Mason Holmes drops back to pass during a 38-37 Dragons victory over Coppell. Photo by Stewart@SnappedDragons.com
by EJ Holland
Football season will be here sooner than you think.
Southlake Carroll will begin spring practice this month inbrpreparation for the 2016 season. And the Dragons actually finalized theirbrschedule on Thursday.
Robert Barnes (22) shoots the gap to stop Coppell QB Brady McBride (7) from crossing the goal line on a 2-pt conversion in overtime. Dragons win 38-37. Photo by Stewart Johnson @ SnappedDragons.com
Robert Barnes (22) shoots the gap to stop Coppell QB Brady McBride (7) from crossing the goal line on a 2-pt conversion in overtime. Dragons win 38-37. Photo by Stewart Johnson @ SnappedDragons.com
As usual, Southlake Carroll has a tough road, featuring abrnumber of intriguing matchups. The Dragons will scrimmage Arlington beforebrofficially opening up the year at home against Tulsa Union on August 26.
Southlake Carroll and Tulsa Union have formed a nice battlebrof the states rivalry over the past couple of years. The Dragons took downbrTulsa in overtime in 2014 and came away with a dramatic comeback victory lastbrseason. This year's version should be a dandy.
Arlington Martin and Rockwall are Southlake Carroll's twobrother non-district foes. Both Dallas-area programs won 10 games last year and madebrdeep runs in the playoffs.
Simply put, Southlake Carroll has one of the toughestbrnon-district schedules in the area if not the state.
The Dragons have a bye week before opening district playbragainst Flower Mound, a team that usually finishes near the bottom of thebrleague, on September 23.
Remember, realignment changes some things, as SouthlakebrCarroll welcomes Flower Mound, Flower Mound Marcus, Lewisville, Byron Nelsonbrand Hebron to the slate. The only remaining district opponents from a year agobrare Euless Trinity and LD Bell.
A week after taking on Flower Mound, Southlake Carroll willbrhost Euless Trinity for its district opener. The two teams have put on dramaticbrshows over the last couple of years. But this isn't your normal Trinity team.brThe Trojans were absolutely decimated by graduation and will be extremelybryoung.
The middle of the district schedule features some verybrinteresting games. Both Flower Mound Marcus and Byron Nelson were playoff teamsbrthat could challenge the Dragons despite the loss of key players.
Lewisville narrowly missed the playoffs last season butbrshould be much improved thanks to super recruit and star wide receiver TyrellbrShavers. If there is a trap game on the schedule, it's this one.
Southlake Carroll rounds out its schedule with games againstbrLD Bell and Hebron. The Dragons shouldbrhave the clear upper hand in both matchups. The two teams combined to win sixbrgames last season.
With Mason Holmes (68.4%, 2,899 yds-38 TD-5 int) back underbrcenter and Robert Barnes (105 tackles, 1 int) and Barrett Buck (89 tackles, 1brint) leading the charge on the defensive side of the ball, there is no reasonbrwhy Southlake Carroll shouldn't be in the mix for a district title and abrsuccessful season overall.
* denotes District Games