Perfect season: Southlake Carroll 53, Keller Timber Creek 13

A night to remember

Cameron Shoupp, a backup linebacker for Southlake Carroll, was one of the beneficiaries of the Dragons’ dismemberment of the hapless Timber Creek Falcons last night in Dragon Stadium.

Shoupp, a senior, got plenty of playing time against Creek, and he still was a bit giddy about it when Dragon Radio stuck a microphone in his face after the game.

“It was cool, really cool,” he bubbled, before turning his thoughts to the scene of his glory.

“This is the last regular season game we’ll play here,” he said of the Dragons’ home field. “Of course, we’ll meet Coppell here next week, but it’s kind of sad to think about never playing here again.”

I suspect many senior Dragon players were having similar nostalgic tugs at the thought of putting their playing days at Dragon Stadium behind them. Many have played games there since they were grade schoolers as members of the Red Dragons, White Dragons or Blue Dragons of Dragon Youth Football.

But the nostalgia didn’t stop the Dragons from punctuating the regular season in a definitive way and handing Riley Dodge the perfect ending to his first year as a head coach.

When he got the top job, many thought Dodge, son and grandson of legendary high school football coaches, was too young and too inexperienced to handle a premier program like Carroll.

But the modest and unassuming Dodge, at least in public, accomplished something few freshly minted head coaches anywhere – including here in Southlake – can claim: He’s 10-0 in his first season.

Dodge declined to dwell on that in post-game interviews. Instead, he turned the focus on his players.

“We get better every week,” he said when asked about the secret to Dragon success. “These kids work so hard, and they are so coachable. We get in the film room and clean some things up. They’ve achieved a lot so far, and they deserve the credit.”

Last night, the Dragons charted the course of the game in its first few seconds.

After recovering an onside kick from the desperate Falcons, cellar-dwellers in District 5-6A, 2-8 for the season, 1-6 in district, the Dragons set up shop at their own 49.

Quarterback Will Bowers, who entered the game with a 70 percent completion rate, then dropped back and lofted a 51-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Michell. It was the second straight week in which the Dragons scored on the first play of the game.

Bowers had another excellent night, completing 11 of 17 passes for 224 yards and 2 TDs. Mitchell led the receiving corps with 2 catches for 107 yards. But he made the most of his opportunities. Both receptions ended in touchdowns, the latter a 56-yard toss from Bowers.

R.J. Mickens caught 5 for 65, and Carson White caught 4 for 64, including a 10-yard touchdown throw from quarterback Blake Smith, who took over from Bowers late in the 3^rd period.

McDaniel only played the first half, but he ran for 125 yards on 7 carries and scored three TDs before turning over rushing duties to senior Eli Furgal.

A lengthy playoff run by the Dragons will depend on the success of McDaniel, and the idea seems to be to provide him with plenty of rest before the post-season ordeal begins next week against the Coppell Cowboys.

Furgal’s success in his backup role – and the quality of Dragon opponents – have allowed Dodge and his staff to pull McDaniel early in the last three games without a noticeable falloff in production.

Last night, Furgal ran 7 times for 53 yards, including a 32-yard TD scamper in which he broke at least three tackles, twisted out of a couple of more and plunged upright into the end zone. It was a classic combination of power running, determination and sheer grit.

The Dragon defense had another flawless game, bottling up Falcon quarterback Jason Avers (10 of 22 for 132 yards and 1 INT) and his pair of running backs, Blake Irving (20-75) and Jacob Yochim (9-73).

The Falcons’ only scores came on a 13-yard run by Irving in the 2^nd set up by a muffed punt reception by the Dragons, and a TD drive in the 4^th long after Dragon defensive starters had taken a seat.

 All thoughts now turn to the playoffs. As first seed in 5-6A, the Dragons get home-field advantage against Coppell, the second seed in District 6-6A, in the bi-district round.

Coppell, which defeated lowly Irving Nimitz 35-17 last night, has had a desultory year, 5-2 in district and 7-3 overall. That’s a respectable record for most teams, but I’m sure Coppell fans aren’t satisfied. They're an arrogant and privileged bunch.

Coppell lost to the Allen juggernaut by a reasonable 21-0 and fell to district rivals Flower Mound, 6-6A champion, and Lewisville.

Best believe the Cowboys will come into Southlake next Saturday loaded for bear. As one of the few programs to enjoy victory in Dragon Stadium, Coppell lusts to be a Dragon killer once again.

But it is dangerous, not lethal. The Cowboys won three of their games by a score of only 1 or 2 points. If the Dragon defense plays to its potential, as it has for most of the season, it should be able to handle Cowboy quarterback Drew Cerniglia and running back De Heath.

Dodge said last night that his team is ready for the playoffs and eager to face an old and hated foe.

“We’ll enjoy this win for 24 hours, and then we’ll get ready for next week,” he said. “We’re looking forwarding to a playoff game at home against an old rival like Coppell. It’s all good.”

Does getting ready for the playoffs mean Dodge, a former Dragon quarterback, will dye his hair blonde like his players?

“That’s a negative,” he said emphatically. “I did that from the 6^th grade through the 12^th grade. That’s enough.”

Here’s hoping his reluctance doesn’t bring retribution from the football gods, who are jealous gods and mindful of careless slights of tradition.

Go Dragons!