Mason Holmes and Montana Murphy will both see action in week one against Austin Westlake.
By EJ Holland
Perhapsbrno game in the state has as much buzz as Southlake Carroll vs. Austin Westlake.
Thebrcolossal matchup highlights the first week of the 2015 Texas high schoolbrfootball season and should be nothing short of an instant classic.
Storylinesbrabound with arguably the most enticing being Todd Dodge vs. Hal Wasson.
Priorbrto taking over at Austin Westlake, Dodge led the Dragons to five 5A statebrfinals and four championships from 2002-2006. During that time, Dodge compiledbran eye-popping 79-1 record, with his only loss coming in the state title gamebrin 2003. (see Crossing Patterns for our update last season on Dodge).
Wassonbrserved as an assistant under Dodge during his time with the Dragons and got thebrbest of his former co-worker last season when Southlake Carroll topped AustinWestlake, 17-14, in Dragon Stadium
“Ibrdon't look at it as me going against Todd Dodge,” Wasson said. “He's a goodbrfriend and a good coach. But it's not me vs. him. This is about SouthlakebrCarroll vs. Austin Westlake. Dragon football vs. Chaparral football.”
Indeedbrit is.
Whilebrthe budding coaching rivalry might be interesting, the product on the fieldbrshould be even better. Both programs reached the playoffs a year ago and havebrhigh expectations heading into the 2015 season.
Thisbrmost glaring question for the Dragons going into the opener is under center.brWasson has yet to name a starter and plans to use a two-quarterback systembragainst an Austin Westlake defense that brings back half a dozen starters,brincluding defensive backs Mack Kelley and Max Mangum — the two combined forbrmore than 150 tackles last year.
Wassonbrsaid both senior Montana Murphy and junior Mason Holmes would get reps.
Couplebrthe uncertainty at quarterback with Austin Westlake's strength in thebrsecondary, and Southlake Carroll might rely on the run game more than usual.brThe Dragons bring back plenty of beef up front as well as 1,800-yard rusherbrLil' Jordan Humphrey.
“Bothbr(Murphy and Holmes) will get shots to separate themselves,” Wasson said. “Bothbrbring different things to the table. We're going to continue to do whatever itbrtakes to make us as good as we can be. We always try to play to our strengths.brOur line has had a good camp, and we have some good runners.”
SouthlakebrCarroll also has some big question marks on defense. The only returning starterbron is senior cornerback Obi Eboh. The young unit will get tested early.
Afterbrall, Austin Westlake also brings back six starters on offense and one of thebrbest quarterbacks in the state in Texas commit Sam Ehlinger, who compiled closebrto 3,000 yards of total offense as a sophomore in Dodge's high-powered spreadbroffense.
“Webrhave to limit big plays,” Wasson said. “They have an outstanding quarterbackbrand return the nucleus of their offense. If we don't get to the quarterback andbrlet him get comfortable, it's going to be a long night for us.”
Sobrwhat the biggest key for Wasson and Southlake Carroll to knock off Dodge andbrAustin Westlake for the second consecutive season?
“Scorebrmore points,” Wasson said with a laugh. “The team with the most points will win thebrgame.”