The Southlake Carroll Dragons (4-0) defeated the Keller Indians (3-1) in a high scoring match 58-37 Friday to clench their first win in District 5-6A for the season.
The dynamic duo of quarterback Will Bowers and Dragon Pride Player of the Week TJ McDaniel proved to be in full swing, with Bowers passing for just over 200 yards on the game, and McDaniel rushing for a total of 254 yards, 32 carries and five touchdowns. The Dragons had a total of 528 offensive yards on the game.
Connor Patterson led the defense with a total of 12 tackles on the night. The defense also knocked down three of Keller quarterback Sloan Henry's passes, and held the Indian offense.
Receiver Glenn Mitchell was the first to strike for the Dragons on their possession of the game, with a 73-yard pass from Bowers down to the end zone early in the first quarter. An extra point from Joe McFadden made the score 7-0.
The Indians were quick to respond, with a drive for a touchdown on their next possession. An 11-yard pass from Henry to Damon Smith and an extra point tied the Indians and Dragons 7-7 midway through the first quarter.
The Dragons struck again with a 76-yard on their next possession, that ended with McDaniel running the ball 17 yards into the end zone, adding another seven points to the scoreboard for Carroll.
As the Indians regained possession of the ball, they quickly scored again, closing the score to give Carroll only a one-point lead over Keller late in the first quarter. The Indians would score again in the beginning of the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run from Enoch Ntchobo to lead Carroll 20-14.
The Dragons failed to answer on their next possession, turning the ball back over to the Indians to kick a field goal and widen the gap 23-14.
Southlake Carroll narrowed the gap with a touchdown run from McDaniel near the end of the second quarter to put the Dragons up 23-21, and a missed field goal by Keller allowed the Dragons to go into halftime only down by two points.
The Dragons regained the lead with two quick scoring drives in the third quarter. Both touchdowns came from McDaniel, the first a rapid 3-yard run, and the second a lengthy 73-yard run. Both put the Dragons up 36-23.
A 64-yard pass from Henry added another seven points to the board for Keller, tightening the gap to a six-point difference.
Bowers scored his first touchdown of the night nearing the end of the 3rd with a pass from Glenn Mitchell and a four yard run. Carroll also executed a two-point conversion to give the Dragons a 44-30 lead.
The Indians would strike early in the fourth quarter to try and overcome the deficit 44-37. Another touchdown from Carroll furthered their lead 51-37.
Eli Furgal sealed the game for the Dragons with an interception late in the fourth quarter on Keller's last possession.
The Dragons would score one more time to end the game 58-37.
The Dragons prepare for their first district home game this Friday night at Dragon Stadium, in a pink out against Denton Guyer.