Even before MaxPreps named Southlake Carroll the most dominant high school football team in Texas, the Dragons cultivated a reputation for excellence. From training future NFL players to winning state championships, Southlake Carroll’s football program has proven time and time again why it’s worth watching.
Long History, Big Moments
Southlake Carroll’s road to dominance wasn’t an easy one. It took perseverance, dedication and talent to get the Dragons where they are today.
The Dragon football team was founded in 1961. Since then, has racked up eight state titles — the first coming in 1988. Years Southlake Carroll won back-to-back state championships include 1992 and 1993 as well as 2004, 2005 and 2006. The three-peat came when Todd Dodge served as head coach and led the team to a 48-0 record during the span and a 79-1 record between 2002 and 2006. Dodge’s accomplishments afforded him the rare opportunity to become a Division 1 head coach when he accepted a position at the University of North Texas in 2007.
Big moments for the team can also be seen with individual accomplishments. Multiple Dragons, both players and staff, have received various honors — as head coach, Todd Dodge was named National Coach of the Year twice and the Southlake Citizen of the Year in 2006. After Todd but before Riley, Hal Wasson also made a name for himself as head coach of the Dragons. Wasson led the team to win the 2011 5A State Championship and was named the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year.
Dragon faithful fans are well aware Wasson and the Dodges picked up the tradition from the legend Bob Ledbetter. Ledbetter coached the Dragons to a 113-5-1 record between 1986 and 1993, winning three state championships and breaking the national record of 72 straight regular season wins, according to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Ledbetter was inducted into the Texas HS Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Now as Riley Dodge leads the team, the Dragons continue to dominate. Southlake Carroll went 13-1 in 2019 and Riley received The Landry Award Coach of the Year. And with the 2020 season on the horizon, there’s no telling what these Dragons will be able to accomplish.
Stars in the Making
Besides the current star in Quinn Ewers, Southlake Carroll has a long history of producing NFL-caliber players. Two of the most well-known stars who came out of Southlake are Greg McElroy and Chase Daniel.
If his name doesn’t sound familiar, you’d probably recognize McElroy’s face or voice as he’s a football commentator on "ESPN," the SEC Network and ESPNU Radio. During his time as a Dragon, McElroy, who was a quarterback, led the team to the Texas 5A state championship and was named the 2005 Texas 5A Player of the Year.
Following his high school career, McElroy went on to play for Nick Saban at Alabama — winning the BCS National Championship against Texas and being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. And before he began his broadcasting career, McElroy played in the NFL for the Jets.
Before McElroy’s star rose at Southlake, Chase Daniel was the ace the team depended on. The Dragons won the state championship in 2002 when Daniel was a sophomore wide receiver and then won the championship again in 2004 with Daniel leading the team as quarterback. Those successes in high school led Daniel to being named the 5A Texas State Player of the Year and the EA Sports National Player of the Year.
After graduating as a Dragon, Daniel took his talent to Missouri, taking his team to a win over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl and being named a Heisman Trophy finalist in his junior year. And after college, Daniel joined the New Orleans Saints and was a part of the Super Bowl-winning team in 2010.
Daniel continues to be a star as he begins his 11th season in the NFL after signing with the Detroit Lions, following a two-year stint with the Chicago Bears.
Daniel’s 11 NFL seasons are only one short of fellow Carroll graduate Kris Brown’s. The kicker spent 12 years in the league, playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by a long stretch with the Houston Texans and then playing his last year with the Dallas Cowboys, according to NFL.com.
Modern Dominance
As the 2020 season looms, Southlake Carroll proves excellence has no timeframe. This year’s varsity players are just as accomplished and talented as players from years past.
Current quarterback Quinn Ewers is a perfect example of that. Ewers was named the Sophomore of the Year by MaxPreps.com, “ESPN’s” No. 1 recruit, a Dallas Morning News returning stat leader and received five-star status as a quarterback.
And he’s not the only Dragon to receive recognition. Along with Ewers, Joe McFadden and Cinque Williams made the Preseason Texas All-State High School Football team and wide receiver Brady Boyd was named to the “Sports Illustrated” All-American Watch List as well as to “Dallas Morning News’” list of returning stat leaders.
Other players to receive recognition are Owen Allen, who was also named to the “Dallas Morning News’” list of returning stat leaders and RJ Mickens, who was nominated in “USA Today’s” Sports Awards. With a storied history of excellence behind them and plenty of talent on the team now, there’s no limit to how successful the Dragons can be.