From L to R: Jack Johansson, Carson Green, Mason Holmes and Kole Ramage lead the Dragons offense into battle. Photo by Bludoor Studios
by Ej Holland
Dragon football is back.
After a strong spring, grueling season and productive fallbrcamp, Southlake Carroll is ready to get back on the field and continue thebrstoried program's tradition of excellence.
Throughout the offseason, Southlake Carroll head coach HalbrWasson said he has preached one word over and over again — consistency.
“We've really focused on being consistent,” Wasson says. “Webrchallenged our team all offseason to be consistent. We demand consistencybrphysically, mentally and emotionally to give us an edge.”
There is no doubt Southlake Carroll will need to bebrconsistent in its first game of the year. The Dragons open up the seasonbragainst a familiar foe in Oklahoma juggernaut Tulsa Union on Friday at 7 p.m.brat Dragon Stadium.
Tulsa Union won a district title last year, advanced to thebrsecond round of the playoffs and brings back a slew of talented players.
“They are obviously a powerhouse in Oklahoma,” Wasson says.br“They are extremely talented and well-coached. They are a very confident teambrwith all the success they've had. They have playmakers all over the place.”
Southlake Carroll has knocked off Tulsa Union by four points last season and a combinedbrfive points over the last two years, and Wasson expects the Dragons to bebrinvolved in yet another thriller.
“We have to be at our best right out of the gate to beat abrteam like that,” Wasson says. “We've played them twice over the last two years,brand each time it's come down to the last play — literally. We have to getbrout to a good start.”
Due to graduation, Southlake Carroll will be withoutbroffensive juggernauts Lil' Jordan Humphrey (Texas), Zach Farrar (Oklahoma) andbrShemar Coleman who collectively represented more than 4,500 yards of offensebrlast season. The good news is the return of some stability and leadership frombrreturning quarterback Mason Holmes. Now a senior and captain, Holmes looks tobrimprove upon his stellar numbers from a year ago when he threw for 2,899 yardsbrand 38 TDs against just five picks.
Holmes should have time to throw with thanks to anbrexperienced offensive line led by Texas A&M commit Carson Green, Cade Longbrand Justin Lee who all saw plenty of action a year ago.
But that's where the experience ends. Understandably so, thebrreceivers and backs are inexperienced at the skill positions. Young playersbrlike senior running back Jack Johansson and wide receivers Jackson Davis andbrCade Bell will have to grow up in a hurry against a stout Tulsa Union defensivebrthat features Oklahoma cornerback commit Tre Brown and Minnesota linebackerbrpledge Kyrei Fisher.
Tulsa Union, which averaged 43.8 points per game lastbrseason, leans heavily on its ground game, which is led by Tulsa commit ShamaribrBrooks. The Redskins also have an X-Factor in 6-foot-5 junior wide receiver CJbrMoore. Southlake Carroll returns nine starters on defense, but Tulsa Unionbrdefinitely poses a daunting task.
Overall, Wasson believes the key to the game will be winningbrthe battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball. And that means guys likebrLuke Jeter, Ryan Miller and Grant Phelps will need to play at their highest.
“It's going to come down to the fronts — our offensivebrand defensive lines,” Wasson says. “I really believe that. We have to be much,brmuch stronger against the run. On the flip side, we have to be much better inbrour run offense. Both the groups have to be at their best.”