Game Day: Southlake Carroll 42, Flower Mound 7

What’s not to like about the Southlake Carroll Dragons’ 42-7 shellacking of overmatched Flower Mound in their district opener last night?

Well, a couple of things.

Yes, the Dragons overwhelmed the Jaguars on both sides of the ball and posted a satisfying final score to build momentum for next week’s contest with their legendary rival, the undefeated Euless Trinity Trojans.

But to feel really good about that, you have to ignore a huge swath of the first half when the Dragon offense, helmed by senior Mason Holmes, sputtered and stalled, largely because of a blizzard of procedural penalties that derailed several promising drives just the Dragons seemed to be catching offensive rhythm.

The Dragons ended the night with an astounding 14 penalties for 136 yards.

An exasperated Hal Wasson, Carroll’s head coach, was asked after the game if he knew what had caused the avalanche of penalties.

“Oh, yes,” he said. “I know exactly what caused it – lack of concentration. The very thing we’ve been working on for two weeks. Concentration is a skill, like anything else. We’ve got more work to do.”

The Dragons started things off in good form. Running back Audricke Gaines powered a promising 7-play, 65-yard opening drive that ended with a 7-yard sprint into the end zone. Then the Dragons seemed to hit a wall. They were 3-and-out on their next four possessions, gaining impressive negative yardage as the yellow flags flew.

Luckily for the Dragons, the Jaguars were having their own problems. Jag quarterback Jackson Averitt (11 of 28 for 131 yards, 1 TD) was intercepted three times in the first half, the last of which Southlake was able to capitalize on for its second TD.

When Averitt wasn’t tossing the ball to Dragon safeties, he was having trouble connecting with own receivers. The sole bright spot for Flower Mound came in the second quarter when Averitt flipped a screen pass to WR Ifeanyichukwu Uzowihe. What should have been a modest gain turned into a wild, 65-yard TD scamper by Uzowihe as he improbably broke through the oncoming D-line and careened past four or five Dragon secondaries. As the desperate Dragons let panic overcome training, he weaved his way to the left sideline and put on the gas.

With that humiliation fresh on their minds, the Dragons squared their shoulders and set to work, although they continued to get bit by the penalty bug. On their next possession, they overcame a pass interference call and a holding penalty before pushing inside the Flower Mound 10.

Holmes (12 of 16 for 165 yards and 1 rushing TD) carried it to the 4, where Gaines breezed untouched into the end zone with 13 second left in the half.

In the decisive third quarter, the Dragons helped erase its sloppy first-half performance by employed an impressive, balanced attack to post 21 unanswered points. Gaines was Carroll’s leading rusher, 141 yards on 24 carries and 2 TDs, posting the best performance of his Dragon career.

WR Clayton Keyes was Holmes’ favorite target, snagging 5 passes for 80 yards, followed by Jackson Davis, with 4 for 74 yards.

It’s noteworthy that the Dragons were without the services last night of perhaps their best player, receiver/defensive back Robert Barnes. They seemed to take his absence in stride on both sides of the ball, despite the best efforts of the radio commentators to make his loss the defining element of the game.

Keyes, in post-game interviews, refused to fuel the narrative that the Barnes-less Dragons had faced a daunting challenge in game planning for the Jaguars.

 “We know that when someone goes down, someone else has to step up,” Keyes said. “So we did.”

The formidable Barnes, an Oklahoma commit, is expected to be back soon.

Injuries have plagued the Dragons this year. Wasson said that a total of eight players identified as starters in preseason have been sidelined by injuries.

“That’s the reason we think we can be something special when some of these players come back,” he said.

Speaking of injuries, a scary moment occurred on the Dragons’ first scoring drive in the third quarter when Holmes was slow to get up after a quarterback draw through the middle of the Flower Mound line.

He was only out for a single play, but prospects of continuing the season without Holmes under center would be a lot more challenging that finding shoes to fill for Robert Barnes, and that’s no slam on Barnes.

Holmes came out for good near the end of the third, which set up a long, scoreless fourth quarter that seemed to last forever.

As I mentioned, getting off to the good start in District 5-6A is important for the Dragons since their next opponent without doubt will be their toughest. Just as it was last year, next week’s contest very well could decide the district championship.

The Euless Trinity Trojans won that matchup, and no doubt will be favored to do the same this year. It’ll be a tough week of preparation for Carroll and one of sweet anticipation for its fans.

Although Carroll and Trinity are historic rivals, there’s not much animosity between the two programs. In most respects, mutual admiration reigns. Let’s hope that continues and that history holds true. I expect a memorable game at Dragon Stadium on Friday – full of hard knocks, good sportsmanship and the special magic that is Texas high school football.

Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 30, Rockwall 23

The Rockwall Yellowjackets stared at visiting Southlake Carroll with hungry eyes last night, sizing up the Dragons as the main course in the victory dinner they have yet to enjoy this season.

And the Dragons responded to the dangerous attention by handing the Jackets all the ingredients for a successful feast. For much of the night, their potent offense sputtered, and their improving defense took a step backward, apparently forgetting the fundamentals of tackling.

But just as the Jackets appeared ready to swallow the Dragons whole, Carroll shook off its lethargy and denied Rockwall its seat at the head of the table.

Southlake coach Hal Wasson said the Dragons knew they were encountering a treacherous foe who believed it was better than its 0-2 record indicated.

“I’m not surprised at the dogfight we had tonight,” he said after the game. And he was candid about the execution problems his team suffered on both sides of the ball.

“We have work to do,” he admitted, “we’ll spent the next two weeks getting it done.”

Rockwall, perhaps the best 0-3 team in the area, was trampled by Highland Park in Week 1 and narrowly lost to Rowlett last week.

Taking the opening kickoff last night, it came roaring out the gate, with quarterback Matt Jones marching the Jackets decisively downfield. Jones, 17 of 29 for 229 yards and 1 TD, executed the Jacket game plan to perfection, spreading the ball to a talented corps of speedy running backs and peppering his receivers with well-timed and on-target passes.

 Southlake initially responded as its fans hoped, scoring quickly on its first two possessions, including a dramatic, and completely unexpected, quarterback draw that saw senior Mason Holmes dart through Jacket defenders and sprint 60 yards to paydirt.

In years past, such a feat would hardly be worth a mention. Dual-threat quarterbacks are as common in Southlake as Tiffany crystal and Armani suits. But unlike many of his predecessors, Holmes (18 of 27 for 280 yards and 1 TD) normally stays snug in the pocket, leading some skeptics to underestimate his overall effectiveness.

But Dragon coaches, perhaps realizing they needed something extra to counter victory-starved Rockwall, unleashed their senior quarterback last night, and Holmes seized the opportunity. As a result, he also was Carroll’s leading rusher, rolling to 81 yards on eight carries and 1 TD.

After the Dragons pulled ahead 14-7, many of us settled back with satisfaction, expecting Southlake to retain control of the game as the plucky Jackets faded.

But Rockwall wasn’t ready to call it a night, and their determination revealed itself on the next drive. Taking advantage of his speedy ground corps, Jones staged sweeps on both ends of the line, forcing Southlake to soften coverage in the center. Jones took advantage of the overtaxed D-line and bullied through repeatedly for key yardage. He ended the night with 51 yards rushing on nine carries.

Jones also enjoyed success in the air, sharing the wealth with Sam Crawford (9 receptions for 82 yards), Cameron Crayton (4 for 73) and A.J. Blacknall (2 for 60).

Southlake’s difficulty in stopping the pass allowed the Jackets to escape 4^th down situations seemingly at will and helped them craft a beautiful fake punt that set up a 37-yard field goal. That cut the Dragon lead to 4, blunting Carroll momentum and signaling the night was young and full of surprises.

Rockwall was most effective in slowing down the Carroll ground game, limiting leading RB Audricke Gaines to only 51 yards on 17 carries. Luckily for the Dragons, Holmes performed well in his debut as a running QB.

While the Dragons enjoyed some success with end-around sweeps featuring WRs Robert Barnes and Cade Bell, they were most reliable in the air. Bell ended the night with five receptions for 117 yards, followed by Jackson Davis (3 for 60) and Barnes (3 for 48).

Despite a sloppy first half, the Dragons showed poise and character amid the disarray.

When Rockwall scored early in the second quarter, taking a 16-14 lead, the Jackets threatened to take over the game. But it flubbed the snap for the extra-point try.

“All of a sudden, the ball was in my hands, I don’t know how,” said Dragon lineman Jacob Doddridge after the game. He rumbled all the way for 2 points, knotting the score at 16-16.

Later, as the first half drained down, Southlake stopped the Jackets near midfield and were driving for the score when Jacket defender Abbas Bell stepped in front of a Holmes pass and darted 71 yards to the Dragon 22. Crawford carried it in, and the Dragons trailed the surging Jackets once again, 23-16.

I caught a whiff of disaster at that point as it wafted faintly through Southlake’s side of Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium, but it dissipated soon enough. On the next series, the Dragons staged an 8-play, 75-yard drive culminated by a 34-yard Holmes pass to Barnes with 22 seconds left. Tie game, 23-all.

The second half was a different story. Southlake scored on its first possession with another eight-play, 75-yard drive. Then it dug in and held Rockwall scoreless for the remainder.

The Jackets had one more chance late in the final quarter. But Jones, after back-to-back illegal procedure calls, was sacked at his own 36. On 4^th and long, he lofted a Hail Mary into a scrum of players that bounced off two Dragons before falling to the turf. Game over.

And thus ends pre-district play for Carroll. Next week is a bye week for teams in District 5-6A. I predict there won’t be much rest for the Dragons after their uneven performance against the beleaguered Yellowjackets.

They begin district competition on Sept. 23, traveling to Flower Mound to take on the Jaguars, who are 1-2 for the season, falling in consecutive weeks to Keller Fossil Ridge and Keller Timber Creek.

Nothing is guaranteed in Texas high school football, but the Jags should be easy pickings. Not so, the next Dragon opponent on Sept. 30.  The mighty Trinity Trojans are undefeated thus far.

The Carroll-Trinity series is legendary and has produced some of the best high school football ever played. I expect this year to be no different.

Until Friday night lights burn bright again: Go Dragons! 

Five years down the road

It had been a nervous, anxiety-filled morning. So when the phone call came, I expected the worst.

For weeks, rumors had been swirling around The Dallas Morning News that yet another round of layoffs was imminent. On the previous Friday, just before the Labor Day weekend, the rumor mill had confirmed that the layoffs would occur the Tuesday after Labor Day Monday. And they would hit the newsroom hard.

Senior managers, who had been carefully briefed on proper layoff procedures, either were tight-lipped or absent on that Tuesday. But everyone knew what to expect. Despite the best efforts of management to keep such information confidential until the “right” moment, the word always got out. Good reporters, and The News still had plenty of them, always found out.

Five years ago today, I left the newspaper business after 37 years. It wasn’t the worst day of my life. The deaths of my parents and of my maternal grandmother were worse. But it was pretty bad. I remember it as if it was yesterday, but I’ve never written about it. Until now.

Being kicked to the curb from the only job you’ve ever had – and ever wanted to have – is a demoralizing, disorienting and defeating event. When it happens a month after your 60^th birthday, it’s terrifying.

I’ve recovered nicely from the dispiriting events of that day a half decade ago. Although I was out of work for six months, I managed, with some luck, to establish myself in a second career in which I’m able to use many of the skills I acquired in journalism and to perform valued work in which I believe.

Some of my present colleagues are former journalists, and we all agree we’re better off where we are now than in the dramatically diminished newsrooms we left, either voluntarily or against our wishes.

I can’t speak for them, of course. But my wife knows the truth about me. The truth that I bob and weave to avoid in my daily encounters, but which I confront head on as I lie awake at 3:30 in the morning and can’t get back to sleep.

I miss journalism. I miss newspapers – the daily deadlines and the heart-racing pressure and the thrill of being in the midst of a big story, when the stakes are high and the world is waiting for the details you and your colleagues have uncovered.

I miss knowing the secrets you can never get into print or online. The details too gruesome to present to a family audience. The unimportant, but highly entertaining, tidbits that never make the final edition, but which fuel many a bar tale as the alcohol slowly dissolves the knot in your stomach and begins to sooth stress-roughened nerves.

I miss, most of all, the camaraderie of the newsroom, the company of journalists who by training, experience and temperament look at the world in a unique way. They laugh at inappropriate things, take delight where others recoil, embrace unflinchingly the essential inevitability of facts and the infuriating and often heart-breaking elusiveness of truth.

They hold themselves apart from the rest of society. Others may plant political signs in their yards and paste political bumper stickers on their cars. But not journalists. Others can support political causes, go door-to-door for candidates, speak loudly and passionately for school bond issues and other local initiatives. But not journalists. They should – and almost universally do – remain removed and above the fray in a largely unsuccessful effort to convince the public of their fairness and impartiality.

Even now, in the midst of a presidential campaign I truly believe is the most important in American history, in which the stakes have never been higher, I can’t bring myself to put a bumper sticker on my SUV or erect a sign in my front yard. The habits of a lifetime in newspapers are stubbornly hard to break.

For better or worse, I still think of myself as a journalist and always will.

That’s why, I suppose, my heart was in my throat five years ago today when I answered the ringing phone on my desk. As I most feared, it was Cindy McFarland, HR representative for the newsroom.

“Kerry, can I speak to you in my office?” she inquired in a carefully neutral tone.

“Of course,” I replied, unconsciously copying her deliberate, impassionate delivery. “I’ll be right down.”

For a few moments, I just sat there, thoughts swirling. What in the name of God do I do now?

Finally, I stood up, squared my shoulders, walked quickly to the elevator and rode down two floors to McFarland’s office. Executive Editor Bob Mong was waiting with her.

The conversation was thankfully brief. An uncomfortable Mong assured me the decision to dismiss me had nothing to do with performance. It was, he said, just a necessary business decision. Clearly, he wanted to be somewhere, anywhere, else at that moment. As did I.

He offered to let me come back later to clean out my desk. I looked at him sharply.

“No, Bob, I think it’s best I clear out of here as quickly as possible,” I said, picking up my exit packet and heading for the door. I’m fairly sure we shook hands, but I have no memory of that.

By the time I got back to the newsroom, word had spread about those of us who had gotten the ax. As we dully gathered our belongings, colleagues averted their eyes and carefully avoided our sections of the newsroom.

I was loading some personal files into a box when Rudy Bush, a reporter in my local government cluster, and Roy Appleton, a close friend for more than 30 years, approached. Both looked stricken and distraught. I avoided making eye contact, not trusting my ability to control my emotions.

Soon I was ready. I took one look around, and we headed for the hallway to the back dock. As I moved around the edge of the newsroom, I noticed a small group of metro desk editors gathered in an office across the way. I remembered the times I had been a part of such groups, which instinctively form for mutual emotional support at such traumatic moments.

Fighting a desire to bolt for the door, I swallowed hard and walked over to say goodbye. Knowing that I only had moments before the tears began, I quickly shook hands.

“Happy trails, everyone,” I said, turning to go. “I’ll see you down the road.”

I then joined Roy and Rudy, and we carried my stuff to the car. Half an hour later, I was home in Grapevine, contemplating a bleak and complicated future.

I understand that the DMN newsroom today is but a shadow of the one I left in 2011, which already had been decimated by cutbacks and layoffs. The newspaper career I miss doesn’t exist anymore as print publications fight what I sadly believe will be a losing battle for survival.

I know, with conviction, that I’m blessed today by virtue of the pain I experienced that awful day five years ago. I am comforted by that. Except for the times I awake in the small hours of the morning, sometimes from a dream in which I’m still in the newsroom fighting deadline and telling stories with friends and colleagues.

At those moments, I lie staring at the ceiling and think of how things were and how they never will be again. Eventually, mercifully, I fall back into a troubled sleep.

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 37, Arlington Martin 14

The University of Alabama’s marching band, which entertained Southlake Carroll fans before the Dragons' Week 2 contest with Arlington Martin, is officially known as the Million Dollar Band.

But the real top-dollar performer at Dragon Stadium last night was senior defensive back Robert Barnes, a 6-2, 190-pound commit to OU.

To the surprise of very few, Barnes lined up as a wide receiver and immediately ignited the Dragon offense, leading it to a surprising, maybe even shocking, 37-14 win over a talented Warriors team that destroyed Dallas Skyline last week 55-7.

He snagged six Mason Holmes passes for 153 yards that set up Carroll’s first two unanswered touchdowns. All the while, he was his normal disrupting self on defense, forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter that set up one of the Dragons’ scoring drives.

After Carroll’s undistinguished and losing effort last week against a powerful Tulsa Union squad, the consensus was that something had to be done to shift the sluggish offense out of low gear. Rumors swirled that Barnes, perhaps the most talented athlete on the Dragon squad, would be tapped to play a position he hasn’t embraced since – wait for it – the FIFTH grade.

Head coach Hal Wasson told the Star Telegram that coaches had Barnes working at the receiver position throughout preseason training, a well-known secret in Southlake football circles.

So there was widespread grumbling when Barnes stayed on defense against Union, leaving senior quarterback Holmes to deal with a swarming defense and an inexperienced receiver corps bedeviled by a swift and skillful Redskins secondary.

Last night was a different story – in many respects. Holmes, harassed and harried last week as he dodged Union behemoths pouring through his porous offensive line, had plenty of time to find his receivers. Kudos to the OL Big Guys for stepping up their game.

For their part, Dragon WRs, inspired by the brilliant example being set by Barnes, eluded Warrior DBs and joined in the fun. Junior Cade Bell caught five passes for 73 yards and senior Hudson Shrum got two for 76.

Meanwhile, Southlake also found a ground game against the overwhelmed Warriors. After being bottled up by Tulsa, transfer senior Audricke Gaines, whose father is a new coach in Carroll ISD, scored twice last night while rushing for 140 yards on 22 carries. Senior RB Jack Johanasson had fewer yards, 55 on 11 carries, but he made them count, rumbling to another three TDs.

After obliterating the traditionally strong Skyline last week, Martin cruised into Dragon Stadium full of vim and vigor. It had every reason to believe it was on the brink of setting history, handing the Dragons their first back-to-back defeat in Dragon Stadium and branding them with their first 0-2 season start since 2000.

The proud Dragons had other plans, however. They racked up 565 total yards against the Warriors, roaring out of the gate on their first possession with a four-play, 70-yard scoring drive, accomplished in less than a minute.

Holmes, 15 of 27 for 319 yards for the night, promptly marched the Dragons downfield on their second possession, connecting with both Barnes and Bell to set up a 2-yard blast by Johanasson for Carroll’s second TD.

Martin’s offense punch was dulled all night by Southlake’s solid defense, which for the second week in a row showed impressive grit. The Warriors were held to 320 total yards, with quarterback Matt Cook managing 18 of 35 for 179 yards.

Martin punted on its first four possessions. It took until late in the first half for the Warriors to show any offensive spark. Capitalizing on a successful fake punt at their 28-yard line, they fought downfield to score with less than 5 minutes left. Likewise in the second half, Martin was kept out of scoring range until the closing minutes of the game, when, trailing 37-7, it put together a smart drive capped by its second TD.

The Warriors apparently didn’t appreciate the manhandling they received on the Dragons’ home turf. Several drives were scotched by personal-foul penalties. While the Dragons snared a couple of those on their own, Martin racked up 11 total penalties for 129 yards. A messy, undisciplined performance.

After a nervous, soul-searching week, last night’s victory over a worthy opponent soothed the football souls of many Southlake fans. And it ought to please the coaches, too.

Next week, the Dragons travel to Rockwall to end their pre-district schedule.  Rockwall, which faces Rowlett today, will take the field after a short week. The Yellowjackets should brace themselves for a well-balanced Southlake team that is battle-tested and battle-adjusted.

After the solid performance of its offense and the continuing standout play of its defense, Southlake Carroll can feel pretty good about its entry into District 5-6A play two weeks from now.  

Go Dragons!

Game Day: Tulsa Union 21, Southlake Carroll 10

By the middle of the third quarter last night, when Tulsa Union extended its lead over Southlake Carroll to 14-3, it became clear that the sputtering Dragon offense wasn’t going to shake off first-game jitters and give the Redskins a run for their money.

Senior quarterback Mason Holmes had scrambled all night, as Union’s D-line behemoths batted aside his protectors and zeroed in on his breastbone. His inexperienced receiving corps had failed to elude Redskin defensive backs. And even when the harried Holmes found a target, his passes sailed over the receiver’s head.

And the Dragons’ ground game, in the post-Lil’ Jordan Humphrey era? Fuhgeddaboudit.

It’s cold comfort that the Dragons fell in their season opener to the top-rated football program in Oklahoma. After all, this is Texas, and the natural order of things decrees that premier Texas programs, of which Southlake is one, always triumph over premier programs from any other state.

Trouble is, someone failed to tell Tulsa Union.

 And the Redskins arrived at Dragon Stadium last night hungry for payback. In the teams’ last two encounters, the Dragons engineered last-gasp wins in contests Union arguably should have won.

The Redskins had every reason to feel good about their chances of extracting revenge. Rated by most either No. 1 or No. 2 in Oklahoma, they brought a high-powered offense, led by two dual-threat quarterbacks and a sure-handed receiving corps, and a defensive wall of beef.

But the Dragons had little reason to quake in their cleats. After all, they were playing at home, in a venue where they had only lost three games since the facility opened in 2001. And they had a talented and experienced quarterback in Holmes, who completed 68 percent of his passes last year and scored 38 touchdowns. True, they had no returning receivers, but this is Southlake, where quarterbacks and receivers are as plentiful as Cadillac Esplanades and Rolex watches. Even the defensive unit, perennially undersized, had mass and talent in equal measures this season.

 So it was a pleasant, but not completely unexpected, surprise when the Redskins went 3-and-out on their first possession and turned the ball over to Holmes and company. We all settled in for the offensive display we already had played out in our heads.

The Dragons called a quarterback draw, and we held our breaths as Holmes – not known for his running prowess – hit the line. The ball popped out, and the Redskins covered it. Rut-roh.

What followed was a defensive clash in which both teams struggled to ignite any sort of offensive spark.

The Dragons’ single sustained drive of the first half stalled inside the Union 5-yard line. Faced with a 4^th-and-goal, Southlake attempted the unthinkable – at least in Dragon country – a fake field goal. Holder Hudson Taylor pitched the ball to Ryan Thompson, who only managed to claw to the 1. Southlake has a new offensive coordinator this year, can’t-cha tell?

A field goal by senior kicker Kole Rampage marked the Dragons’ only score of the half. But it was a dandy – a 55-yarder that most agreed is a school record.

Southlake defenders blunted Union’s highly regarded offense, led by quarterbacks Peyton Morrison and Grady Davenport, at least until the draining seconds of the half.

That’s when Davenport, the hero of the night, put together a 13-play drive that ended with a 7-yard pass to C.J. Moore with 13 seconds left.

Davenport passed for 139 yards and two TDs, rushing for 98 more. Most of those came on a 77-yard sprint to the end zone in the third quarter that effectively spelled the doom of the Dragons by extending the Redskin lead to 14-3.

Southlake edged to within four points in the fourth quarter, on a muddled drive aided by three pass interference calls against Union, two inside the 10. The Redskins did all they could to help the faltering Dragons, committing two more penalties inside the 5, effectively giving Carroll three sets of downs to reach the end zone.

Mercifully, the Dragons finally scored on a 1-yard run from Audricke Gaines, a transfer running back from Mansfield Timberview who was nursing a sore knee.

With most of the fourth quarter before us, many nursed hopes that Southlake might stage yet another last-minute victory from a discombobulated Union squad.

Davenport and his receivers would have none of it, slamming the door on such foolishness with a 72-yard scoring drive.

In the end, Southlake fans pinned too many hopes on the talented Holmes, who threw 13 of 27 passes for 176 yards, a lackluster performance for him. He and his receivers, who failed to get open with any regularity last night, have much work to do. As does the O-line, which must shelter Holmes long enough for his inexperienced receivers to learn their trade.

Additionally, the Dragons need a ground game. Badly. Clearly, Holmes can’t be depended on for that. In his few forays into the maelstrom, he looked tentative. Best to let him stick to what he does best. Meanwhile, is Gaines, who comes highly recommended, the answer? Not last night. But with a little time to heal,  perhaps.

I heard much grousing about the quality of the Dragon defense last night. Not enough pressure on Davenport and Morrison. Too many open receivers. Yes and yes. But given a little offensive Dragon firepower, which might have spelled a different outcome, such criticism would seem churlish today.

Job No. 1 for the Dragons – fix the offense. So says me.

And the Dragons must fix it fast. They host Arlington Martin next week, the same team that destroyed Dallas Skyline 55-7 last night. You read that right – 55-7. Dear God.

Two consecutive defeats in Dragon Stadium? Unthinkable.

Go Dragons!

A new season. A new beginning.

High school football season begins anew this evening, and it’s a time of hope and celebration, a time of renewal and pursuit of excellence.

With quickening pulse, I’ll be at Dragon Stadium tonight to watch the Southlake Carroll Dragons take on the potent Tulsa Union Redskins and launch their annual pursuit of a ninth state title.

Some might think it strange – perhaps even a little weird – that a man entering the middle of his sixth decade on the planet could get so excited about a high school football game.

What’s the attraction, you say, particularly in this era of heightened concern over concussions and safety of players?

As I’ve pointed out before, I love the pageantry and color of Friday Night Lights in Texas. The booming discipline of the marching bands. The glittering precision of the drill teams. The cheerleaders and inflated helmets and running of the flags. Student councils exchanging gifts before the game. Proud parents cheering their kids from the stands. Hell, I even like the almost-food served in the volunteer-operated concession stands. I love it all.

But it’s something more, something I can’t really describe without sounding corny and trite. In an age marred by cynicism and suspicion, malfeasance and distrust, insincerity and distain for almost everything, there is a purity in high school athletics, over which football still reigns supreme.

Money hasn’t spoiled it yet. And although the glory of Friday night reflects brightly in the halls of high school on Monday morning, most of these kids know that fame is fleeting. The players know that only a tiny percentage of them will play at the next level. They do what they do because they love it. They enjoy the thrill of achievement, the gleam in their parents’ eyes and, yes, the pride of representing their school.

I warned you it would sound a little corny.

Of course, I’m leaving something out. Something deeply personal.

I love Dragon football because it saved my life – or at least my sanity.

Five years ago, Southlake’s unlikely, nail-biting championship march provided a welcome distraction during one of the lowest periods of my life. When I was laid off by The Dallas Morning News after 26 years, I embraced the Dragons, which I had followed faithfully since my daughter entered high school, like a drowning man seizes a floating log.

I confronted an uncertain future with an abundance of self-doubt, even fear. Would I ever work again? Did I have the energy, talent and imagination to start another career at age 60? Certainly, I had too many responsibilities to just lay down and molder. There was a mortgage to pay, one kid in college and another in high school. But who in hell would hire a man who had spent 37 years in newspapers?

Thank God for the Dragons. For at least a few hours each week, I could put those retched concerns out of my mind and concentrate on football and Southlake’s chase of a state championship. The Dragons were a diverting bunch that year, that’s for sure.

The 2011 team, like the current version, was led by a quarterback with proven skills. Sophomore Kenny Hill, now TCU quarterback, had taken over in the third game of the 2010 season, leading a demoralized Dragon team to the fourth round of the playoffs. Hill won his spot after the Daxx Garman affair ended when the UIL disqualified Southlake’s highly regarded move-in quarterback six hours before the first game of the season.

In 2011, the Dragons struggled during the regular season, narrowly avoiding being upset by a lowly Richardson Berkner squad and struggling with Keller’s mediocre teams. While no one doubted they’d make the playoffs – despite losses to Coppell and Denton Guyer – no one believed they’d survive for long.

But with Hill at the helm and a steadily improving defense, they plowed through the post-season, surviving a first-round squeaker with Plano East, manhandling Cedar Hill, edging past Arlington Bowie, drowning Arlington Martin in a game-long downpour before confronting Dallas Skyline in the semi-finals.

Dominated by the Raiders for the entire game, they trailed by two TDs with less than 3 minutes to play. That’s when Hill took charge, driving the Dragons downfield for a quick TD. After a controversial onside kick – which drew the eventual disapproval of Dallas’ mayor pro tem – Hill again marched the Dragons to the go-ahead TD, but not before encountering a wild gray fox at mid-field. Stuffed toy foxes were in abundance the following week at the finals game in Jerry’s World against Fort Bend Hightower, another close-run victory for Southlake that captured its eighth championship trophy.

By the title game, which always takes place on the weekend before Christmas, I had a good line on a job, things were looking up in the Gunnels household and we managed to enjoy the holidays. With plenty of time on my hands, I had developed a habit of commenting on the games on Facebook. Eventually, that turned into my blog, Dragon Tales & Other Musings, of which this missive is a part.

That brings us to today, Week 1 of the 2016 high school football season. My Dragons are hosting a very good Tulsa Union team tonight. The two programs have fought two classic battles, last year in Tulsa and the year before in Cowboys Stadium. The Dragons won both, by razor-thin margins, so the Redskins are desperate for payback tonight.

Getting it might not be so easy. The Dragons are firming up to be quite formidable.  

Senior quarterback Mason Holmes threw for 2,884 yards and 38 touchdowns last year, but he’ll be breaking in a new receiving corps this season. According to Star-Telegram writer Kevin Lunnquist, they include Hudson Taylor, a JV quarterback last year; Jackson Davis, who played cornerback; Clayton Keyes, a backup; and Cade Bell and Royce Weigel, who both saw only limited time.

Holmes, who isn’t the lethal dual-threat QB that Kenny Hill was, may be charged with running the ball more this season. Dragon coaches are hopeful, however, that Audricke Gaines, a transfer from Mansfield Timberview, can step into the role vacated by graduating Lil’ Jordan Humphrey, now at UT. Gaines’ challenge will be in making the impact on the field that the phenomenal Humphrey did.

Unlike last year, when defense bedeviled Southlake, the Dragon Big Guys are jelling into a solid unit, with senior safety Robert Barnes, an OU commit, emerging as a leader, aided by defensive back Jacob Murphy and defensive end Luke Jeter. Another defensive stalwart, Ryan Miller, playing both sides of the ball, will be joined by left tackle Carson Green.

Can the Dragons repeat the magic of five years ago? That would be nice, but the odds are long. Regardless, hope springs eternal. That’s the intoxicating allure of high school football. I’m climbing aboard for another exciting ride, and I’ll be describing it here each week.

These days, I don’t depend on the Dragons to rescue me from career despair. I’ve got a good job, working for great people engaged in important work. I’m a lucky guy.

Come 7 p.m. tonight, I’ll settle into my reserved green-back seat, Feedstore BBQ sandwich in hand, and bask in the sheer joy of it all. When the whistle blows, a little shiver of anticipation will shoot up my spine and I’ll tense for kickoff.

Go Dragons!

Rachel's Room

      I spent five days in the hospital last week with a serious digestive ailment, and it probably was a blessing in disguise.

      Yes, it was a painful, unpleasant and unsettling experience I don’t wish to repeat. But it helped take my mind off a dramatic change in the fabric of the Gunnels household that even now stabs at my heart and almost takes my breath away.

      My eldest child – sweet, darling Rachel – moved into her own apartment last week, and the house at the top of the hill in northwestern Grapevine will never be the same.

    

  It has been her home since we lifted her out of my Ford Mustang – soon to be replaced by a more practical Jeep Cherokee – straight from the hospital on a bright June day in 1992.  And there she grew into the smart, sassy, beautiful woman she is today.

      Over the years, her mother and I watched in adoration as she prepared meals on her plastic kitchen set, played with her Barbie dolls (she eventually obtained more than 20), dressed herself in costumes ranging from ballerina to Minnie Mouse and practiced the clarinet for her high school marching band.

      

     We were lucky to have her around as long as we did. She chose to live at home after college, using her teacher’s salary to buy a new car and accumulate a professional wardrobe.

      But I could tell she was getting restless as she watched her friends strike out on their own, establishing lives independent of their parents. She feared life was passing her by, and she yearned to fling herself into the maelstrom of the world.

       So when she announced a few months ago that she and a sorority sister, also a teacher, were going to look for an apartment, I heaved a heavy sigh and made a painful peace with her decision.

       Fortunately for us, she isn’t moving far, only a few miles away. We’ll still see her regularly, at least for a while, particularly on those nights when Mom is fixing one of her favorite meals for supper.

       There’s solace, of course, in the knowledge that Marice and I have fulfilled our responsibility. We’ve been imperfect, but mostly responsible parents. With Rachel’s help, we’ve raised a wonderful, loving and capable young woman who works every day at making the world a better place.

       That’s what teachers do, the good ones, that is. And by all accounts, my Rachel is a brilliant, hard-working young teacher. In her first year in the classroom, her students achieved lofty scores on the state’s standardized tests. Her supervisors were amazed and worked hard to craft a teaching assignment that would keep her in place for another year.

        One day soon, her mother and I will transform her old room from its present state of chaos into a sterile, neatly appointed guest room. We’ll keep, I’m sure, a few reminders of its former tenant. I don’t think I can bear to take down the photo montages of Rachel’s years in the Southlake Carroll Dragon Marching Band.

        But it always will be Rachel’s Room. When I pass by it on my way down the stairs, I’ll see in my mind’s eye the crib she slept in as a baby. I’ll see the bookcase filled with the dozens of “Spring Valley Kids” books I read to her before bedtime. I’ll see Rachel sitting in the middle of her bed singing to herself and playing with her dolls.

        I was 40 when Rachel was born. I thought at the time that I was too old, too settled, too selfish to be a good father. Her arrival changed my perspective completely, and I have loved every moment of being Rachel’s Dad.

       What hurts most, I suppose, is the knowledge that my role in her life, once so dominant, is fading, fading, fading as she soars from the nest to become her own person and builds her own life separate and apart.

        Time is a bandit, and I feel robbed.