Regional semi-final cruise: Southlake Carroll 35, Euless Trinity 7

A gesture of respect

DENTON – A rather remarkable thing happened after last night’s rain-sogged playoff game between Northeast Tarrant County rivals Southlake Carroll and Euless Trinity.

Carroll head coach Riley Dodge was conducting a radio interview about the Dragons’ decisive – and never really in doubt – defeat of the proud Trojans when Trinity quarterback Laki Ellis walked up with outstretched hand.

“Good game, Coach,” Ellis said quietly. “Good game.”

“Yes, good game, good game,” Dodge replied, shaking his hand.

Ellis then turned and rejoined his crestfallen teammates, who only moments before had performed the traditional Haka for the last time this season.

That simple gesture of respect by a high school athlete, made while the sting of defeat was still fresh and raw, is as vivid an example as you’re likely to find of the unique and unusual relationship between Carroll and Trinity. It’s a relationship based on fierce competition, intense emotions and athletic excellence imbued by respect, admiration and, yes, affection.

No trash talk

And it’s always been that way. Back in 2006, when the two teams clashed for the first time in a playoff battle that those of us who watched it still talk about with awe, Justin Padron, now a color commentator for Dragon Radio, was a standout defensive player for the Dragons.

Thinking back on that game, a hard-fought, desperately close contest that Carroll won when Riley Dodge scored the winning touchdown in the closing seconds, Padron reflected on how two of the state’s premier high school football programs interacted with each other on the field.

“It was an amazing night, or rather afternoon,” Padron said before yesterday’s game. “There was absolutely no trash-talking by either side. We just lined up against each other and played smash-mouth football on every play.”

After that game, Dragon players, instead of celebrating with their fans who flooded the field after the final whistle, stood quietly as the stunned Trinity team performed the traditional Haka. Our kids then embraced the devastated Trojans at midfield.

Hollywood would be hard-pressed to come up with a better storyline.

Yesterday was the eighth time the two programs have met. The Dragons now hold a 5-3 edge in that series, which is noteworthy both for the physicality of the games and the usually slim margins of victory.

Not even close

Such was not the case this year, however. The Dragons shut down the heralded Trojan offense, limiting it to a single touchdown in the first quarter and shutting it out for the rest of the evening. And they stopped Trinity from converting on several critical 4^th down attempts.

All this, despite losing one of their best defensive weapons, right tackle Henry Mossberg, who left with an injured knee.

Meanwhile, the Dragon offense, helmed by quarterback Will Bowers and powered by runner extraordinaire T.J. McDaniel, scored on Carroll’s first three possessions and never looked back.

Bowers, 18 of 23 for 244 yards, was cool, calm and collected in the pocket, passing for two touchdowns and getting another on the ground.

His rushing touchdown, a 12-yard sprint that broke a Dragon scoring drought in the second half, put the Dragons up by three TDs and sealed the Trojans’ fate.

The second half of the game was delayed more than 1 ½ hours by lightning, driving rain and a tornado warning in the Denton area. It was the third time this year that a Carroll game has been delayed by weather.

When play resumed, Trinity came out swinging. Running back Brandon Theus (23 carries for 98 yards), who earlier scored Trinity’s sole TD of the night, powered an impressive drive to the Dragon 5. A worried murmur ruffled through the Dragon side of UNT's Apogee Stadium.

Then the wheels fell off. A series of penalties, including three on consecutive plays, propelled the Trojans out of the red zone. Dragon defenders took advantage of the miscues and dug in, forcing Trinity to turn over the ball on downs.

Couldn’t capitalize

That drive, which took almost 7 minutes off the clock and gained Trinity no points, proved decisive. The Trojans forced 3-and-outs on the next two Carroll possessions but couldn’t capitalize on either opportunity.

The Carroll game plan, aided by some special plays that have characterized Dodge’s brief tenure as head coach, worked to perfection. Bowers was superb, completing almost 80 percent of his passes and managing the game flawlessly.

One play deserves special attention.

With the score knotted 7-7 after the Trojan TD, the Dragons drove to the Trinity 26 in five plays. Bowers dropped back, clearly signaled he was passing to McDaniel in the left flat, where a Trojan crowd was gathering, then lofted the ball to an insanely open John Manero (6-83), who slid untouched into the end zone with nary a Trojan within 10 yards of him.

It’s the kind of play Dodge and his coaching staff have tossed into the offensive mix all season, picking exactly the right moment to do so.

As expected, much of the work against Trinity fell to McDaniel, listed by The Dallas Morning News as the Dallas area’s leading 6A rusher. He brushed past the 2,000-yard season rushing mark last night, rolling up 115 yards on 22 carries and scoring twice. It was the 10^th time this season that McDaniel has rushed for more than 100 yards.

All three phases

R.J. Mickens, brilliant in all three phases, led in receiving for Carroll, catching 7 Bowers passes for 99 yards. He got Dragon scoring started 5 minutes into the game with a 26-yard reception.

Most observers expected the Trojans and Dragons to keep it close. And initially it appeared that might be the case. After Carroll’s first score, Ellis (15-30, 175) methodically carried his offense downfield to even things up.

He was excellent in the first half, completing most of his passes and managing an offense that moved up and down the field until it neared the red zone.

In the second half, Ellis was less effective, stymied by Trojan missteps and by Carroll’s 21-7 halftime lead. That forced the Trojans out of their comfort zone and compelled Ellis to a long game he and his receivers couldn’t sustain.

Meanwhile, the spectacular Dragon defense, a major reason for Carroll’s unblemished 13-0 record this year, kept the pressure on all night. As usual, it was disruptive and fierce, forcing throws and keeping Trinity runners Theus (23-98) and A.J. Barnett (4-19) out of the end zone.

As usual, Dodge put the credit for last night’s win on his kids, a trait he shares with his father, the renowned Todd Dodge.

“These kids are just amazing,” he told Dragon Radio. “No matter what the situation is, no matter what the circumstances are, they’re up for it. They just want to play football.”

Elite 8

So for the second straight year, and for the seventh time in the last 10 years, Carroll reaches the fourth round of the playoffs, one of only eight teams to remain.

It meets the undefeated Duncanville Panthers next Saturday at Ford Center at the Star in Frisco.

No one, not even the most green-blooded Dragon fan, could have predicted Carroll would reach this stage. As a good friend of mine said before last night’s game, “No matter what happens, we’re playing on house money.”

In other words, when you play beyond all reasonable expectations, you can’t really lose.  Duncanville will be a tough nut to crack, no question. It’s a good team. But so are we. Against all odds, against all predictions, So Are We.

The Star is a dazzling development, and the Ford Center is a great venue to watch football. And hey, it’s indoors so no freaking rain delay! I'll see you there.

Go Dragons!