Southlake Carroll used a second half surge to climb its waybrback from a 16-point halftime deficit and ultimately knock off Oklahoma powerbrTulsa Union, 34-30, last week.
While head coach Hal Wasson was certainly happy his teambrpicked up its first victory of the year, he wasn't satisfied. As in theirbrseason opener against Austin Westlake, the Dragon started slow and fell behindbrearly.
Wasson is preaching start fast and finish strong this week.
“We have to start fast and not dig ourselves into a hole,”brWasson said. “This is a young football team, so a lot of it is maturity issues.brWe have to continue to prepare and fight to reach our standards.”
A jolt of energy from the home crowd could help with that.brSouthlake Carroll will play its first game at home against Midland Lee onFriday a team the Dragons dominated last year, 56-6.
But Midland Lee brings back a plethora of returning startersbron the offensive side of the ball, has a new coach in James Morton and pickedbrup a key 46-28 win over El Paso Coronado last week.
The Rebels, who are averaging 30 points per game, feature abrrun-heavy system, which means the Dragons will have to play tough in thebrtrenches.
“There is no doubt that they've improved since last year,”brWasson said. “They run multiple offensive formations that can cause somebrissues. Their quarterback (Wesley Hall) is a playmaker and their running backbr(Tony Jones) is elusive. We have to play physical and tackle better.”
Midland also has some talent back on defense. Both defensivebrends Kaleb Nunez and Ryan Dean will be a handful up front. It is imperative forbrSouthlake Carroll's offensive line to keep new quarterback Mason Holmes uprightbrand open up holes for star running back Lil' Jordan Humphrey.
Wasson said Holmes would once again get the starting nodbrunder center over Montana Murphy. Holmes impressed in his first start lastbrweek, throwing for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“Mason will be our quarterback,” Wasson said. “It was fun tobrwatch him improve quarter by quarter and gain more confidence. He took some bigbrhits and continued to deliver the ball. That should make any offensive linebrwant to block harder.”
If they do, Southlake Carroll should finally have somebrbreathing room after two nail-biting finishes.