91, 3 TDs) in the end zone and shot him a zinger with 45 seconds left.

Bright spots for the Farmers were few and far between. They started off smartly, staging an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive after the opening kickoff that saw backup Farmer quarterback Jarvis Brooks throw a pair of passes to star  receiver Tyrell Shavers for 46 yards and the touchdown.

After that success, however, the Dragon D-line stiffened and the secondary started giving Barnes help in covering the speedy, sure-handed Shavers, rendering Lewisville’s offense toothless and slack-jawed.

It showed only one other sign of life, in the third quarter, when the Farmers took advantage of a pooch-kick to their 39 to drive to the Dragon 20. Brooks then tried to find Shavers near the end zone, but senior defensive back Jack Murphy read the play and snagged his second interception of the year at the 3.

Four plays later, the third quarter ended and out came the Dragon backups. To add to its misery, Lewisville’s overwhelmed first string had trouble stopping them. Sophomore quarterback Will Bowers got valuable experience as he led a clock-eating drive that brought the Dragons to the Lewisville 9, where he faked a handout and twisted around the left end to score 6.

Four district games remain in the regular season, and Lewisville represented perhaps the Dragons most serious challenge, after Trinity. Next week, they travel to Flower Mound Marcus, then host Trophy Club Bryon Nelson on Oct. 21 at Dragon Stadium. They finish with lowly L.D. Bell on Oct. 28 and Lewisville Hebron on Nov. 4.

And while nothing is guaranteed in Texas high school football, it’s not too outlandish to suggest the Dragons could enter post-season with a 9-1 record.

Bryon Nelson, by the way, accomplished the improbable last night by beating the formidable Trojans in overtime, 21-20. It’s hard to figure that one out.

Bryon Nelson, which only opened in 2009, was 0-5 before last night. Trinity, coming off a bruising defeat at the hands of the Dragons last week, was 5-1 and ranked No. 10 in the state 6A AP poll.

Call it an a fluke, and it almost certainly was, but it’s a humiliating turn of events for the proud Trojans, which despite that still are odds-on favorites to be Division I first seed in the playoffs. As for Bryon Nelson, it’s a signature win that almost certainly will go down in school history as its most important athletic achievement for the foreseeable future.

The air was nippy at Goldsmith Stadium last night, heralding the cool winds of autumn. It's perfect football weather and the Dragons are winning. What more can you ask for?

Go Dragons!