by EJ Holland
Southlake Carroll head coach Hal Wasson is no stranger tobrbizarre endings.
While there was no silver fox involved this time around, thebrending to Southlake Carroll’s first round 37-33 win over Cedar Hill was interesting to say the least.
On the first play of Cedar Hill's final drive, the Longhornsbrsaw an errant snap go through the back of the end zone — Southlake Carroll wasbrrewarded a safety and subsequently won the game.
It was the only points Southlake Carroll scored in thebrsecond half against the 6A Division II state champions.
“Anytime you're that close to the end zone, crazy things canbrhappen,” Wasson said. “I'm not sure why. There was about a two second timebrlapse where I couldn't believe what happened. But it's like I told our playersbrafter the game, that old stadium will tell you things if they listen.”
While Wasson and the Dragons certainly enjoyed the surrealbrfeeling, it's time to get back to business. As Wasson put it, the win wasbrmerely a “guaranteed contract for another 48 minutes of football.”
That will come against Denton Guyer in Allen on Friday night The Wildcats finished the season with a 8-3 overall mark and are coming off abr41-26 win over Hebron in bi-district play. The two last met in last season's 6A Division II Area Round where the Dragons won 58-42 behind 182 yards rushing from Lil'Jordan Humphrey.
What's made Denton Guyer so good this year is its ability tobrrun the football. The Wildcats average an eye-popping 315.6 yards on the groundbrper game. Leading the way is star junior dual-threat quarterback ShawnbrRobinson, a TCU commit.
“It's the same song second verse,” Wasson said. “They havebran electric offense with a great quarterback. He's a phenomenal player. Theybralso have three good running backs and a good offensive line. We're going tobrhave our hands full.”
Denton Guyer hasn't been too shabby on defense either. ThebrWildcats give up just 24.2 points per game. But the Southlake Carroll offensebrhas been clicking as of late, and Wasson is fully confident in his array ofbrplaymakers.
“Defensively, they run well, and they play really hard,”brWasson said. “They're very well coached. We have to keep distributing the ball.brLJ (Lil' Jordan Humhrey) is one of our playmakers, and Shemar (Coleman), Zachbr(Farrar) and Mason (Holmes) have all been getting better. They can make thingsbrhappen.”
Watching Southlake Carroll might not be for the faint ofbrheart, but the Dragons aren't out don't care how they win — getting that W isbrthe only thing that matters.
“Anytime you get a win at this time of year, it'sbrmonumental,” Wasson said. “I'm proud of the passion and effort our team has putbrforth. Now, we have to keep playing hard against another good opponent.”