Dragon Magic: Southlake Carroll 42, McKinney 35

 

Owen Allen ran for more than 200 yards for the 10th time in his career. Oh, and he scored four touchdowns.

Watching over the Dragons

Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge called it Dragon Magic. And perhaps a little hocus-pocus was responsible for the transformation of the Dragons yesterday from the gang that couldn’t shoot straight to the comeback kids.

Thank goodness someone – or something – was watching over the Dragons in their third-round 6A Division II contest against the McKinney Lions.

Carroll needed all the help it could get to overcome an embarrassing series of first-half gaffes that had Dragon fans scratching their heads in wonder and reaching for the aspirin bottle.

McKinney came to Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium ready to play and hungry for an upset. And the Dragons very nearly played into its hands before they righted the ship at halftime and turned in a superb second-half performance that kept their playoff hopes alive.

For the sixth straight year, the Dragons have made it to the fourth round of the playoffs. Dodge has taken them to the area finals and beyond in each of his five years as head coach.

Playoffs midpoint

They now are at the midpoint in the playoffs. Next up, Carroll will face the winner of today’s contest between Denton Guyer, the clear favorite, and Byron Nelson, Carroll’s nemesis in District 4-6A.

Who would the Dragons rather face? Byron Nelson, of course. Carroll beat the Bobcats 38-23 earlier in the season to capture the 4-6A title. Guyer, on the other hand, is a monster this year and will pose the bigger challenge, by far.

But frankly, at this stage of the playoffs, there are no easy opponents. Take the 8-5 Lions, for instance. Most folks had Carroll as the favorite in yesterday’s match up. But Dodge, who had personally scouted McKinney in the first round, knew his team was in for a dogfight.

“Going into it, McKinney scared the crap out of me, to be honest with you,” Dodge told Arianna Vedia of The Dallas Morning News. “I got to see them first-hand in the first round … That’s a very talented football team that started playing their best football toward the end of the year, and we knew what we were getting coming into it.”

He also acknowledged the Dragons were their own worst enemies for a good chunk of the afternoon.

“Offensively, we couldn’t play any worse than the first half. Just penalties after penalties,” he told Vedia. “We were doing good stuff, it was just — positive yards, then a setback — like a yo-yo effect.”

Things got off to a dismal start. On Carroll’s first drive, the offensive line was flagged five times for false starts, including on the first three consecutive plays. But quarterback Graham Knowles kept the Dragons on track, despite the hiccups. He pitched a 37-yard pass to junior receiver Jacob Jordan, then followed it with a 12-yarder to Caden Jackson to bring Carroll to the Lion 23.

Stupefying sight

But it could get no farther so kicker Tyler White, as dependable as the dawn, was called in to boot a 40-yard field goal. His kick struck the upright, a sight so stupefying, I was tempted to rub my eyes in disbelief. It was White’s first missed field goal this season.

Quarterback Graham Knowles stayed cool and composed while miscues mounted.

McKinney couldn’t do much better. On the Lions’ first possession, quarterback Keldric Luster was sacked on the second play and intercepted by Dragon defender J. David Sparks on the third.

From the 30, the Dragons, behind Allen’s brilliant running, moved to the 11. Facing a 4^th and 2, Allen was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, a failure so rare that I began to fear the Dragons were ensnarled in some kind of bad-luck vortex.

Taking possession of the ball, McKinney promptly marched into Dragon territory, where Luster hefted a 42-yard TD pass to Tyler Stanley, the first of the receiver’s two scores for the night. It would take Carroll until half-way through the final period to finally take the lead and preserve its perfect (so far) season.

Carroll would even the score 7-7 with 29 seconds left in the first half. After a series of pass plays to Caden Jackson (11 catches for 87 yards), Allen moved the ball to the Lion 44. Knowles then connected with Jordan at the 5, and Allen finished the drive.

McKinney responded in a flash, moving to near midfield in two plays. Then, with only 8 ticks before the buzzer, Luster found Khali Best drifting near the goal line, and Best breezed in to score.

The Lions began the second half in much the same fashion. On their first possession after the break, Luster, a powerful and slippery runner, carried the ball to the 45, passed to the 17 and then handed off to Bryan Jackson, who galloped into the end zone. Less than 2 minutes into the half, McKinney led 21-7.

Lethargy disappears

The lethargy that had haunted the Dragons through much of the first half dissipated at that point, and the game settled into a back-and-forth shootout. For its part, Carroll would score on all five of its second-half possessions.

Leading the Dragon charge were Knowles, who completed 80 percent of his passes for 347 yards and 2 touchdowns, and – naturally – Allen, who rushed 34 times for 221 yards and four touchdowns. It was the 10^th time in his career Allen has rushed for more than 200 yards.

Carroll wasted no time in narrowing the Lion lead. On the third play of the ensuing drive, Knowles lofted a 73-yard bomb to Jordan (7-214), who took it to the house.

The teams traded scores, with the Dragons first cutting the Lion lead to 28-21 with a 2-yard dash by Allen.

That’s when things began to unravel for the Lions. Dragon defensive back Logan Lowandowski sacked Luster, forcing a fumble that the quarterback managed to fall on but that forced a punt.

On the next drive, the Dragons drove deep into Lion territory, where Knowles tried unsuccessfully to connect with Jackson in the end zone. But a pass interference call put the ball on the 2, from where Allen darted untouched to tie things up 28-28.

On McKinney's first play from scrimmage, Lester fumbled the ball yet again, but this time Dustan Marks recovered it at the Lion 20. Allen took it first to the 13, then to the 9, where Knowles connected with Clayton Wayland (6-51) for the go-ahead score.

The Lions weren’t finished yet, however. They came roaring back to tie the game again on a 11-yard Luster pass to Stanley (3-84, 2 TDs) in the end zone.

With 4 minutes left to play, Caden Jackson fielded the Lion kickoff at the Dragon 24. A penalty pushed Carroll back to its 9, where Knowles went to work. Peppering passes to Jackson and Wayland, he led the Dragons into Lion territory.

Two carries by Allen brought the ball to the 26. A quick pass to Jordan landed it at the 13, from where Allen added his fourth TD of the night with less than a minute to play.

Jacob Jordan, the Dragons' leading receiver, caught 11 passes for 222 yards and two TDs.

The night ended on an ignominious note for the Lions. They faced a 4^th and 2 with half a minute left in the game, time enough for McKinney’s explosive offense to hijack the game. Fading right and looking downfield, Luster slipped and fell at his own 29. The Dragons ran out the clock and another playoff classic was in the books.

McKinney’s offensive tandem of Luster, Stanley and Jackson (16 carries, 96 yards) deserve a lot of credit. Luster, a SMU commit, was the Lions’ rushing leader with 139 yards on 19 carries. He also completed 7 of 12 passes for 131 yards and 2 TDs. The Ponies should be licking their chops.

Luster and company couldn’t be completely stifled. But the Dragon D proved disruptive enough to keeps things from careening out of control, making key stops that finally disrupted the tit-for-tat scoring exchange. It sacked Luster several times and forced a fumble and an interception.

In the decisive fourth quarter, when the Dragon surge sealed the Carroll victory, Dragon defenders limited McKinney to a single score.

It’s magic

In his DMN interview, Dodge credited “Dragon Magic” for the Carroll turnaround in the second half. I suspect he had his tongue tucked firmly in cheek. The real ingredients for the shift in focus and execution had more to do with some tough love in the locker room at halftime (call it good coaching if you like), the inherent motivation and discipline that are hallmarks of the Dragon program – and intangibles like pride and brotherhood.

These guys regard each other as family. Many have played football together since grade school and Dragon Youth Football, a subject that frequently comes up in postgame player interviews.

In the playoffs, the imperative is win or go home. These Dragons don’t want to break up the family, and who can blame them? They are willing to fight hard and sacrifice much to keep that family intact. If you choose to call that magic, I have no objection.

“Dragon Magic is hard to explain,” Allen told the DMN’s Vedia, who obviously was entertained by the idea. “You don’t really know when it’s coming, but once it’s there, you know it. We were feeling it tonight, and I think everybody was, too.”

Go Dragons!

Coach Riley Dodge credited a little "Dragon Magic" for the win. Who's gonna argue with that?

De-clawing the Tigers: Southlake Carroll 69, Wolfforth Frenship 14

 

Owen Allen, for the second time in his career, rushed for five TDs last night.

A brag without much power

On paper, Wolfforth Frenship looked pretty intimidating.

Frenship emerged from District 2-6A – the modern-day version of the legendary Little Southwest Conference that dominated Texas high school football in the 1960s and ’70s – with a share of the district title and only two loses: a squeaker against Odessa Permian and its season opener against Lubbock Coronado.

Until they met their betters last night in the second round of the UIL 6A Division II playoffs, the Tigers averaged 432 total yards a game, thanks to an explosive offense led by dual-threat quarterback Hudson Hutcheson and his two 1,000-yard receivers, Tate Beeles and Leyton Stone.

All things considered, Frenship could legitimately regard itself as among the cream of the crop of West Texas programs.

As it turns out, that’s a brag that doesn’t hold much power these days.

It took only the first Tiger possession to reveal the ugly truth. The cream of the West Texas crop sours rather quickly when confronted by the premier programs of Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and Houston areas.

Caging the offense

With brutal efficiency, the Southlake Carroll Dragons dismantled Frenship, caging its heralded offense and daring its overwhelmed defense to stop Owen Allen, the Dragons’ irresistible force.

Did the Frenship D rise to that challenge? You be the judge.

Against the Tigers, Allen rushed for 149 yards on 14 carries and scored – wait for it – five touchdowns. That’s a remarkable feat all by itself. But when you consider it’s the second time this season he’s done it, well, that’s enough to give you the vapors, ain’t it?

Allen averaged almost 11 yards a carry, but his most crowd-pleasing moment came during Carroll’s second scoring drive. After the Dragons pushed into Frenship territory, a procedural penalty knocked them back to the 50. From there, quarterback Graham Knowles handed the rock to Allen, who darted around the right end and outraced the Tiger secondary to the end zone.

And the senior was just getting started. Allen would add scoring runs of 5, 21 and 12 yards before retiring for the night at half-time.

As much as I enjoyed seeing Allen embarrass the Frenship defensive line, I understand the reason for his early departure. The Dragons are fortunate they can afford – at this point in the playoffs – to rest their most important offensive asset to keep him fresh for the treacherous road ahead.

Nobody really expected the Tigers to carry the day against the Dragons. They were heavy underdogs. But I don’t think many expected them to fold up like a card table with a bad leg, either.

Unfolding disaster

Signs of the unfolding disaster came early for Frenship. Quarterback Hutcheson was sacked by Carroll lineman Dustan Marks on the first play of the game. It would be the first of six sacks Marks would make last night.

Although Hutcheson recovered sufficiently to guide his team into Dragon territory, the drive ended when a Dragon defender snatched an errant pass and gave Carroll the ball at its 46. That’s when Allen took over, marching the Dragons to the 1 before bullying into the end zone to begin the scoring avalanche.

The Dragons would score on all seven of their first-half possessions, taking advantage of the excellent field position they enjoyed all night. They carried a 42-7 lead into the dressing room. Carroll punted only once, and then got a new set of downs on a roughing-the-punter call.

It was that kind of night.

Knowles managed the Dragon offense with his usual steady hand. While the Carroll game plan called for Allen, and still more Allen, Knowles got his licks in, completing 10 of 11 passes for 173 yards.

Jacob Jordan was excellent as well, handling kickoffs and leading the receiver corps with 3 catches for 82 yards. Interestingly, his only TD came on the ground, the result of a pitchout from Knowles, which Jordan took 25 yards to the house. Plug this kid in anywhere. He’s a baller.

When the Dragon offense wasn’t slapping around its High Plains opponents, the defense was busy nullifying, stupefying and generally mystifying the Frenship offense. Hutcheson managed to complete 21 of 30 passes for 284 yards, a respectable night’s work. But it all amounted to nothing much.

The Dragons blunted the Frenship offense and rampaged through its defense at will.

He was sacked 10 times by the Dragon D, which spent almost as much time in the Tiger backfield as Hutcheson did. It also forced one interception and three fumbles, although it fell on only one.

As mentioned above, Marks was a rampaging beast, but his brilliant performance was aided and abetted by outstanding effort from his defensive comrades, who easily turned in their best game of the year. And for this bunch, that is saying a lot.

Under a pile

The Dragon D held Frenship to a modest 279 total yards, well below its usual output. the Tigers' rushing yardage stood at -30, a result of Hutcheson spending much of the night under a pile of Dragons.

Hutcheson’s highlight reel won't include any plays from this game, save perhaps one.

Near the end of the first half, after the Dragons had cruised to a 35-0 lead, Hutcheson began the ensuing Tiger drive by completing a 73-yard pass and run to Leyton Stone (3-118), which landed Frenship on the Dragon 5. Three plays, Hutcheson found his brother, Landon (12-116), in the end zone.

The score gave shivering Tiger fans something to cheer about – oh-so-briefly – as they endured the icy West Texas wind sweeping across San Angelo Stadium. Frenship would manage one more score, a 34-yard TD pass from Hutcheson to Stone (3-118) in the final seconds of the third period.

That was long after Carroll had cleared the field of its starters to give its backup players some time in the limelight.

 These kids, sometimes referred to as “the 2s and 3s,” are the stalwarts who labor largely unheralded to prepare the starting squad for each game. Also known as the action squad, they are an essential – but too frequently overlooked and unappreciated – ingredient in Dragon success.

Head coach Riley Dodge understands their value and works hard to spotlight their contributions. And to let them know how essential they are.

It’s a lesson he learned at the knee of his father, legendary coach Todd Dodge, who led Carroll to four state championships in five years in the early 2000s. And it’s a lesson Riley’s predecessor, Hal Wasson, sadly never learned.

Given a chance

After the game, the younger Dodge spoke of his ability to give his secondary players a taste of gridiron glory, a luxury not often possible in the post season.

“At this point in the playoffs, you don’t anticipate that you’ll have this kind of opportunity,” he told Dragon Radio. “But our guys went out and got the job done tonight so we were able to do it. It was awesome.”

For their part, the backups did themselves proud.

Running back Davis Penn, who like Allen is starting his varsity career as a freshman, scored on a 3-yard run during the Dragons’ opening drive of the second half. I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of this youngster in coming years. It’s clear the coaches have their eye on him and have been giving him an opportunity to stick his toe in the water during the last couple of games.

Backup quarterback Parker Thompson, a junior, also got into the scoring act. The tall and lanky Thompson, a facile and elusive runner, warmed up the Dragon side of San Angelo Stadium with blood-pumping TD runs of 67 and 41 yards.

Lord, this kid is fun to watch. When he gets the chance, he makes the most of it. And while his achievements occurred long after the game was decided, he was running against Frenship starters.

In between Thompson’s electrifying runs, senior Todd Mallory also added to Carroll’s massive lead with a 3-yard bolt to the blue.

Four TDs by backup players. You don't see that very often. Maybe ever.

A confession

(I feel the need to confess. I passed up the long trek to my old West Texas stomping grounds in favor of watching NFHS Network’s live stream of the game. I had to endure the play-by-play commentary of two San Angelo yahoos, who were painfully inept and ill-informed, but I did so in the warm comfort of my home office. For the hardy souls who did venture west, they were treated to frigid blasts of mist-filled wind and a nighttime drive home on lonely West Texas highways. No thanks. I’m an old man and should start acting like it.)

And so the Dragons have achieved another of their seasonal goals. The first was to win the district championship. Done. The second was still to be playing on Thanksgiving. That, too, has been accomplished.

The Dragons will face the McKinney Lions next Friday at Choctaw Stadium, the new moniker for old Rangers stadium. McKinney breezed past Dallas Jesuit to reach the third round. They won’t have as easy a time with the Dragons.

As for the final goal – a state championship – we’ll have to wait and see. It won’t be easy, but good things rarely are.

Happy Thanksgiving, all. And go Dragons!

The Dragons face the McKinney Lions this Friday on their march to a ninth state title.

Right time to shine: Southlake Carroll 52, Crowley 13

 

Photo flashback: Dragons celebrate a 2018 playoff victory against Euless Trinity.

A giant leap forward

SOUTHLAKE – With perfect timing, Southlake Carroll quarterback Graham Knowles’ evolution from stand-in to stand-out continued apace last night, as he confidently led the Dragons in dismantling a feisty but outmatched Crowley squad in the bi-district round of the Division II playoffs.

Quarterback Graham Knowles, a replacement player no more, took firm command of the Dragon offense, passing for a career-high 324 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was his second consecutive game to score four passing touchdowns, demonstrating his impressive performance last week against Keller Fossil Ridge was no fluke. And he did it last night against a much better team.

Knowles made TD throws to three different receivers – Clayton Wayland (3 catches for 59 yards), Trey Ferri (2-14) and a pair to junior Jacob Jordan, the night’s other breakout offensive star.

 In easily his best game of the season, Jordan caught 11 passes for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns. But he’s no shrinking violet just emerging from the shadows. Jordan has been the go-to receiver for both Knowles and the sidelined Kaden Anderson all year. Last night, however, was special.

Sheer beauty

His first TD came early in the 2^nd period after he fielded a Crowley punt at his 35-yard line. On the next play, he snagged a Knowles pass and raced down the left sideline toward the end zone. At the 20, a pursuing Eagle defender desperately tried to push him out of bounds. But Jordan nimbly shifted his weight and kept inside the line. It was a thing of beauty.

He was still a little dazzled by it all when he was interviewed after the game by The Dallas Morning News’ Rick Kretzschmar.

“I’m amazed at this especially considering this is my first playoff game,” he admitted. (This is his first year on varsity.)

Jordan gave credit to the Dragon O-line for protecting Knowles. And he praised his quarterback for “some great plays” and head coach Riley Dodge – who does double duty as the quarterback coach – for calling good plays. (Praising the boss: He’s no dummy.)

His general conclusion about where the Dragon offense now stands?

“I think now we can kill them with the run and the pass,” he said.

Jordan's reference to the run was a nod to Carroll’s phenomenal running back, the esteemed Owen Allen, who darted, dashed and rumbled to 138 yards on 13 carries against the Eagles, scoring a TD in the process. It was the eighth time this season that he has rushed for more than 100 yards.

Allen, who already has passed the 1,600-yard rushing mark this season, left the game midway through the third period or his numbers would have been more impressive. But Carroll coaches want to keep him fresh and upright for what the Dragons hope will be a deep playoff run. Besides, his departure coincided with Jordan’s second TD, achieved when he caught three consecutive Knowles passes, propelling the Dragons 53 yards to extend their lead to 38-7.

Light’s out play

The Dragons not only displayed a super-charged offense to dispatch Crowley. They brought a smothering, swarming defense, as well.

Photo flashback: Carroll players celebrate a 2019 playoff victory against DeSoto.

In effect, Carroll’s defensive starters held Crowley to a single score. That occurred in the 2^nd quarter when Eagle quarterback Caleb Williams lofted a pass to Jordan Green, who then sped 74 yards down the left sideline to finally put the Eagles on the scoreboard after the Dragons had leaped to a 21-0 lead by scoring on their first three consecutive possessions.

The Eagles wouldn’t score again until the last play of the game, a 1-yard plunge by Treyshuan Ford against the Dragon action squad that played much of the 2^nd half.

The Dragon secondary played soft against the Eagle passing attack, allowing Williams – when he wasn’t flat on his butt – to complete13 passes for 218 yards. Except for Ford’s big play, however, it amounted to nothing much.

That’s because the Carroll D guarded its home field with the ferocity of a – well – fire-breathing dragon. In the first half alone, it limited Crowley to only 38 rushing yards on 23 carries. It totaled 14 tackles-for-loss and sacked Williams eight times. Frankly, it seemed like more from where I sat. One thing’s a fact: Williams will remember his visit to Southlake for some time.

Dragon defensive star Cade Parks was his usual disruptive self, forcing a fumble in the 1^st half and sacking Williams twice. He joined fellow linemen Dustan Mark and Zach Scarborough in making three tackles-for-loss each. (Thanks to the DMN for the defensive stats.)

Dodge keeps his enthusiasm under strict control during post-game interviews, reserving his unbridled joy at winning for celebrations with his players. As usual, he expressed satisfaction last night with his team’s performance and its prospects going forward.

Better and better

“Our offense settled in and performed well, and the defense made several key stops when it mattered,” he told the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s Robert Thomas. “Our guys continue to get better and better each week, and tonight was a good way to start the playoffs.”

For Crowley, better days are ahead. This is its first year of competition in 6A, the UIL’s largest and toughest bracket, and it deserves a lot of credit for making the playoffs at all. Its kids never quit, but they were outgunned from the get-go.

 Even their few bright spots were dimmed by disaster.

Crowley stalled a Dragon drive midway through the 2^nd quarter, forcing Carroll to settle for a 26-yard Tyler White field goal to widen its margin to 24-7. On their next drive, the Eagles were moving steadily downfield when Parks forced a fumble and Mark fell on it at the Crowley 44.

After Jordan ran 29 thrilling yards to the 27, Knowles dropped back to pass. But the Eagles’ Jonathan Blake snatched the ball at the goal line and darted to midfield. A 15-yard penalty against the Dragons set the Eagles up at the Carroll 37.

Things unraveled quickly. The Carroll defense sacked Williams on three consecutive plays, snuffing out the Eagle threat. After fielding a short Crowley punt at its 19, Carroll marched 81 yards in 9 plays to score on a 16-yard Knowles pass to junior Trey Ferri. Carroll carried a 31-7 lead into halftime.

Methodical beatdown

The 2^nd half settled quickly into a methodical beatdown of the Eagles. Jordan captured his 2^nd TD on a 23-yard reception, backup running back Todd Mallory plunged 2 yards to add the Dragons’ sixth TD and backup quarterback Parker Thompson finished scoring for Carroll with a thrilling 25-yard untouched romp up the middle.

The Dragons’ opponent in the area round will be decided by tonight’s game between Wolfforth Frenship, located on the High Plains near Lubbock, and El Paso Eastlake – at a time and date to be determined.

 I don’t know anything about either team, except that historically, West Texas programs don’t fared very well in the playoffs. The days when juggernauts like Odessa Permian, Abilene High and San Angelo Central dominated the playoff scene are long over.

But you never know. In high school football, particularly during the playoffs, anything can happen. And usually does.

Go Dragons!

Photo flashback: Brady Boyd's memorable catch in a 2019 playoff victory against Midland Lee.

Unbeaten: Southlake Carroll 45, Keller Fossil Ridge 14

 

Quarterback Graham Knowles, man of the hour.

This post has been substantially edited to reflect the results of tonight's games.

Looking cool and comfortable

KELLER – If Southlake Carroll fans had any doubts about the ability of Graham Knowles to carry the Dragons deep into this year’s playoffs – and we did – they had to be somewhat reassured by how the youngster handled things last night against Keller Fossil Ridge.

Knowles, who took over from Dragon signal-caller Kaden Anderson when the talented senior went out with a season-ending injury, threw for 189 yards and 4 touchdowns against the Panthers. And for perhaps for the first time since he assumed the starting job, Knowles looked cool and comfortable doing it.

The timing of his breakout performance couldn’t have been better. It comes on the cusp of the unbeaten Dragons’ eager plunge into the post season next week. With Knowles’ steady hand now on the tiller, the Dragons will host District 3-6A's Crowley, a second-seed team now headed for the Carroll meat-grinder (we sincerely hope).

 But more later on the convoluted playoff picture, which can be as difficult to explain – and comprehend – as quantum physics.

The important thing for the Dragons right now is the knowledge that star running back Owen Allen won’t have to carry this team alone on its quest for a ninth state championship.

Knowles stepped up big last night, taking advantage of the game plan devised by Carroll coaches to place him front and center. He didn’t disappoint, completing12 of 18 passes and tossing TD throws to three separate receivers.

Carroll’s meaty offensive line – the most massive (and talented) in my memory – gave him plenty of time to pick apart the Panther secondary, and he did so with confidence and precision.

Most of Dragon Nation assumed that the dazzling Allen would carry the load for Carroll’s offense, just as he did last week in the Dragons’ bruising victory over Byron Nelson.

Secondary role

Instead, Allen stepped into a secondary role, but still rushed for 85 yards on 13 carries. His only score came early in the second half, after he apparently had turned running chores over to junior James Lehman. But sadly, Lehman limped painfully off the field with a possible knee injury after he galvanized the crowd with an electrifying 36-yard run to the Ridge 22.

Allen quickly pushed the ball to the 12, where Knowles carried it into the end zone, only to have the run called back by a holding penalty. Shedding defenders, Allen took the rock first to the 1 and then across the line to expand Southlake’s lead to 24-7. His duty done, he then left the game for good.

Clearly, however, coach Riley Dodge and his staff wanted to give Knowles a chance to show us all what he could do. And if his performance on center stage last night is any indication, the answer is quite a lot.

He opened scoring for the Dragons midway through the 1^st quarter with a 25-yard pass to Clayton Wayland (6 receptions for 138 yards) and followed it up in the 2^nd with a 9-yard zipline to Jacob Jordan (3-17). In between, kicker Tyler White booted a 50-yard field goal to give the Dragons a 17-7 lead at the midway point.

At the time, a 10-point lead didn’t seem very reassuring, particularly after the first-half antics of Ridge’s rough and ready running back, Landen Chambers. A rampaging brute of a runner, Chambers played havoc with Dragon defenders and seemed always to be on the brink of breaking the game wide open.

Running amok

The Dragon D never allowed that to happen, largely keeping him out of the end zone and making adjustments at halftime that doused his fervor. But not before he left an indelible impression on Dragon fans as he barged, again and again, into the middle of the D-line, where he was swarmed by Carroll players desperate to topple him. Repeatedly, he would suddenly burst free, lugging the Dragons still grappling with him for another 10 yards.

Chambers rushed for 192 yards on 33 carries and was responsible for both Ridge scores. The first was a trick play in the 1^st quarter when he snatched a lateral from Panther quarterback Logan Cundiff, then lofted a 21-yard pass to Isaac Smith in the end zone.

The Dragons will host the bi-district round of the playoffs at Dragon Stadium.

The other came in the final quarter, after Carroll started substitutions, when Chambers scored from the 1 to punctuate a drive highlighted by a 51-yard pass by Cundiff to set up the Panthers at the Carroll 10.

Not only did the Carroll defense marginalize Chambers after the break, it also harassed Cundiff, chasing him around his own backfield and sacking him at least 3 times. His miseries began early, on the third play of Ridge’s first drive, when Dragon David Sparks intercepted a Cundiff throw. He would complete only 4 passes for 66 yards.

The 3^rd period proved decisive. After Allen scored 2 minutes after it began, Carroll dominated, gaining 91 total yards to the Panthers’ puny 9. Knowles threw a 21-yard TD pass to Caden Jackson (3-44), then found Jackson again with a 13-yard toss on the first play of the 4^th.

Carroll now led 38-7, but it had one last dose of humiliation for the sagging Ridge. Parker Thompson replaced Knowles at QB and promptly darted 32 yards for the Dragons’ final score.

 Thompson, a speedy and slippery runner who strikes sparks whenever he touches the ball, doesn’t see much playing time. But as a friend of mine observed, Carroll should damned well design a few plays around the charismatic senior. He might be a valuable asset in the fire and brimstone of the playoffs.

What happens now?

What’s in store for the Dragons now? As the result of action tonight, they now know they'll be playing in the UIL's Division II, the so-called small-school division. And they'll host the bi-district round in Dragon Stadium against 4-6 Crowley, which ended up as the DII second seed in District 3-6A.

The final details had to wait for the results of tonight's contest between Keller Timber Creek and Keller Central, two of the lesser lights in District 4-6A. Timber Creek whipped up big on Central, clearing the way for Carroll to go DII. Don't ask me to explain why. Frankly, the byzantine calculations of the UIL playoff system always leave me dazed and confused. 

All things being equal, the first-round faceoff with Crowley is likely to be a cakewalk for the Dragons. The system is designed to match up first-seed teams, those with the best records, with weaker opponents in the bi-district round -- a tangible reward for excellence during the regular season.

As District 4-6A champ, Carroll was a guaranteed first seed no matter where it landed -- DI or II. It's 10-0 regular-season record -- the third time this class of seniors has achieved such a goal -- didn't hurt.   

Opinions differ about which division presents the easier route to a state championship. Logic would suggest that Division I is the tougher row to hoe. But that's not always the case. 

Carroll has played in both divisions over the years, depending on the size of the district schools who made the playoffs in any particular season. And it's won state titles in each. This year, many of those in the know believe that DII will be the tougher nut to crack. 

For instance, many Dragon fans contemplate with a certain amount of dread the 4th round, where Carroll, if it gets that far, could meet formidable Denton Guyer, a bitter rival that has routed opponents all year.

Regardless of the division, however, teams in pursuit of a state championship must survive an unforgiving environment governed by a merciless creed: Win or go home. That’s what makes the playoffs so special – and such nerve-wracking fun. 

Let the games begin.

Go Dragons!

What's a good way to roar into the 2022 playoffs? A 10-0 record, that's what.

Meeting the challenge: Southlake Carroll 38, Byron Nelson 23

Owen Allen does what he does best -- run for daylight.

The Dragon has awakened!

SOUTHLAKE – Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

Southlake Carroll emerged from a spell of rainy-day dreaming last night and handily captured another district championship – its fifth straight under coach Riley Dodge.

As it turns out, the much-discussed, highly anticipated showdown between the Dragons and the unbeaten bully-boys of District 4-6A – the Byron Nelson Bobcats – turned out to be not so dramatic after all.

Oh, it had its moments of anxiety for sodden Carroll fans and exultation for the rowdy Byron Nelson crowd that braved rain, thunder and lightning in hope of watching its heroes dispatch the haughty, undeserving Dragons.

But alas for the swaggering Bobcats – who were averaging 55 points a game as the state’s No. 1 scoring offense – those moments came early and lasted only briefly.

At that point, the showdown became a showcase for the awesome talents of Carroll’s superstar running back, Owen Allen, who rushed for 216 yards and racked up a personal record of five touchdowns.

Eye-popping performance

Allen, whose off-field modesty and genial manner belie his ferocity on the field, credited his eye-popping performance to his coaches’ gameplan and his offensive line.

“People can say that I took over the game and carried my team on my back, but that’s never how it really is,” he told Dragon Radio, which had just characterized the game in such heroic terms. “When I’m doing well, it’s because things are going well for the big guys up front.”

That’s undoubtedly true – and bless Allen for being smart enough to realize it.

But it also was his damn-the-torpedoes running style and never-surrender attitude that shook the Dragons out of their early-game lethargy. It emphatically ended the stream of vitriol and insult that had wafted eastward all week from Trophy Club, home to the Bobcats and Southlake’s next-door neighbor.

Byron Nelson, perhaps inspired by last night’s rain showers, sprang to a 13-0 lead with lightning speed. Its first score – a 44-yard bomb from veteran Nelson quarterback Jake Wilson to favorite receiver Gavin McCurley – came after only a 5-play series kicked into overdrive by speedster Aaron Darden’s 24-yard dash. A 2-point conversion attempt failed.

Carroll responded feebly to the challenge with a 3-and-out, and Wilson picked up where he left off. He guided the Bobcats on a 12-play, 82-yard drive that ended with another TD pass to McCurley. Presto! Nelson led 13-0 with 3 minutes left in the first quarter.

  “But like in most fairy tales,” wrote the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s Brian Gosset in his game story, “you never want to wake up the dragon.”

Particularly when that dragon is named Owen Allen.

Over the course of the next 15 minutes, as described by Dallas Morning News writer Lia Assimakopoulis, Allen rushed for 138 yards and scored 3 TDs to put the Dragons in the lead, 21-13, at the half.

Allen-up-the-middle

The first of those scores came on an 8-play drive, 7 of them runs by Allen straight into the teeth of the Bobcat defense. The only deviation from Allen-up-the-middle was a 24-yard pass from Carroll quarterback Graham Knowles to Clayton Wayland.

Allen’s 3-yard smash across the goal line was his 20^th rushing score of the season and the beginning of a 31-point unanswered scoring spree by the now aroused Dragons.

The second Carroll score also was all Allen and came after the first of two key first-half stops by the Carroll defense that stalled key Nelson drives and doused its hopes.

When the Bobcats failed to convert on 4^th down at the Dragon 27, Allen carried the Dragons downfield before scoring from the 8. On one 19-yard carry, he displayed what makes him so special.

After breaking through the Nelson line at its 37, Allen emerged into the secondary slightly off-balance. Lurching upright, he was hit from behind and nearly went down. Wrenching himself free of the Bobcat’s grasp, he crashed into another defender and bounced sideways, once again almost toppling. Still churning forward, he finally was brought down by a host of Bobcats at the 18. He scored two plays later.

The last Dragon score of the first half occurred after Carroll stalled a Bobcat drive at its 35 and forced a punt. Allen then spearheaded another drive that included a stunning 41-yard Knowles pass to Jacob Jordan (2-59) that brought the Dragons to the Nelson 6. Allen wrapped things up with a jolt across the line.

Cade Parks (52) and Nigel Fodor (29) wrap up Byron Nelson quarterback Jake Wilson.
With only an 8-point lead at halftime, the Dragons could ill afford to rest on their laurels. And they didn’t. Kicker Tyler White booted a 39-yard field goal to open the second half for the Dragons, and Allen would add a couple of more TDs.

A comeback crushed

The Carroll defense, which had held its opponents to an average of 9 points a game before meeting the Bobcats, couldn’t completely stifle the talented Wilson (24 of 33, 250 yards, 2 TDs). But he was pressured all night and saw his 3^rd-period comeback effort crushed before it ever had a chance to develop.

In the closing seconds of the 3^rd, the Bobcats kicked a 37-yard field goal by Pierce Dahlin to narrow the gap to 31-16. Then, just when it looked like Allen and company were poised to ice the game, Carroll fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Nelson recovered on its 46.

With rising hope, Wilson quickly took his team to the Dragon 15 despite constant harassment by Carroll defenders. He was sacked twice, the second time by the worthy Cade Parks, a play that snuffed out the Bobcats’ last flicker of hope. Two plays later, they turned the ball over on downs.

Another rushing series later, Allen whipped across the goal line to end Dragon scoring. Nelson would add a meaningless TD by Landon Farco with less than 2 minutes left, and then it was over.

Before the game, Dodge had freely admitted that Allen was the key to the Dragon offense, and not just because the rainy conditions – the game was delayed by lightning for 80 minutes – supposedly favored the ground game.

Allen has been the fierce heart of the Dragon offense all year, but especially after injury sidelined quarterback Kaden Anderson for the year.

With the untested Knowles now at the helm, the focus turned increasingly on Allen and his running mate, junior James Lehman (10 for 91). They haven’t disappointed.

After the game, his coach gave Allen – who has now rushed for over 6,500 yards and 105 TDs in his 4-year Dragon career – his due.

“He’s the best running back in the state of Texas for a reason,” he told the DMN. “Look at the stats. You don’t have to go too far to figure that out.”

Cinderella story

As radio commentators pointed out, it’s not often that you see two undefeated teams face each other this late in the season. For that reason alone, a lot of attention was directed at the matchup. Another reason for all the hoopla, of course, is that the public loves a Cinderella story.

And Byron Nelson fits that bill nicely. Only last year, it fell to Carroll 68-7 – a soul-draining, ego-destroying affair that could have demolished many programs. Instead, the Bobcats went on to make the playoffs, an astounding comeback that was only reinforced by their domination of opponents this year.

We’ll see if Bryon Nelson can sustain the progress it’s made. Winning traditions aren’t forged out of a single season. Certainly, its fan base has a lot to learn about handling success gracefully. The hateful chatter directed at the Dragons in recent weeks went beyond the normally good-natured trash talk that accompanies most games.

Haters gotta hate, I guess. It served one good purpose, though. Carroll coaches used the provocative dribble – and the media’s total focus on Byron Nelson’s storybook season while largely ignoring the Dragons’ equally impressive credentials – as a motivational tool.

Southlake, of course, is used to being the bad guy everyone roots against. It’s an attitude fueled by Carroll’s phenomenal success over the years and the public perception (largely accurate) that it’s a haven for the rich and privileged.

Dodge, who grew up in Southlake and is a product of the Dragon program, said his players consider it a point of pride that every team they play consider a victory against Carroll as a season-making event.

“It’s a group that’s had a target on their back from day one coming off a semifinal run in the playoffs last year, and these guys continue to answer the bell,” he told the DMN.

 No easy route

The Dragons, de facto district champs, end their regular season next Thursday against Keller Fossil Ridge. Next week’s final games will determine whether the Dragons play in Division I or Division II. 

Neither route to the state championship will be a cakewalk. In fact, Division II, the so-called small-school division of 6A, may prove the tougher path this year. Carroll most often qualifies for Division I.

But the manner in which the Dragons rose to smite the ascendant Bobcats bodes well for a deep playoff plunge. In their first real challenge of the season, the Dragons passed the test, bless ’em. Watch out, Fossil Ridge, the Dragon has awakened!

Go Dragons! 

Owen Allen lunges for the goal line. He crossed it five times last night. 

Setting the stage: Southlake Carroll 42, Northwest Eaton 7

 

The Dragons enter the field in the 2021 game against Eaton. They won that one, too.

No ifs and buts

SOUTHLAKE – The Northwest Eaton Eagles came to Dragon Stadium last night with fire in their eyes and murder in their hearts. They may not have believed they could beat the 7-0 Southlake Carroll Dragons, but they were determined to give it one helluva try.

And they did. But for a handful of dreadful missteps by Noah Lugo, a sophomore with scary good potential, they might have made a game of it.

As the saying goes, however, if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.

Instead, Carroll shook off some 1^st quarter lethargy and dispassionately assessed the Eagles for what they are – a young team full of fight but short on experience. Then the jaws of the Dragon snapped shut and Eagle feathers fluttered metaphorically around the combatants.

Slender hopes

The Eagles may have pinned slender hopes of success on the possibility that the Dragons would be distracted and off-balance as Carroll looked toward next week’s high-stakes matchup with the Byron Nelson Bobcats.

Anticipation and preparation have been underway all season for that clash, which will be a classic battle of the unbeatens for the District 4-6A championship. My palms get sweaty and my breathing shallow just thinking about it.

Even if the Dragons had been caught napping – an unlikely event with a Riley Dodge-coached team – the double-threat Lugo kept shooting himself in the foot, then quickly reloading and shooting himself again. And again.

Thus he sank in the ensuing chaos – taking the hapless Eagles with him.

His troubles started early.

Wicked speed

On the first drive of the game, Lugo flashed his credentials – wicked speed and a rifle arm – and moved his team effectively. Then he dropped back and fired downfield. Carroll defender Carter High spoiled the party by intercepting the missile at the Dragon 40. Three bruising runs later, superstar Owen Allen raced 25 yards for the first Carroll score, which he had set up on the preceding play by a 33-yard scamper through the entire Eaton defensive line.

Just as he did here in 2021, Owen Allen had no trouble keeping Eaton at bay last night.
Things didn’t improve for the stumbling Eagles on its next possession. Lugo ended a steady, inexorable march to the Carroll red zone when defensive back Conner Hill stepped in front of another errant throw.

At that point, both teams seemed to lose focus. The Dragons couldn't capitalize on Hill's interception, turning the ball over after failing to convert on 4^th down. The Eagles returned the favor by going 3-and-out, but Carroll sputtered ineffectively and called on kicker Tyler White to punt it away, a chore White is rarely called upon to endure.

The Eagles could do no better and lined up to punt again. Then, just like that, things changed.

The worthy Conner Hill, who was a beast all night, blocked the punt.

From the Eaton 30, Allen drove the ball to inside the 10, where Dragon quarterback Graham Knowles scored on a 6-yard keeper.

That broke the game open, setting up a 28-point 2^nd quarter that brought the Eagles back to earth.

Sadly, at least for Eaton fans, Lugo, with 2 INTs already haunting him, contributed to that scoring spree. In attempting to rally his team after Carroll’s second score, he fumbled the ball on his own 26.  Five plays later, Allen scored his second TD of the night from the 4.

Allen's third, and final, TD came later in the period when he staged an electrifying 42-yard TD run that left Dragon fans and most of the Eagle defense gasping. After making a mad-bull rush through the Eaton line, he angled right and targeted the end zone, shifting into 4th gear inside the 20 to leave defenders scattered in his wake.

Leaning on the run

Carroll leaned heavily on its running game to vanquish the Eagles. A knowledgeable friend of mine believes that Carroll coaches -- with an eye to their still-new-to-the-job quarterback -- played it safe, devising a game plan designed to ease him into the job and build confidence, rather than display aerial dexterity. Makes sense to me, particularly when you have at your beck and call the services of Allen and sturdy running mate James Lehman.

To absolutely no one's surprise, Allen was his usual unstoppable self, ending the night with 162 yards on 12 carries. Lehman would rack up 142 yards on 18 carries.

Knowles also rushed for 2 TDs, his quick 6-yard dive mentioned above and a head-first keeper from the 1 before he retired for the night at the end of the 3^rd period.

He finished with 9 completions on 19 attempts for 91 yards and 1 passing TD – a 20-yard arc to Jacob Jordan that closed out scoring in the first half. His favorite receivers’ numbers reflected the conservative game plan: Clayton Wayland had 4 receptions for 52 yards and Jordan had 2 for 36, most of those on his TD grab.

That’s not a terrible night, by any means. But it’s not the aerial production Dragon nation has come to expect, thanks to the keen skills and unflappable leadership of Kaden Anderson, injured two games ago and now lost for the season.

 Knowles performed well in his first varsity start last week again Keller Central. And he was more than adequate last night.

But he'll need to take a significant step forward to face Byron Nelson's ferocious defense and keep up with its charging offense. Can he do it? That's why we play the game.

As for the Dragon defense, its starting unit staged another shutout, keeping the Eagles scoreless until a trash-time TD run by Lugo late, late in the 4^th quarter.

It captured 3 turnovers and blocked a punt. And when Lugo wasn’t losing control of the rock, he was dodging defenders in his backfield. He managed only 65 yards in passing, completing 11 of 21 throws. He was better on the ground, gaining 73 yards on 17 carries.

His rushing total was only 1 yard short of that of leading Eaton rusher Ja'Mari Harris, who enjoyed most of his success early.

Classic in the making

Now the Dragons must turn their full attention to Byron Nelson, who like the Dragons has been pushing around the lesser lights of 4-6A all season. The Bobcats dispatched Keller Central 56-24 last night, defeating a team the Dragons bested 49-3 only last week.

In perhaps a better common-opponent comparison, Bryon Nelson beat Keller 45-17 the week after Carroll struggled with the Indians before ruining their perfect season 38-35.

What does all that mean? Honestly, not much. 

Every game has its own dynamic. It's governed by different factors and influenced by a host of intangibles. That's what makes football such a fascinating, infuriating and often mysterious game.

One thing is certain: Next week’s contest has all the makings of another classic – a gut-busting, stem-winding, jim-dandy free-for-all that will showcase Texas high school football at its very best. And glory be, it’s a home game!

Go Dragons!

The Eagles had a better team in 2021, but the end result was the same.

Passing the test: Southlake Carroll 49, Keller Central 3

 

The Dragons head into the final 3 games of the regular season with a 7-0 record.
A sense of relief

KELLER – On a night dominated by Southlake Carroll’s sensational Owen Allen, who scattered Keller Central’s defensive linemen like so many tenpins in a bowling alley, it was the steady, self-effacing and efficient performance of quarterback Graham Knowles that had heads in Dragon Nation nodding in relief and satisfaction.

Knowles, a 6-6, 215-pound junior, has demonstrated acceptable aptitude in replacing the redoubtable Kaden Anderson late in games dominated by Carroll. Then, last week, he was thrust into the spotlight by the season-ending injury Anderson received in the Dragons’ nail-biting win over the Keller Indians.

Questions abounded. Chief among them: How would Knowles handle the pressure of being the starter for a premier program with high expectations of success? Was he up for the task of helping guide the high-flying Dragons on their quest for another District 4-6A title and another shot at winning their ninth state championship?

Cool as a cucumber

Knowles answered the first question rather handily. He appeared cool as a cucumber all evening, keeping his hand steady on the tiller even when the Carroll offense encountered heavy seas in the game’s opening minutes.

Uncharacteristically, the Dragons coughed up the ball on their first two possessions of the game – the second when Knowles was blindsided as he hesitated a tad too long in searching for an open receiver. But Knowles responded calmly to the turmoil, steadying the troops and leading them in scoring drives on their next six possessions.

Along the way, he completed 12 of 14 passes for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. Not bad for his debut as a starter, wouldn’t you say?

Knowles, modest to a fault, gave credit where he felt it was due.

“Coach (Dodge) came up with a great game plan,” he told Dragon Radio. “He made it very easy for me. I followed the game plan and it all worked out.”

As for answers to the second question, they will be determined in due time. First, there is a district title to win. With three games remaining, the biggest remaining hurdle for the Dragons in capturing the 4-6A crown is the undefeated Byron Nelson Bobcats, who have been mercilessly smashing opponents all year.

They face a hurdle of their own tonight, when the Bobcats host Keller in what could be a real humdinger. The 5-1 Indians came dangerously close to defeating the Dragons last week, only to be thwarted by a Carroll interception in the closing minutes of the game.

The talented Indians, stinging mightily from their lost perfect season at the hands of Carroll, will be eager to work out their frustrations on somebody. Byron Nelson could have its hands full. Let’s hope so.

A dirty shame

The injury to Anderson is a damned, dirty shame. He’s a great kid with loads of talent and great potential. He showed both when he stepped in last season to replace nationally acclaimed quarterback Quinn Ewers, who abandoned his senior year at Carroll to pursue the NIL college bonanza. Ewers is now soaring high as starting signal-caller for the Texas Longhorns.

With Anderson at the helm, the Dragons had a perfect regular season, won the district handily and made it to the championship semifinals. This year, he had worked hard to perfect the timing, trust and instinct with his receiving corps that bedevil defenders and score touchdowns.

In his wake, Dragon fans gathered in Keller ISD Athletic Complex to see how Knowles fit into the equation. We were gratified to see that not much has changed.

Despite a gameplan that relied heavily on the sturdy Allen, Knowles scored passing TDs of 25 and 9 yards respectively, both to leading receiver Jacob Jordan. In addition, he showed speed and toughness in a 14-yard dash to the end zone that was negated by penalty.

Denied glory himself, Knowles handed the ball to James Lehman three plays later, and the junior running back cruised over the goal from 3 yards out.

Lehman, who carried 11 times for 77 yards, often gets overshadowed by the dazzling Allen. But he is a clutch player, speedy and dependable, and racked up 2 TDs in his own right last night.

Owen Allen cruised serenely past the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season.
Allen, of course, shined brightest in the Dragon constellation. He sailed over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season and made two TDs, which sent his career TD total to 100.

Ineffectual push

His best run came in the decisive 2^nd quarter, when he broke through the Charger line with ease and raced toward the end zone 64 yards away. As he neared the 20, only one Central defender stood between him and the goal line. Allen juked left and the Charger could only give the bruiser an ineffectual push from behind as he accelerated for paydirt.

Before the game, Dragon radio reported that the Keller game marked the 8^th time Allen has rushed for more than 200 yards and the 18^th game in which he has scored at least 3 touchdowns. He came tantalizingly close last night to extending both records, compiling 195 yards on 12 carries and accounting for 2 TDs.

Both Lehman and Allen ran confidently behind the mammoth (by Carroll standards, at least) offensive line, which dominated the game from start to finish. It is a key to Carroll’s rushing success, a fact quickly acknowledged by its rushers.

The Dragon defense was solid, limiting the Chargers to a single 33-yard field goal (the Big Guys blocked another attempt) while sacking Charger quarterback Kelden Ryan a number of times and frustrating him the rest.

Senior linebacker Nigel Fodor was a defensive standout, recovering two of the three Charger fumbles. His second occurred after Carroll had pushed the lead to 35-3 with a 5-yard plunge by Allen midway through the 3^rd quarter.

 On the second play after the ensuing kickoff, Ryan was decked in his own backfield and yielded up the ball to the greedy Fodor, who seized it at the Central 9 and dashed for the sideline to show his cheering teammates. Knowles immediately zipped a pass to Jordan in the end zone.

Less than a minute had passed since the last Dragon score.

Central is a young team, dominated by hungry sophomores full of fight. But the youngsters were seriously overmatched by the Dragons, despite Carroll’s fledgling quarterback and a secondary that had been reorganized just before the game to accommodate players returning from injury.

Flashy and quick

Ryan, a sophomore with bright prospects, completed 11 of 13 passes for 130 yards. While flashy and quick, he did most of his running in his own backfield to evade the Dragon defenders who haunted him all night.

Admittedly, it’s always dangerous to draw too many conclusions from Carroll’s success against the Chargers, who have managed to beat only lowly Haltom so far this season. The superiority it exhibited last night may evaporate quickly when it comes up against a Bryon Nelson or the Murderers Row that awaits it in the playoffs.

I suspect it’s that realization that fueled a host of critical remarks in my section of the stadium last night, both about Carroll’s slow start and its desultory (to some eyes) response to the meager Charger threat.

Late in the game, a friend of mine observed, “You know, what does it say about us that we’re so critical of a team that’s ahead 49-3.”

Hmm, he may have a point.

Next week, the Dragons meet the Haslet Eagles at home. It’ll be another test for the young Knowles and another chance for Dragon fans like me to brood moodily about the looming threat of the Byron Nelson Bobcats.

Go Dragons!

Can the Dragons repeat as District 4-6A champions? Stay tuned!