by EJ Holland
Southlake Carroll made a statement last Friday night.
The Dragons played one of their best and most complete gamesbrof the season as they dominated Wylie in all three phases of the game en routebrto an impressive 28-3 victory in the opening round of the playoffs.
“Any time you win a football game this time of year, it'sbrmonumental,” said head coach Hal Wasson. “It was a great team win. We are proudbrof our players and coaches. It's always great to get that first playoff winbrunder your belt. From where this team started to where they are now, I'm sobrproud.”
But the journey isn't over just yet.
Southlake Carroll will continue riding on the road to statebrthis Friday at Plano's Kimbrough Stadium when it faces perhaps its toughestbrtest of the season in state and nationally ranked South Dallas powerhousebrDeSoto, which boasts a perfect 11-0 record.
Audricke Gaines turns up
the speed en route to 4 TDs
vs Hebron as the Dragons
defeated Hebron 52-34 at
Dragon Stadium for the
outright District
Championship. Photo by
SnappedDragons.com
Wasson, however, made it clear that the Dragons aren'tbrconcerning themselves with the hype surrounding DeSoto. Instead, they'rebrfocused on playing their best game.
“I think we have to keep the focus on ourselves,” Wassonbrsaid. “We have to be a better version of ourselves. We can't change the way webrdo things. We have to be at our best. Our coaches have to be at their best. Ourbrfan base has to be at their best. It's going to take a collective effort.
“DeSoto has had great success over the years. We played thembrin 2012, and that's the game they got us 49-45. We know they have outstandingbrtalent over there. I have a lot of respect for them. It's going to be a greatbrchallenge.”
This year's version of DeSoto features a powerful offensebraveraging an eye-opening 48 points per game. The unit is led by TCU quarterbackbrcommit Shawn Robinson, who helped Denton Guyer knock off Southlake Carroll inbrthe playoffs a year ago.
Robinson has an array of weapons at his disposal includingbrColorado wide receiver commits KD Nixon and Laviska Shenault as well asbrWisconsin wide receiver pledge Emmet Perry. The offensive line is one of thebrbest in country with three Power Five conference commits up front.
“We've seen Robinson the last two years, and he's had greatbrsuccess against us,” Wasson said. “He's a talented young man. He's got a big,brphysical offensive line. They have speed at wide receiver and running back. Webrhave to do a good job of being disciplined, tackling and taking good angles.”
DeSoto isn't too shabby on the defensive side of the ballbreither. The Eagles have given up fewer than 20 points in 9 of their 11 gamesbrthis season. Every starter in their secondary holds an FBS offer.
“They're very fast and athletic on that side of the ball,”brWasson said. “We have to be balanced. We can't say we're going to run the ballbrevery play. We need a balanced offense and we need to be at our best to winbrthis game.”
The emergence of Carroll's running attack behind senior RB Audricke Gaines (1,419 yards and 20 TDs) and the ever-present passing threat spearheaded by senior QB Mason Holmes (146-237 2,211 yards and 15TDs) prove to be a well-balanced options for Wasson's Dragons. When combined with a stout defense giving up just 16 points per game the Dragons are full of key players who are expected to give DeSoto all they can handle.