Southlake Carroll Offensive linemen (L-R) Tristan Dare, Carey Clayton and Luke Wilson power an immensely talented squad in 2025.
Friday nights are electric in Southlake.
The lights cut through the Texas dusk, the stands pulse with green and black, and the air hums with the sense that something big is always about to happen.
In 2025, that “something” is the Carroll Dragons’ offense — and they’re ready to put on a show no one will forget.
This isn’t just a talented unit. It’s an experienced group that rolls in and takes over, leaving defensive coordinators awake at 3 a.m., scribbling adjustments. From the opening snap in August to what they hope is a championship celebration in Arlington, this offense will set the tone.
There’s a chip on this unit’s shoulder: the sting of last year’s title-game heartbreak against Austin Vandergrift, where the offense scored just 17 points, hasn’t faded. This isn’t just a team chasing redemption — it’s one that plans to seize it.
“So far, so good,” said head coach Riley Dodge.
“We’re early, but we’re already ahead of where we were last year,” Dodge said. “With everyone we had coming back, I’m really excited about just the football IQ of the team. We did a lot of things well to get to [the state championship game] last season. But we can tweak our day-to-day this year, and focus on the details. It’s not about reinventing the wheel, but I do want us to be a better practicing football team.”
Every title contender needs an elite quarterback — and Carroll has one. Senior Angelo Renda, a University of Pittsburgh commit, returns after throwing for nearly 4,000 yards last season. He leads an offense returning nearly all of its starting skill players, plus the core of what could be one of the state’s top offensive lines.
Renda fits Dodge’s system perfectly: a passer who can stretch the field and extend plays with his legs. Dodge, who also serves as quarterbacks coach, has seen Renda grow into a dynamic leader. Dodge, of course, was no slouch at the position: during his run at Carroll, Dodge was a two-time Parade All-American who threw for 8,642 yards and 101 touchdowns, while rushing for 3,062 yards and 43 touchdowns.
“I’m so blessed to have Coach Dodge and the other coaches that are on this team,” Renda said. “I’ve got a lot of great coaches and great minds that are in my ear on the sideline. And now that I’ve been in this offense for a few years I’m seeing things a lot better – blitzes, different defenses and better ways to get my guys the ball.”
If Renda is reading the field better in 2025, opponents should be worried. Last year, he guided a unit that averaged nearly 50 points and 457 yards per game.
“We’re explosive,” he said. “We can be a top team in Texas.”
Southlake Carroll's 2025 passing game is second to none thanks to returning starters Brock Boyd, Angelo Renda and Blake Gunter.
That explosiveness starts with the receiving corps — arguably one of the best in the state — led by senior Brock Boyd. The Ohio State commit racked up 1,690 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns last season, and dominated the state title game with 13 catches, 178 yards and two scores. He was named District 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year and earned First Team All-District and All-Area honors.
Boyd is on track to break the all-time Carroll receiving record early this season — a likely milestone in what he hopes is a championship run.
“It’s super exciting to be in this offense again,” Boyd said. “We have a lot of weapons. Defenses can’t always roll coverage towards me, because we have other guys that can eat.”
While Boyd is the clear WR1, Carroll’s depth at receiver is a major threat. Luc Jaquemard, considered the fastest player on the team, brings breakaway speed. Brody Knowles, at 6-foot-6, offers a physical mismatch and is already drawing college attention. Blake Gunter, a junior breakout, adds reliability and clutch playmaking. In 2024, the trio combined for 35 touchdowns and 199 receptions.
“The attention that Brock gets, that’s only going to help out our other three spectacular receivers,” Dodge said. “It was interesting — teams that don’t roll coverage to Brock, he usually has a heyday against them. But we’re so well-balanced with our receivers you have to pick your poison with us.”
The running game is no less dangerous. The 2024 squad featured a dynamic backfield tandem in Riley Wormley and Davis Penn, plus Renda’s 667 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Wormley has graduated, but Penn is ready for a lead role.
Senior running back Davis Penn is ready to balance out the most feared offense in the state.
As a sophomore, Penn rushed for 1,577 yards and 30 touchdowns. Last season, he added 1,040 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns while splitting time. Now a senior, he’s healthy, motivated and prepared to be the featured back.
Penn blends strength and speed, making him a perfect complement to Carroll’s air attack. Stack the box, and Renda will beat you deep. Drop into coverage, and Penn will punish you between the tackles.
“I’m looking to prove myself coming off of an injury,” Penn said. “I’ve put so much hard work and dedication into coming back. Really not even for me, I want to be there for my teammates and show them what I can do to help this team.”
Penn added that the offense is “firing on all cylinders” early in the year.
“We aren’t really trying to prove anything, but we do keep raising the bar internally,” he said. “That’s what we need to do to win state.”
Penn also has an incentive plan — one that keeps the big guys up front happy.
“If I treat them right, they’ll take care of me,” he laughed, “For every 150-yard game I have, I buy them donuts.”
And that offensive line might just be the engine of it all. The unit is anchored by senior Carey Clayton at center, flanked by highly recruited juniors Tristan Dare and Luke Wilson – both of whom have committed to top college programs in Michigan (Dare) and Oklahoma (Wilson). Along with returning starter Nathan Domeracki, the size, athleticism, and cohesion of this unit could make this line one of Carroll’s best in recent memory.
They’ll be tasked with protecting Renda and clearing paths for Penn — both of which they seem more than capable of doing.
“I think we’re going to be one of those monster o-lines,” said Clayton, a University of Memphis commit. “This is one of the biggest lines I can remember [at Carroll]. I think we’re going to make a big statement. And especially how we’ve developed this offseason, I think we can really be those guys. We’re really well-rounded overall.”
Special teams might fly under the radar, but Carroll’s unit is elite — arguably the best in the state. Senior kicker Gavin Strange and punter Zachary Hays are both ranked No. 2 nationally at their positions — a rare feat for one program.
Strange gives Carroll a scoring threat anywhere past midfield, while Hays can flip field position and pin opponents deep. Both are more than just specialists — they’re playmakers. Strange logged 41 tackles last season. Hays had 10.5 sacks.
Strange is committed to Duke. Hays will play at Louisiana Tech.
With star power at every position, veteran leadership, and a chip on their shoulder, the 2025 Carroll Dragons offense is aiming to be legendary. Fueled by redemption and built on preparation, talent, and trust, this group has the tools to light up Friday nights and silence any doubters left from last year’s heartbreak. From explosive plays to relentless execution, they’re not just chasing a title — they’re determined to take it.