Not this year
JUSTIN – Not many folks gave the Southlake Carroll Dragons
much of a chance in yesterday’s fourth-round playoff match against the fearsome
Denton Guyer Wildcats.
Even the homiest of homers, after examining the evidence and
hardening their green-tinted heart, would have been compelled to peer into the
earnest, shining faces of their children and say – with infinite sadness –
“Sorry, my darlings, but not this year.
“Not. This. Year.”
And so it came to pass on a brisk fall Saturday in December that
the 14-0 Wildcats dismantled the Dragons with brutal efficiency, ending Carroll’s
undefeated season, and sailed alone into
the semi-final round of the Division II playoffs.
Guyer will face the always dangerous 12-2 DeSoto Eagles in
Frisco next Saturday at the Ford Center at the Star. That game has “automatic
classic” written all over it. It’ll certainly be the hottest playoff ticket in
the Metroplex. Count on it.
Punch their ticket
To punch their ticket to the Big Show – the Division II
state championship game – the Eagles will have to get past Jackson Arnold,
Guyer’s five-star quarterback who has committed to Oklahoma. After his
performance this season, Arnold has convinced a lot of OU fans that he could
just be the guy to turn things around in Norman.
One thing’s for certain: Arnold almost single-handedly turned
Carroll upside down and inside out. The Dragons simply had no answer for him
either in the air or on the ground.
He was sacked four times and spent a brief spell on the
sideline to recover from the last one. But Arnold wasn’t distracted by the
pressure. He had a hand in all six Wildcat touchdowns against the Dragons,
rushing for four and throwing for another two.
By all rights, he should have been a holder on the Wildcats’
second-quarter field goal, one of the few times Arnold and his receivers were
denied the end zone by the beleaguered Dragon D. Then he could have attained a
clean sweep.
Yes, I almost feel sorry for DeSoto fans, the poor dears. The
Eagles – as always, athletic, well-coached and focused – are on a mission this
year. But they haven’t faced a threat like Arnold, and if anybody can derail
the Eagle train roaring to a state title, it could be him.
Greg Riddle of The Dallas Morning News devoted his
entire game story to a recitation of Arnold’s heroics. I call your attention to
this paragraph, which focuses on his playoff output:
‘Unstoppable runner’
“Arnold has
suddenly become an unstoppable runner, going over 100 yards on the ground for
the third straight game after his season high during the regular season was 86
yards. He scored on runs of 49, 16, 2 and 10 yards (against Carroll) and has run for a team-high
22 touchdowns — averaging a touchdown run every six carries.”
According to
Riddle, Arnold’s 303 passing yards against Carroll was the fifth time this
season he’s surpassed the 300-yard mark. Arnold guided Guyer in converting nine
of its first 11 first downs, five on QB keepers and three on passes.
On the sixth play
of the game, Arnold gave a preview of the afternoon’s playbill, careening
around the right side and speeding 49 yards to put Guyer on the board.
The Dragons
responded immediately to the threat when supremo runner Owen Allen roared 34
yards to score on the second play of the next Carroll drive.
But the euphoria
among Dragon fans was short-lived. Arnold then led the Wildcats in scoring 21
unanswered points, making TD runs of 16 and 2 yards and zipping a 38-yard TD
pass to Landon Sides (8 catches for 137 yards).
Now trailing 28-7,
the Dragons were forced to play catch-up for the remainder of the game. The die
had been cast, however. When you allow a team like Guyer to seize a 21-point
lead, your chances of success sink to zero.
By far the least
Guyer gained 537
total yards – for which Arnold was responsible for 449 – while limiting the
Dragons to a modest 294, by far the least they have gained all season.
Allen, who ends
his high school career with 7,488 rushing yards, earned every inch he gained
yesterday, a total of 149 hard-won yards on 24 carries, including two TDs.
According to the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram’s Brian Gosset, Allen finishes with 120 rushing TDs and
42 games with at least 100 yards. He ends his senior year with 2,200 yards –
his third straight 2,000-yard season – and 37 TDs.
His exploits, which began when he joined the
varsity as a 14-year-old freshman, will be remembered in Southlake for a long time.
Where he goes from here still is uncertain, but whichever school snatches him
up will be damned lucky to get him. So says me.
Quarterback
Graham Knowles had a difficult day, juggling two snaps and throwing two
interceptions. He had trouble connecting with his receivers – sailing several
passes over their heads and never getting into a rhythm. Credit the industrious
Guyer secondary for much of the mayhem.
Knowles was
limited to 9 of 18 passes for 132 yards. His only TD pass was a 48-yard beauty
to Clayton Wayland (2 for 63) that narrowed the Wildcat lead to 38-21 late in
the 3rd period.
Get no closer
But Carroll would
get no closer, and Guyer added the coup de grace four minutes later with an 18-yard
TD pass from Arnold to Josiah Martin.
At the harsh rattle of the final buzzer, the Dragon season was over, two games short of the
ultimate goal – a ninth state championship.
That dream must
wait. The rules of the playoffs are fixed and unforgiving.
You keep playing only as long as you keep winning. Falter and it’s all over.
Tears flowed
yesterday at Northwest ISD Stadium. How could they not? When you leave
everything out on the field – as these young Dragons did – you have earned an
emotional release. And sometimes, there’s nothing more therapeutic than a good
cry. (I’ve been told that, you understand. I have no real knowledge of such
things. Ahem.)
These Dragons
have nothing to be ashamed of. They played with spirit and heart to the limit of
their abilities, and they lost to a better team. It’s as simple – and as
heartbreaking – as that.
I hope they’re
comforted by the knowledge that they are part of a great and continuing
tradition of excellence and achievement. This is the sixth straight year that
Carroll has reached at least as far as the regional finals. It is an eight-time
state champion. That’s a record most programs can only dream about.
That said, a
season’s end always is a sad affair. For these Dragons, it is especially hard.
Their sense of brotherhood and family – common in almost any high school team
sport – was particularly strong.
Their next step
Life goes on,
however, and there’s always next season to consider. The seniors must now focus
on their next step. College, career, the Future. Best of luck to them all.
Meanwhile, the
prospects for next year are bright.
Lots can happen
in the off-season, of course. But from where we stand now, here’s an inkling of what
could be in store.
Knowles will be
back at quarterback, along with most of his receiving corps – Jacob Jordan,
Clayton Wayland, Trey Ferri and Caden Jackson. Runner/WR James Lehman, whose
absence because of injury was sorely felt, will be back. Backup quarterback
Parker Thompson also will be on hand, perhaps in an offensive role that takes
advantage of his explosive and elusive running style. On defense, linebacker
Aaron Scherp returns, as does lineman Dustan Mark, both stalwarts of this
year’s D and sturdy building blocks for next year.
I’m sure I’ve
left out some important names. Apologies for that oversight. We will all get to
know them better as times goes on.
For now, it’s
time to put another Dragon season in the book. May you all have a Merry
Christmas and a Happy and Joyous New Year.
Go Dragons!
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