2017 Defensive Captains L to R: Matty Werner, Jacob Doddridge and Ryan Thompson.
by Justin Thomas
A Carrollbrdefense that surrendered an average of just 18.8 points per game will have somebrrebuilding to do after graduating nine all-district performers, including anbrastounding eight first-teamers, from its 2016 campaign.
Fortunatelybrfor the Dragons and defensive coordinator Tim Wasson, Carroll has plenty leftbrin the cupboard, including three additional all-district players.
Seniorbrlinebackers Matty Werner (89 tackles, two forced fumbles) and Ryan Thompson (23brtackles) were second-team all-district choices, while defensive lineman JacobbrDoddridge is coming off a season in which he posted 54 tackles and three sacks.brThe latter is weighing collegiate options this fall and could very well end upbrwith an Ivy League program.
Doddridge,bras well as Werner and Thompson, have embraced their roles as senior leaders andbrdefensive captains on the team. As such, they are relishing the opportunity tobrhelp bring along many of Carroll's first-time varsity players of which therebrare many. The 2017 squad includes four sophomores amongst their startingbrroster. Starting as a underclassman at Carroll is somewhat of an accomplishmentbrin its own right —something these three leaders know well as they share theirbrexperiences with their younger teammates.
“The guysbrbefore me did a great job of helping me out with that,” Doddridge said. “That'sbrsomething we're really trying to do, because we have a lot of young guys andbrthey don't necessarily know the expectations we have, or in some cases, theybrjust don't even really understand what the coaches are trying to tell them. Sobrwe're really working on that and maintaining our focus during practice.”
Three-yearbrstarter Thompson, meanwhile, is another leader of the defense and has beenbrhonored with donning the “Backers” towel that is passed down to a linebackerbreach season.
“It'sbrsomething we do within the position,” he said. “You look at it, and it has guysbrgoing way back. Last year, it was Jacob Copeland and after the year the playersbrjust talk and decide who is going to get it the next season.”
Other keybrpieces in the front seven are senior Brock Gaskill, juniors Alex Kingston (DL)brand Michael Parrish (LB) and sophomores Quinten Bunten (DL) and Graham Faloonabr(LB).
Sophomorebrdefensive back RJ Mickens — the son of former NFL player Ray Mickens — tookbradvantage of an increase in playing time due to an injury to Oklahoma signeebrRobert Barnes last season and parlayed the chance into first-team all-districtbrhonors after recording three interceptions.
Thebrsophomore is considered a blue-chip recruit in his class and gives Carroll onebrof the premier secondary players in the area.
Mickens hasbrplenty of support, however, including two-way player and senior Darryl Crockett,brseniors Hayden Hayes (cornerback), Dale Belnap (safety) and Joe DeVincenzobr(cornerback) and sophomore Jake Fex (safety).
Belnap andbrHayes are confident in how the secondary has come together throughout springbrand fall camp, and that the position — and defense as a whole — has placed anbradded emphasis on creating turnovers this season.
“We didn'tbrdo as much of that last year as we would have liked to and it could have made abrbig difference,” Hayes said.
“We want tobrbe a defense that gets to the ball,” Belnap added. “The defenses that get tobrthe ball and make plays win, so that's the plan.”
As noted,brthe Dragons lost a ton of talent from their 2016 defense resulting in the squadbrstarting an unprecedented number of sophomores in a season opener.
Given thebrdefensive effort against a physical and formidable opponent, Hal Wasson and thebrDragons are understandably excited about the prospects of the unit.
“In ourbrscrimmage against Arlington, I was really impressed with the way they ranbraround to the ball and played with a chipiness and attitude,” he said.
Thatbrcontinued in the opener against Broken Arrow where Carroll's defense stayedbrtrue to its mantra of “stop the run” and limited its opponent to 190 totalbryards, including just 31 rushing on 27 attempts.
“Ourbrexperienced guys really came through for us,” Hal Wasson said. “Jacob, Ryan andbrMatt really toed the line for us and it was a good night for the defense. Theybrwere really hungry.”
Limiting abrpower football team bodes well for Carroll's prospects in district, as thebrDragons will have to contend with the likes of standout running backs andbroffensive lines at Trinity (Courage Keihn) and Marcus (Justin Dinka), amongbrothers.
“There arebrsome great players in our district, but we're going to be ready for them,”brThompson said.
“The Trinitybrgame is the one I am looking forward to most,” Doddridge added. “They're abrgreat program and that's the week when the coaches are really going crazy andbreveryone is fired up.”
But notbrsurprisingly, for secondary member Crockett, it's the regular-season finalebragainst Hebron that he has circled.
“They havebrincredible receivers over there and a great quarterback in Clayton Tune,” hebrsaid. “Guys like Jaren Mitchell and Trejan Bridges and a transfer from Coppellbrnamed David Leonte … I know a lot of those guys from playing growing up and Ibrcan't wait for us to get out there and match up with them.”
Despite thebrabundance of talent in 5-6A and on Carroll's non-district schedule, anotherbrgoal for the unit according to Thompson is limiting opponents to 21 points orbrfewer.
The Dragonsbrchecked that off in their opener against Broken Arrow after doing so eightbrtimes in 12 games a year ago.
Should thatbrtrend continue, and as the Dragons grow up and gain camaraderie and experience,brthey should only improve.
Wassonbrbelieves that, combined with a consistent offense, his defense will help keepbrCarroll on the path to success.
“I've saidbrit before, but I really like this group,” he said. “We have strong leaders andbrI'm excited about the personality of our guys and the team and the blueprintbrthat is being laid out.”
Thatbrfoundation is already beginning to show and Doddridge is hopeful that by thebrtime the postseason rolls around, Carroll will not only be competing for thebr18th consecutive season, but will be primed for a deeper playoff run.
“We have abrvery challenging schedule, so we should definitely be prepared,” he said. “The firstbrgoal for us as seniors is to get passed the second round (of the playoffs).brThat's what it's all about. Everyone talks about how crazy it is when you getbrdeep in the playoffs and Carroll has a tradition of doing that.”