No matter how this season turns out, it’s sure to be a memorable one. Against the backdrop of COVID-19 and following the cancellation of the highly anticipated Dodge vs. Dodge game, Carroll ISD released the new 2020 varsity football schedule on August 12.
The regular season is sure to be worth the wait with both new and returning teams getting ready to face off against the Dragons. Last season, Southlake Carroll went 13-1 after losing in the playoffs to Duncanville. With a new season on the horizon and five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers, a recent Longhorn commit, the Dragons have set their sights on the state championship.
Scrimmage Start
When fans first see Southlake Carroll play, it will be during a scrimmage against DeSoto on September 24. DeSoto and the Dragons have a long history, with the teams playing each other every year since 2016. After losing to the Eagles in 2016 by 48-30, the Dragons have more than made up that loss by beating DeSoto 33-15 in 2017, 41-20 in 2018 and 37-15 in 2019. Though this game is a scrimmage, the season will be off to a great start should history repeat itself.
Rocky Sights
Following the scrimmage against DeSoto, the regular season will get underway in games against Rockwall Heath and Rockwall. The first regular season game will be at Dragon Stadium against Rockwall Heath on October 2. While the Dragons haven’t played Rockwall Heath in the last couple of seasons, they have a familiar opponent in Rockwall. Southlake Carroll came out on top against the team in 2016 and 2017.
As for the team with the better record, that honor goes to Rockwall. Last season, the team had a 12-3 overall record and a 5-1 district record, according to MaxPreps. Rockwall Heath’s overall record last season was 5-5 and their district record was 2-4. Compare that to Southlake Carroll’s overall record of 13-1 and their district record of 7-0 from last season and it looks like the Dragons will dominate in these games.
Familiar Faces
Longtime Dragon football fans will recognize the next few teams the Dragons are set to play. On October 16, Southlake Carroll will take on Denton Guyer High School at home, followed by an away game against Byron Nelson on October 22. Last season, the Dragons came out on top against both teams — beating Denton Guyer by 46-34 and Byron Nelson by 49-0.
Quinn Ewers played a big part in both those wins. Against Denton Guyer, he was responsible for six of the eight touchdowns and against Byron Nelson, he passed 25 for 30 for 312 yards, an 83% pass completion rate. With Ewers back for another season, here’s hoping he can do it again.
Keller Time
The latter half of the season will feature crosstown rivals of Southlake Carroll: Keller, Keller Central, Keller Timber Creek and Keller Fossil Ridge. Last season, the Dragons dominated all the Keller teams, outscoring them 202-36 in only four games. Breaking that score down, the Dragons won their game against Keller, Keller Central, Keller Timber Creek and Keller Fossil Ridge by 56-14, 35-7, 49-8 and 62-7, respectively.
October 30 will pit the Dragons against Keller and November 6 will see the Dragons take on Keller Central. The last two regular games will see the Dragons take on Keller Timber Creek on November 25 and Keller Fossil Ridge on December 4. These four games are sure to be good, especially given the Dragons’ history.
Southlake Carroll Stats
The Dragons will play this season with a variety of accolades under their belts. In July, MaxPreps named Southlake Carroll the most dominant high school football team in Texas and as of right now, ranks Southlake Carroll at No. 11 nationally and No. 7 statewide.
And even Southlake Carroll’s individual players are making names for themselves. Three players — Quinn Ewers, Joe McFadden and Cinque Williams — made the Preseason Texas All-State High School Football Team and wide receiver Brady Boyd was named to the “Sports Illustrated” All-American Watch List as well as to “Dallas Morning News’” list of returning stat leaders.
The accolades keep coming for Quinn Ewers, who was named the Sophomore of the Year by MaxPreps. Ewers was also named "ESPN’s” No. 1 recruit, is a “Dallas Morning News” returning stat leader and received five-star status as a quarterback.
With all the talent playing for Southlake Carroll this year, the 2020 football season is looking like it’s going to be a good one.