The SouthlakebrCarroll Dragons (13-0) took their revenge on the Euless Trinity Trojans (10-2)brFriday night, defeating them 35-7 to move on to the quarterfinal round ofbrplayoffs, and ending the Trojans' playoff aspirations.
Despite yetbranother lengthy weather delay at halftime – something the Dragons and theirbrfans have become accustomed to – Carroll took control of the field in the second half to put the game away.
Moving on to thebrDivision I quarterfinal round of the state playoffs, the Dragons will facebrDuncanville, another top competitor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Quarterback and Dragon Pride Player of the Week Will Bowers led Carroll, throwing for 245 yardsbrand two touchdowns, as well as one additional rushing touchdown. Bower’s 78brpercent completion rate was one of his highest of the season. TJ McDaniel alsobrhad his hand in the final score, with two rushing touchdowns and 115 rushingbryards against the Trojans. The tallies bring the Landry Award finalist's rushing stats to 1,971 yards and 33 touchdowns on the season.
The Dragonbrdefense had an outstanding game as well, holding a potent Euless rushing attackbrto just seven points. Graham Faloona led the team with 18 total tackles, whilebrPreston Forney followed closely behind with 17. Griffin Gumm helped contain thebrpassing offense with two knocked down passes, as well as Brandon Howell and SambrWilliams with one each.
A lengthy drivebron the first possession for the Dragons led to a 26-yard pass from Bowers to RJbrMickens in the end zone to put the first seven points on the board for thebrDragons.
The Trojansbrresponded with a long drive of their own on their first possession, resultingbrin a one-yard touchdown from senior running back Brandon Theus, tying the scorebrseven all.
The Dragons werebrquick to up the score on their next possession with a 26-yard touchdown pass tobrJohn Manero, leading the Trojans 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Dragonsbrstruck again early in the second quarter with McDaniel's first touchdown of thebrnight, a nine-yard rush into the end zone, widening the gap 21-7.
Halftime and abrlightning delay came before the Trojans could answer, sending both teams intobrthe locker room with Carroll still leading 21-7.
Once playbrfinally resumed, neither team was able to score in the third quarter, howeverbrthe Dragons bounced back in the fourth quarter ready to seal the game.
Bowers earnedbrhis one rushing touchdown of the night midway through the fourth quarter with abr17-yard rush into the end zone, making the score 28-7.
No answer frombrthe Trojans gave Carroll one more opportunity to get points on the board with abrone-yard touchdown run from McDaniel sealing the score and the Trojans' fatebr35-7.
Coming off thebrwin over Euless Trinity, the Dragons will now prepare for Saturday's 4:30 pm game vs the DuncanvillePanthers (12-0), one of the top defenses in the state..br
