Game Day: Southlake Carroll 49, Lewisville 7

The Lewisville Farmers strode into Max Goldsmith Stadium last night full of confidence and a bit of swagger, convinced their unexpected 41-14 victory last week against Flower Mound Marcus signaled the return of their storied program, which dominated in the 1990s on the way to two state championships.

They believed they were ready for the next challenge: a District 5-6A matchup with Southlake Carroll, which in five previous encounters had easily rolled over the Farmers. Not this time, they vowed.

And why shouldn’t they feel good about themselves? Their sturdy defense had enjoyed good success thus far in limiting offense firepower, even in losing efforts, and their lively offense operated behind a wall of flesh that included three 300-pound-plus O-linesmen.

Not only that, their head coach, Greg Miller, had been schooled in the heady confines of Katy High School football, a perennial powerhouse and reigning state champions. As an assistant at Katy, Miller knew well what it took to build and maintain a top-flight program and had been hired to do so in Lewisville.

Perhaps the Farmers could even take advantage of a possible hangover effect from Southlake Carroll’s stunning win over Euless Trinity last week. Rumors reached the Dragon locker room that Lewisville players had even dared to engage in some trash talk.

Big mistake.

“We heard about the trash talk,” offensive/defensive standout Robert Barnes observed grimly in a post-game radio interview. “We came with a chip on our shoulder.”

The Dragons eased that burden by demolishing the Farmers in an offensive and defensive display that solidified their grip on the 5-6A championship and bodes well for an extended playoff run. As for Lewisville (3-3, 1-2), it fell to earth with a solid thud, knowing it still has serious work to do.

If the goal of the Dragons is to improve from week to week, which of course it is, then they can consider last night’s performance on both sides of the ball as an indication of  mission accomplished.

Senior quarterback Mason Holmes (18 of 27, 223 yards and 4 TDs) masterfully guided the Dragon offense to six consecutive touchdown drives, scattering passes to a half-dozen receivers and sharing rushing success with RB Audrick Gaines, who is running stronger and smarter with each passing week.

Gaines was the top Dragon rusher, piling up 125 yards on 15 carries and 1 TD. Tre Sledge ran 62 yards on 8 carries, followed by Holmes with 61 on 3. Most of Holmes’ yardage came on a 55-yard keeper around the right end that brought the Dragons to the Lewisville 14 as the first half waned.

Two plays later, Holmes connected with senior wide receiver Clayton Keyes, who twisted into the end zone to push the Dragons to a 21-7 lead.

After holding the reeling Farmers to a 3-and-out, the Dragons staged another scoring drive with 4 minutes left. Holmes marched Carroll downfield, surmounting two penalties that threatened to stall the drive before bringing the Dragons to the Lewisville 35. Facing a 3 and 7, Holmes dropped back, found Barnes (6 for 91, 3 TDs) in the end zone and shot him a zinger with 45 seconds left.

Bright spots for the Farmers were few and far between. They started off smartly, staging an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive after the opening kickoff that saw backup Farmer quarterback Jarvis Brooks throw a pair of passes to star  receiver Tyrell Shavers for 46 yards and the touchdown.

After that success, however, the Dragon D-line stiffened and the secondary started giving Barnes help in covering the speedy, sure-handed Shavers, rendering Lewisville’s offense toothless and slack-jawed.

It showed only one other sign of life, in the third quarter, when the Farmers took advantage of a pooch-kick to their 39 to drive to the Dragon 20. Brooks then tried to find Shavers near the end zone, but senior defensive back Jack Murphy read the play and snagged his second interception of the year at the 3.

Four plays later, the third quarter ended and out came the Dragon backups. To add to its misery, Lewisville’s overwhelmed first string had trouble stopping them. Sophomore quarterback Will Bowers got valuable experience as he led a clock-eating drive that brought the Dragons to the Lewisville 9, where he faked a handout and twisted around the left end to score 6.

Four district games remain in the regular season, and Lewisville represented perhaps the Dragons most serious challenge, after Trinity. Next week, they travel to Flower Mound Marcus, then host Trophy Club Bryon Nelson on Oct. 21 at Dragon Stadium. They finish with lowly L.D. Bell on Oct. 28 and Lewisville Hebron on Nov. 4.

And while nothing is guaranteed in Texas high school football, it’s not too outlandish to suggest the Dragons could enter post-season with a 9-1 record.

Bryon Nelson, by the way, accomplished the improbable last night by beating the formidable Trojans in overtime, 21-20. It’s hard to figure that one out.

Bryon Nelson, which only opened in 2009, was 0-5 before last night. Trinity, coming off a bruising defeat at the hands of the Dragons last week, was 5-1 and ranked No. 10 in the state 6A AP poll.

Call it an a fluke, and it almost certainly was, but it’s a humiliating turn of events for the proud Trojans, which despite that still are odds-on favorites to be Division I first seed in the playoffs. As for Bryon Nelson, it’s a signature win that almost certainly will go down in school history as its most important athletic achievement for the foreseeable future.

The air was nippy at Goldsmith Stadium last night, heralding the cool winds of autumn. It's perfect football weather and the Dragons are winning. What more can you ask for?

Go Dragons!

Game Day: Southlake Carroll 42, Euless Trinity 28

No one really expected to see a shootout at Dragon Stadium last night when the Euless Trinity Trojans came calling on Southlake Carroll in a District 5-6A matchup that most expected would decide the eventual district champ.

But as the first half wound to a breathless close, the scoreboard registered a 28-28 tie, and most of us already had concluded that the winner would be the team that forced its opponent to break serve first.

The half had been a wild affair that saw both the Trojans and the Dragons display their offensive weaponry. Carroll scored on four consecutive drives, while the Trinity saw paydirt on four of five possessions.

The Dragons scored at will against Trinity’s vaunted defensive line, led by senior Audricke Gaines’ powerful running and – bless me, look at this – quarterback Mason Holmes, who scampered 76 yards on 12 carries.

Gaines, who just gets better every time he suits up, ran for 170 yards on 31 carries and scored three touchdowns, muscling through the beefy Trojan D-line time after time for good yardage.

Meanwhile, Holmes (14 of 20 for 214 yards and 3 TDs) was superb, in the air and on the ground. During the Dragons’ second TD drive, Holmes faced a 3^rd and 7 at the Trojan 17. Chased out of the pocket, Holmes deftly eluded oncoming Trojans, scurrying back to his own 30 before lofting the ball to senior Jack Johansson as he drifted along the right sideline.

Johansson (2 catches for 39 yards, 1 TD) caught the ball and appeared headed out of bounds. But he stopped dead in his tracks, spun out of the grasp of a Trojan defender and scooted into the end zone.

With the score knotted at 21-21, the first half’s scoring blizzard culminated in a pair of scoring drives.

The Dragons struck first, with a 75-yard drive that featured an18-yard keeper by Holmes and a 29-yard pass to standout receiver Robert Barnes (2 for 94, 1 TD) that brought them to the 9. At that point, senior Jackson Davis (5 for 68, 1 TD) snagged a Holmes thrown and put Carroll in the lead.

It looked for moment that Southlake would carry that momentum into the dressing room, but the Trojans weren’t ready for a break yet. Starting at their own 22, they bullied the ball on the ground to their 40. Then junior RB Courage Keihn (23 carries for 225 yards) took the handoff from QB Malini Maile and sped 60 yards past aghast Dragon defenders to the end zone to bring scoring to a close.

Although no one expected that at the time, it would be the Trojans last score of the night as Dragon defenders dug in and shut down its bruising ground game.

Holmes told the Star Telegraph after the game that his offense delivered a message to the defense at halftime.

“We told them that if they could stop them, we would keep on scoring,” he said.

And the Big Guys made it happen, bless ’em. The defense put on a magnificent show in the second half, holding the Trojans to 100 yards of total offense and intercepting one of Maile’s rare passes. Barnes, who played both sides of the ball last night to brilliant effect, was an offensive standout. OU should be giddy to have him next year.

Holmes, when he wasn’t tucking the ball and sprinting up the airy center of the Trojan line, was spreading the wealth among his receiver corps. He connected at least twice with six different receivers on his way to three passing TDs. Senior Jackson Davis was his favorite target, catches five for 68 yards.

It was the effectiveness of the Dragon ground game that was the subject of conversation after the game. Traditionally, Trinity is a tough nut to crack on the ground. This season is no exception. But Carroll coaches have given Holmes, who was held in rigid check on the ground last year, different marching orders this year, and he followed them last night with excellent results.

“Last year, we had three stud running backs, and the coaches told me not to run, to play it safe,” a delighted Holmes confided to radio interviewers after the game. “But this year they said I should run it when I see an opening so that’s what I’m doing.”

The added dimension of a running quarterback apparently scrambled the Trojan defensive scheme, which never seemed to be able to adjust to the new reality. And the Dragons (239 total rusing yards, 263 passing) capitalized on it all night.

The Trojans got their yardage, of course. They almost always do. They had a total of 408 yards total offense, almost all on the ground. But for the sturdy Dragon defense, this could have been another wild, down-to-the-wire nail-biter instead of the second-half beat-down it turned out to be.

Last night was the fifth time these two friendly rivals have met, the third time as district foes. In the previous two district matchups, which the teams split, the winner of this game went on to become district champions.

Southlake Carroll (4-1, 2-0 in 5-6A) probably will viewed as the favorite to take district, but Lewisville Hebron, which also boasts a 4-1, 2-0 in 5-6A record, will have something to say about that. The Hawks whipped Hurst L.D. Bell last night 21-7. They face the Dragons Nov. 4 in the last game of the regular season. That could be dandy.

Next up for the Dragons is a road trip up SH121 to Lewisville to face the Farmers, who staged an upset win last night over Flower Mound Marcus in the traditional Battle for the Axe.

The Farmers are tough this year so the Dragons must shake off quickly the euphoria of humbling the noble Trojans.

Go Dragons!

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!