Even before the season started, Southlake Carroll’s football team was preparing for its new starters. After a few offensive players and nearly the entire defense graduated, varsity positions were ripe for the picking. Now nearly halfway through the season, these new Dragon starters are making names for themselves. Here’s who to keep your eye on for the rest of this season.
Landon Samson
During his first game, Landon Samson caught for 58 yards and a touchdown. After senior wide receiver Brady Boyd was injured after the first game of the season, Landon stepped up. In their second game of the season, the junior wide receiver caught for 130 yards and a touchdown. He continues to keep his numbers high. In the most recent game against Byron Nelson, Landon was a standout after catching for 136 yards and two touchdowns. With Boyd out for the foreseeable future, this wide receiver is sure to continue making moves this season and beyond.
RJ Maryland
A junior tight end, RJ Maryland is making a name for himself and stepping out of the shadow of his dad. The son of former Dallas Cowboy Russell Maryland, RJ is among those stepping up after Brady Boyd got injured. In the first game of the season, this Dragon caught for 86 yards and a touchdown. RJ then followed up that performance by catching for 106 yards and two touchdowns during the second game of the season against Rockwall. With the next game against the Keller Indians on the horizon, don’t sleep on RJ. He’s sure to keep shining throughout the rest of this season and next season.
Josh Spaeth
The last of our offensive new varsity starters to watch, Josh Spaeth rounds out the bloc filling in for Brady Boyd. With Samson and Maryland, this junior wide receiver continues to make plays and touchdowns. In the Dragons’ first three games, Josh has caught for 108 yards and a touchdown. And those numbers should only increase in the coming weeks. Whether he’s making crucial catches or catching a touchdown, don’t let Josh Spaeth out of your sight.
Benecio Porras
The doors were left wide open for this year’s defensive starters. One of the newbies, a junior linebacker, has quickly made a name for himself. Only three games in, Benecio Porras has 31 tackles and caused a fumble. Of those 31 tackles, 23 were solo, meaning Benecio is a lean, mean defensive machine. With five more regular season games on the schedule, there’s no telling what this defensive powerhouse will be able to accomplish.
Avyonne Jones
Junior defensive back Avyonne Jones quickly made a name for himself in the first game of the season. When the Dragons took on Rockwall-Heath, Jones made an impressive interception that eventually led to Southlake Carroll’s third touchdown of the night. When he’s not making interceptions, Avyonne stops offenses. Since the beginning of the regular season, he’s made 18 total tackles and knocked down six passes — the latter of which he leads the defense in. Whether it’s knocking down passing, tackling a receiver or intercepting a quarterback’s pass, Avyonne is proving his talent game after game.
Travis Keener
Junior defensive lineman Travis Keener isn’t just a new varsity starter — he’s also the only Dragons captain on defense. Making 18 total tackles this season, Travis is slowly but surely earning his stripes. His best game of the season so far was when the Dragons took on the Rockwall Yellowjackets when he recorded seven tackles on the night. With almost half the regular season still to come, this captain has a big future ahead of him.