After the cancellation of the highly anticipated Dodge v. Dodge game and the delay of the regular season, Dragon football fans have been waiting a long time to see their team play. But the wait is finally over. The first time Southlake Carroll will take to the field will be on September 24 in a scrimmage against DeSoto High School at Dragon Stadium. Before you don your Dragon gear to watch the game, here are some things to know.
Tickets Will Be Sold Online, Masks Are Required At Dragon Stadium
This season, ticket sales, game attendance and game attire will look a little bit different thanks to the pandemic. The first thing to know is that all tickets will be general admission — season pass holders will be able to buy tickets earlier and enter Dragon Stadium earlier than the general public. Additionally, masks will be required while at Dragon Stadium and guests must practice social distancing. Dragon Stadium will also operate at 50% capacity so make sure to get your tickets early.
The Regular Season Will Start After This Game
With the graduation of last year’s seniors, this game will act as a final dress rehearsal, allowing Coach Dodge to evaluate this year’s talent. The regular season will officially get underway after they play DeSoto — in a game against Rockwall Heath on October 2 at Dragon Stadium. Chances are high that the next time the Dragons see DeSoto, it’ll be in the playoffs. In the last three years, Southlake Carroll played DeSoto in the playoffs and not in the regular season.
Southlake Carroll And DeSoto Are Among The Top 10 Teams in the State
Both Southlake Carroll and DeSoto are dominant teams this season. DeSoto is currently ranked No. 9 in the state while Southlake Carroll is ranked No. 6 in the state, according to MaxPreps. Nationally speaking, both teams are also among the Top 50 teams in the state. DeSoto is currently ranked at No. 41 and Southlake Carroll is currently ranked at No. 11, according to MaxPreps. So while this scrimmage isn’t officially part of the regular season, it’ll definitely be exciting to see these top tier teams playing each other.
The Dragons Have Come Out On Top For The Past Three Years
DeSoto and Southlake Carroll are no strangers to each other. For the past three years, Southlake Carroll has outscored DeSoto 111-50. When broken down by year, the Dragons came out on top against DeSoto by 33-15 in 2017, 41-20 in 2018 and 37-15 in 2019. With history and talent on their side, the Dragons have the advantage going into their first game. And should history repeat itself, it’s sure to be a great game.
DeSoto Has A Three-Star Quarterback, Samari Collier
Leading the team for DeSoto is a highly talented, three-star quarterback in Samari Collier. Samari is currently a senior and is ranked No. 86 on “The Dallas Morning News”’ list of top 2021 recruits. And he’s not the only DeSoto player to make that list — five other DeSoto standouts are also a part of that list. Last year, Samari recorded 2,367 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns and only eight interceptions. The Dragon defense will definitely have their work cut out for them when they face off against DeSoto and Samari Collier.