Two of high school football’s most celebrated powerhouses will meet under the lights of Dallas’ historic Cotton Bowl Stadium on Thursday to kick off the 2026 season. Dubbed the "State Line Showdown," eight-time Texas state champion Southlake Carroll clashes with 18-time Oklahoma state champion Jenks in an interstate opener packed with high-stakes storylines.
Transition and Fresh Faces in Southlake
The Dragons enter 2026 in uncharted territory. Following Riley Dodge’s departure to join the coaching staff at SMU, former defensive coordinator Lee Munn was promoted to head coach to lead the program.
Munn, who has directed Carroll’s defense since 2018, faces the immediate challenge of reloading. The Dragons lost a massive senior class that powered deep postseason runs, forcing a young, revamped roster to step up right away. While the program’s championship standard remains unchanged, Thursday’s opener serves as an immediate trial-by-fire for Carroll's new starters facing elite competition.
Dragons to Watch
Offensive Wall: Senior offensive tackle Luke Wilson and interior lineman Tristan Dare anchor a physical offensive line that boasts Power Four recruiting pedigree.
Dynamic WR Duo: Wide receivers Blake Gunter (1,224 receiving yards, 18 TDs in 2025) and tall red-zone weapon Brody Knowles (816 receiving yards, 7 TDs) give the Dragons one of the state's most lethal pass-catching tandems.
Defensive Leaders: Linebacker Landon Harris and defensive end Kyle Duross take over primary leadership duties to anchor Coach Munn’s new-look front seven.
Loaded Jenks Aims to Spoil the Party
Unlike Carroll’s defensive rebuilding process, head coach Adam Gaylor’s Jenks Trojans arrive in Dallas with a battle-tested squad. Coming off a 10-2 campaign in 2025 where they averaged 53 points per game, the Trojans return 16 total starters (eight on each side of the ball).
Efficient Passing Attack: Senior quarterback Landon Kizzar returns after passing for 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns last year with a 74% completion rate.
Power-4 Target: Kizzar’s primary weapon is two-way star Kailib Dillard, an elite receiver with multiple SEC/Big Ten offers who posted 1,300 receiving yards and four interceptions in 2025.
Stout Trenches & Defense: Up front, 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackle Odaefe Oruru anchors a physical offensive line, while defensive tackle Luke McInelly and linebacker Nashua Charlson lead a fast, aggressive Trojan defense.
Expect a thrilling battle in one of football's most iconic venues as a new Dragon era begins.