by Justin Thomas
The District 5-6A season gets underway on Friday whenbrFlower Mound travels to Carroll.
The Dragons enter at 2-1 with wins over Broken Arrow ofbrOklahoma (21-14) and Rockwall (52-38) with a loss to ranked Arlington Martinbr(50-33).
The Jaguars, meanwhile, are 1-2 opening with a rout ofbrDallas W.T. White (44-0) before falling to Keller Fossil Ridge (42-30) andbrKeller Timber Creek (22-7).
“They're a well-coached team that plays with a lot ofbrdiscipline,” said Hal Wasson, Carroll head coach. “They're always in the placesbrthey need to be and they play hard. They're an improved team from a year agobrand they're going to be a challenge, no doubt.”
While the season is still young, Flower Mound has alreadybrendured its fair share of adversity as it lost starting quarterback andbrall-district performer Jackson Averitt to a season-ending injury in week 2.
As a result, sophomore Blake Short has had to take overbrunder center and in one-plus games of action has completed 25-of-47 passes forbr254 yards and one touchdown against one interception.
“He's a young guy that hasn't been out there much, butbrhe's talented,” Wasson said. “I think back to when Kenny Hill started for us abrsophomore and how much he improved each week with more experience and I expectbrthe same for (Short).”
Flower Mound's top targets in the passing game have beenbrJake Welch (15 receptions, 244 yards) and Simon Balleux (13 catches, 155bryards), while a trio of running backs are handling carries on the groundbrheadlined by Aaron Dixon (35 rushes, 187 yards, five touchdowns).
“They're a spread team with talented skill players,”brWasson said. “It's going to fun to see how our defense reacts and what wrinklesbrthey have in store for us and they adapt to a new quarterback.”
Carroll should also benefit from a healthier unitbrfollowing the bye week after multiple starters were out in the win overbrRockwall.
Defensively, the Jaguars are led by all-state linebackerbrand reigning 5-6A Defensive Player of the Year Connor Lee.
“(Lee) is an outstanding player and their front sixbrplayers are very impressive,” Wasson said. “It's a scrappy unit that plays withbrgood technique and our offensive line is really going to be challenged, but webrhad a great week of preparation.”
Last year, Carroll topped the Jaguars on the road inbrconvincing fashion, 42-7.
The Dragons are hopeful for a similar result in 2017 andbrWasson and the Dragons are excited to open district in front of the Carrollbrfaithful.
“In our last home game against Rockwall, our studentbrsection was just amazing,” Wasson said. “They were loud and into it and ourbrplayers and coaches really fed off it. We are very appreciative and hopefullybrthat same support and atmosphere will really help us.”