by Justin Thomas
Facing a Euless Trinity squad with a record at or belowbr.500 is a rarity.
But head coach Hal Wasson and the Dragons know all toobrwell how talented the Trojans are regardless of their mark.
Factor in the Trojans are as healthy as they have beenbrall season and fans figure to be treated to one of the more high-profilebrcontests in the Metroplex this year when two traditional powers that havebrcombined for 11 state titles square off tonight at Bedford's Pennington Field .
Trinity enters at 2-2 with losses to Tulsa Unionbr(reigning Oklahoma state champ) and Colleyville Heritage and wins overbrMontgomery and last Friday in its 5-6A opener against Lewisville (42-0).
The Trojans are hopeful for the return of all-districtbrrunning back Courage Keihn (1,557 yards and 15 touchdowns last season) onbrFriday after missing each of the past two games, but wide receiver andbrlinebacker Brandon Theus has excelled in the backfield during Keihn's absence,brincluding galloping for 180 yards and two scores in the win over the Farmers.brKaterian Lewis and Ja'Lon Wilson also have 100-yard games under theirbrrespective belts this season.
“They're a very good football team,” Wasson said. “Theybrhave a couple of losses, but one was against a great team in Tulsa Union andbrthe other was a tough game against Colleyville Heritage. They've had four orbrfive guys out, though, and had a different look against Lewisville when theybrgot some of them back. It was different certainly in a good way for them andbrthey're looking like a typical athletic, physical Trinity team now.”
Linebacker John Miscall (47) forces a Euless Trinity fumble as the Dragons defeated rival Euless Trinity by a score of 42-28 at Dragon Stadium on September 30, 2016. Photo by SnappedDragons.com/S. Johnson.
Last year against the Dragons, Keihn rushed for 223 yardsbrand a touchdown on 23 carries but it wasn't enough as Carroll prevailed for a 42-28 victory in a game that was tied, 28-28, at halftime.
Under center, the Trojans look to Laki Ellis, who hasbrcompleted 27-of-56 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns with nobrinterceptions. His top target has been 6-foot-4 receiver Keanu Hill (11brreceptions, 160 yards, two touchdowns).
Trinity also boasts its typical talented and beefybroffensive line.
“I don't think we've really seen anything quite like thembrso far,” Wasson said. “Broken Arrow liked to run the ball, but it's not likebrTrinity. Arlington Martin was very effective running the ball against us thoughbrand we know we're going to have to have a lot better effort than that againstbrTrinity.”
Effort and discipline have been buzz words for thebrDragons this week following a 5-6A opener in which Carroll held off FlowerbrMound, 45-31.
The Dragons led by just seven points midway through thebrfourth quarter despite more than doubling the Jaguars in yardage (656-300).
“We're going on the road into a tough environment,”brWasson said. “We have to play with more discipline and have more effort. That'sbrreally what I am wanting to see from our guys this week.”
Offensively, Carroll will face an odd-man front thatbrsurrendered at least 30 points in its first three games before blankingbrLewisville last week and allowing just 89 yards.
“They have a great defensive end that they've gotten backbrand have some very good players in the secondary,” Wasson said. “They're fastbrand physical and are going to be a great test for us.”