Game Day: Hebron 36, Southlake Carroll 31

CARROLLTON – The Hebron Hawks, propelled by a double-threat quarterback and a host of fleet-footed receivers, finally overwhelmed a stubborn Southlake Carroll team last night, saddling the unhappy Dragons with their first three-loss regular season in many a moon.

Radio statisticians said it was the first three-loss season for Carroll since 2010, a year – it must be remembered – when the Dragons made it into the fourth-round of the playoffs, which begin next week.

A comparable finish for the 2017 squad would be a lofty accomplishment, considering its youth and athletic prowess. But such a feat, at least from where I sit, seems unlikely – although hope springs eternal, etc., etc.

I suspect head coach Hal Wasson thinks so, too. In his post-game comments with radio commentator Kelly Milligan, he cited his team’s lack of focus and shoddy tackling as a top reason for the evening’s failing effort.

“We have to be consistent in our discipline. We have to be consistent in our execution,” he said grimly. But he sounded like a man who knows that those are problems that should be ironed out by the last game of the regular season.

They were on full display last week during Carroll’s much-criticized performance against hapless L.D. Bell, turning what should have been a cakewalk into a thrilling stroll down terror lane.

Wasson, a man prone to seek euphemisms for unpleasant truths, blamed the desultory play on a “mindset issue,” meaning I suppose that his players mistakenly thought they could coast against the unworthy Blue Raiders.

They certainly couldn’t have labored under that impression last night when they lined up against the high-flying Hawks. Hebron has been a beast this season, cruising past all its District 5-6A foes, save for Euless Trinity, which clinched sole possession of the 5-6A crown last night by downing Flower Mound Marcus 21-16.

And yet, breakdowns in assignments led to at least three Hebron scores and spelled the difference in a hard-fought, back-and-forth contest that was both entertaining and infuriating – at least for the Dragon faithful who drove across the Metroplex to see the game.

Despite their lack of focus at critical moments, these young Dragons gave a good accounting of themselves against the skilled and disciplined Hawks. In the decisive 4^th quarter, with the Hawks in control, the Dragons dug deep and clawed their way from a two-score deficit twice to keep the game close.

In the end, however, after running back Tavian Gould capped a desperate 11-play, 75-yard, clock-draining drive with a 2-yard TD plunge, the Dragons lined up for an onside kick with 2:12 left.

Kicker Clayton Webb booted a perfect blooper that Hebron bobbled, resulting in a thrashing free-for-all at midfield. It took the refs a while to untangle the melee, but when they did, Hawk receiver Trejan Bridges had the ball. A relieved Hebron then ran out the clock.

Stellar Hawk quarterback Clayton Tune, fleet-footed and rocket-armed, set up the exciting climax with a 3-play, 65-yard TD drive that ended in a perfect pass to Jaren Mitchell (9 catches for 130 yards and 2 TDs). In an eyeblink, the speedy Mitchell raced 57 yards down the right sideline to his second TD of the night.

Tune was phenomenal, completing 24 of 36 passes for 236 yards and 2 touchdowns. He only managed 31 rushing yards, but that’s deceptive since he made them at critical times, including a 2-yard TD lunge in the 2^nd after Carroll had scored twice in 41seconds and led 14-3.

He was particularly effective on 3^rd-down plays, repeatedly defeating efforts by the scrappy Dragon defense to get off the field.

Deadly in his own right, Tune had some potent offensive weapons in his arsenal. RB Jatyn Taylor scampered 118 yards on 11 carries, including a dramatic 55-yard TD run.

And the aforementioned Mitchell preceded his dagger-to-the-heart TD catch in the 4^th with a 28-yard catch-and-run in which he fought his way inside the 10, outmuscled the defender and plunged across the goal line.

In many ways, that play epitomized the winning Hawk strategy against Carroll – using Tune’s pinpoint accuracy and smash-mouth football to beat down the Dragons.

Perhaps the most painful thorn in the Dragon side was Bridges, who dashed their desperate hopes with his onside kick recovery. His jaw-dropping 70-yard punt return in the 2^nd, aided by shoddy execution along the length of the field, served notice to Carroll that it might be a long night.

To their credit, the Dragons were never out of it. They led, in fact, 17-15 at the half. And when the Hawks slipped into the lead and kept it, they fought to the end. Their epic 4^th-quarter struggle to overtake the Hawks is a worthy entry in the Carroll football archives.

For the second straight week, they were hampered by the absence of standout running back T.J. McDaniel. Losing a difference maker like McDaniel had an impact on the results, no doubt. But a trio of Dragons – Gould, quarterback Will Bowers and defensive back Jacob Doddridge – stepped into McDaniel’s role and performed outstandingly.

Yes, you heard that right, Doddridge, a mainstay on Dragon defense, was moved to running back for several crucial plays, and he was a charging bull, carrying 7 times for 47 yards.

On a series in the 3^rd quarter, after the Hawks seized the lead 22-17, he plunged three straight times through the Hawk front line, dragging multiple tacklers, to make 21 precious yards and keep the drive alive.

The single proudest moment of the game for me came later in that series.

The Dragons faced a 4-4 at the Hawk 39. Doddridge took the handoff from Bowers and powered his way forward. Three Hawks met him at the line of scrimmage, and soon the entire defensive line converged on the struggling Doddridge.

But he refused to go down and continued to push, inch-by-inch, yard-by-yard, forward. Finally, inevitably, he was forced to the turf, first to his knees and then on his face. A measurement revealed he was inches short, and Hebron took control of the ball.

Gould led in rushing for the Dragons, showing a graceful power as he carried 18 times for 108 yards and 1 TD. He will be a solid asset for the Dragons when McDaniel returns for the playoffs next week. The tandem of McDaniel and a confident, hard-charging Gould should give the Dragons a formidable ground game in post-season play.

They’ll need it, I’m afraid. The Carroll aerial attack still leaves much to be desired. Bowers performed well last night, rushing 93 yards on 14 carries. In the air, he was less successful, completing 12 of 21 for only 134 yards, most of those in the 4^th.

Cade Bell (5-49) was his favorite receiver, but they had trouble connecting all night. Some of Bowers passes sailed over the worthy Bell’s head. Other catchable balls weren’t.

On the other hand, five of Bowers’ receivers compiled double-digit yardage, and two – Preston Forney (1-18) and Hudson Shrum (3-24) – scored TDs. Moreover, in the desperate 4^th quarter, Bowers kept the Dragons alive, completing 6 of 9 passes for 84 yards.

So the regular season ends on a down note. Lacking the momentum they had hoped, the Dragons must shake off their disappointment quickly. They host the McKinney Lions from District 6-6A at Dragon Stadium next Friday in the bi-district round.

At least, I think they do. Confusion reigned supreme last night about whether the Dragons will get a home game in the first round, as I so confidently stated last week.

I could go through the convoluted calculations that caused the knowledgeable hosts of Dragon Radio to report that Dragon Stadium would, then wouldn’t, then would, then wouldn’t, and finally, just as the radio show was signing off, yes, would indeed be the site of the Dragons’ first-round game.

But I’m not going to. In addition to the labyrinth mysteries of UIL playoff rules, each district has its own set of confounding regulations governing post-season play. Chuck Kelly and company were almost in tears by evening’s end. If they’re confused, what chance do the rest of us have?

Suffice to say, I’m assuming nothing until game time.

McKinney lost to cross-town rival McKinney Boyd last night, 20-17. It will be no first-round patsy for the Dragons, compiling a similar season record (4-3, 7-3) as the Dragons (5-2, 7-3).

The Lions’ fearsome running back, Matt Gadek is the area’s leading rusher, piling up 279 yards in the losing effort to Boyd. Simply put, Gadek is a nightmare.

He holds the Texas UIL rushing record for an unbelievable feat he achieved against Plano East earlier in the season. In McKinney’s 63-50 victory over East, he ran for 599 yards. Oh, dear.

But time to worry later. It’s the high school football playoffs. There a zip in the air, the holidays beckon and everything starts on Friday. See you in Dragon Stadium. I think.

Go Dragons!