Just as the cool winter weather breaks, so too has the Southlake Carroll football schedule for 2023.
After an impressive 13-1 season and the graduation of several key players, including all-time leading rusher Owen Allen, the 2023 roster will have plenty of new names and faces. However, this year’s schedule will be quite familiar to Dragon faithful as it is a mirror image of the 2022 season with the same weekly matchup of teams.
The season will officially begin on Aug. 25 when the Dragons host El Paso Eastwood. The Dragons defeated the Troopers in El Paso in last year’s season opener 66-14. This year’s season opener will be at home and will bring even more excitement than usual, as the Dragons' field will be ceremoniously renamed the Bob Ledbetter Field in recognition of the Carroll Hall of Fame football coach. In 17 seasons with Ledbetter at the helm, the Dragons won 208 games including three 16-0 state championship seasons (1988, 1992, 1993) and a national record 72 consecutive regular season wins.
Two more non-district games will follow on Sept. 1 and 8 against Flower Mound Marcus and Cedar Hill, respectively. District play is set to begin on Sept. 14 in a game against Keller Timber Creek, followed by games against Haltom, Keller and Keller Central on Sept. 22, Oct. 5 and Oct. 13.
The end of the regular season will see the Dragons take on Eaton on Oct. 19, Byron Nelson on Oct. 27 and Fossil Ridge on Nov. 3, after which postseason play will begin.
2023 Southlake Carroll Football Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 17 — Arlington | Arlington High School | 7 p.m. (Scrimmage)
Friday, Aug. 25 — El Paso Eastwood | Dragon Stadium (Bob Ledbetter Field) | 7 p.m. (Green Out/DYF Night/Field Dedication)
Friday, Sept. 1 — Flower Mound Marcus | Dragon Stadium (Bob Ledbetter Field) | 7 p.m. (Emerald Belles' 60th Anniversary)
Friday, Sept. 8 — Cedar Hill | Longhorn Stadium | 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 14 — Keller Timber Creek | KISD Athletics Complex | 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22 — Haltom | Dragon Stadium (Bob Ledbetter Field) | 7 p.m. (Homecoming)
BYE WEEK
Thursday, Oct. 5 — Keller | KISD Athletics Complex | 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 — Keller Central | Dragon Stadium (Bob Ledbetter Field) | 7 p.m. (Pink Out)
Thursday, Oct. 19 — Eaton | Northwest ISD Stadium | 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 — Byron Nelson | Northwest ISD Stadium | 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3 — Keller Fossil Ridge | Dragon Stadium (Bob Ledbetter Field) | 7 p.m. (Senior Night)