Over the past six seasons, the Dragons have been one of the best teams in the country when it comes to district games and regular season games. Southlake Carroll scored NINE touchdowns in the first half to its way to a 70-28 victory over Eaton at Northwest ISD Stadium in District 4-6A play.
Carroll, #6 in the latest Class 6A state rankings, improved its record to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in district. The Dragons extended their district win streak to 38 games – dating back to the 2018 season, the first for head coach Riley Dodge.
They have also won 35 straight games in the regular season – dating back to 2020.
The Dragons shrugged off a first possession fumble and scored on their fifth play from scrimmage.
Sophomore back Davis Penn ran in a touchdown 30 yards away to give SLC a 7-0 lead with nine minutes left in the first quarter. Then the defense registered a takeaway when an Eaton pass attempt was tipped by Zack Engelhardt and intercepted by Carter High just 17 seconds later.
The Dragons turned it into points.
After QB Graham Knowles (GA Tech commit) hit Clayton Wayland for a 33-yard gain to the 4, junior 4-star running back Riley Wormley punched it in three plays later from the 1 to make it 14-0 with 7:25 on the clock. It was Wormley’s fifth TD in three games with SLC this season. He had three against Keller Central in Week 8.
After another Eaton punt, Carroll went up 21-0 on Penn’s second of the night – a 49-yard TD midway through the quarter. The Dragons closed out a strong opening quarter with their fourth score as Knowles ran it in from the 5 to cap off a 10-play, 79-yard drive.
Knowles hit Brock Boyd for a 55-yard gain and then scored on the ensuing play to make it 35-0 early in the second.
SLC would score 35 points in the second quarter and led 63-14 at intermission.
Knowles connected with Wayland on a 33-yard TD pass to make it 42-7 midway through the frame. Carroll posted its second takeaway on the ensuing Eaton drive when Mitchell Paulsen picked off a pass attempt. Penn scored from the 4 for his third TD of the night and a 49-7 lead.
Eaton fumbled on the kickoff and Austin Bussmann recovered for Carroll.
Penn got his fourth score to push the lead to 56-7 with 2:56 left. A second fumble on the kickoff by the Eagles was picked up by Christian Glenn at the 3. Wormley scored to give Carroll a 63-7 lead.
Eaton’s first TD came from QB Noah Lugo (BYU), who gashed the Carroll D on a 56-yard run. He was able to gash the D once again before the half on a 71-yard TD run. Lugo had 159 yards rushing in two quarters.
Carroll’s starters sat in the second half and the Dragons scored one final touchdown.
Eric Bussman caught a 14-yard TD pass from Angelo Renda late in the third quarter.
Eaton (4-4, 2-3) got second half TDs by Demarion Williams (21, 66) for its final scores. Williams had 109 yards rushing and Lugo finished with 174 on the ground and 42 passing.
Penn had 128 yards on nine carries. Knowles had 307 passing and 30 rushing. Wayland added 85 yards on four catches. Carroll improved to 56-1 in the regular season during the past six years under Dodge, who graduated from SLC and was the starting QB when the Dragons won a title in 2006.
Their only loss in the regular season with Dodge came 44-42 against Rockwall on Oct. 8, 2020.
Carroll sets up the district championship in Week 8 when they play #13 Byron Nelson, which is also 8-0 and 5-0. It’s the second straight season both teams are 8-0 and play for the 4-6A title. Carroll won last year 38-23.
Meanwhile, the loss hurts Eaton’s playoff hopes.
The Eagles are in fifth place in 4-6A and looking up to Keller (2-2) and Timber Creek (2-2), two of their three losses in district this season.
