It was a season of unknowns for the Southlake Carroll football team’s defensive unit as they suited up and took the field last year. Full of question marks and unfamiliar names, the Dragons lined up against opposing offenses without a single returning starter.
That inexperience showed itself early into the 2020 campaign as Carroll struggled to keep opponents out of the end zone during its first two contests. The Dragons gave up a total of 101 points in those games, going 1-1 and losing its second game to Rockwall-Heath by a 44-42 margin. But the young defensive corps bounced back and settled in, giving up less than 100 total points over its next five games and becoming a reliable force throughout the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.
“There’s a lot of character on that side of the ball,” says Carroll head football coach Riley Dodge, who saw a defensive unit consisting mostly of juniors grow up in a hurry last year. “We gave up a lot of points early in the season, and there were probably a lot of people talking about us as a defense not producing, but they just kept getting better and better. They shut down some really good offenses late in the season.”
Dodge and his coaching staff expect that experience to play a huge factor this fall, as nine starters return to a Dragons defensive unit that held opponents at bay for a majority of the 2020 season.
While the defense is strong across the board, with standouts in the secondary, linebacking corps and upfront throughout the defensive line, Dodge says the team’s defensive backs will likely set the tone. Led by senior corner Avyonne Jones, a Wisconsin commit who started for Carroll as a junior, the Dragons will make it hard for passing teams to feel comfortable lobbing it downfield.
Jones will be joined by fellow cornerback Max Reyes, who started all 14 games for Carroll last season, as well as returning safeties in senior Josh Spaeth and junior Logan Anderson. The four defensive backs intercepted a total of five passes (Spaeth with two picks) and registered 185 tackles as a unit in 2020.
Jones, who Dodge describes as a defensive back with great ball skills, says he’s excited about this year’s seasoned defense.
“I feel like it’s potentially the best we’ve ever had come through Southlake,” says Jones, who grabbed an interception and had a team-leading 13 passes defended last year. “We have a lot of really experienced players, kids who just know their jobs. Everyone’s really consistent, which is what I think is the biggest part about having a solid defense and being able to have the kind of run we want to have.”
The linebacking crew will return familiar faces in seniors Benecio Porras, Nate Gall and Allan Kleiman, who bring plenty of energy and hustle to the defensive attack. Those three will be joined by Aaron Scherp, a sophomore with a lot of future promise, as the unit expects to tighten down on opponents’ rushing and passing attempts.
Porras, a captain this year who ranked second on the team in total tackles last season with 89, says he has no concern about slow starts or players needing to get acclimated since this was also the case in 2020.
“We’ve got a bunch of dogs on defense that are coming back better, stronger, smarter,” he says. “This year we’re a lot more nasty, we’re a lot more aggressive and we’re just way smarter. We had a whole year to experience varsity-level football. We can call out formations like that now.”
Senior Barrett Baker, who spent most of his time as a linebacker last year, is expected to play a key role as he splits time between linebacking duties and moving up to the line as a defensive end. Dodge says this move should give the Dragons depth on the defensive line and allow Baker to utilize his pass-rushing ability.
Baker, who led the team in tackles with 94 and registered a team-high three sacks, says he looks forward to helping his team and hopes to provide a spark in both roles. He says his team also wants to turn the disappointment of last season’s loss to Austin Westlake in the 6A Div. I state championship game into motivation to play even better this year.
“We all have a chip on our shoulder still from that last game we played [at state],” Baker says. “We all just want to go out there and punch everyone in the mouth and show them who Southlake really is.”
The battle in the trenches up front should display some of that fight, and Dodge says Carroll’s defensive line possesses the most depth he’s seen in his four years leading the program.
In addition to Baker, returning linemen such as senior Calder Bray (two sacks, five hurries last year), junior Cade Parks (two sacks, eight hurries, one fumble recovery) and senior Travis Keener will make their push to disrupt and stop opposing offenses.
Keener, a captain this season, says that one trait in particular sets this year’s experienced defense apart and gives them an edge.
“Toughness for sure is No. 1 that comes to my mind,” he says. “All 11 guys on that field with green jerseys on are some of the toughest dudes you’ll ever meet. It’s going to take a stretcher to get those guys off the field.
“Those big-time games, where they’re bigger, faster, stronger — it just comes down to who wants it more... I know we all want it more than whoever is going to step in front of us.”
Dodge says he has confidence in the Dragons’ defensive prowess this season. After seeing all that his team overcame and achieved as a younger, less experienced team last year, Carroll looks capable of reaching lofty heights, and the play of the defense should prove to be a big factor in the ride.
“Those kids are now a year older, and they’ve played in some really big-time football games,” Dodge says. “We’re thankful as coaches to have such a veteran group.”