ARLINGTON – Byron Nelson pulled off the upset over Southlake Carroll 34-17 back in Week 10. It was the biggest win in program history for the Bobcats, who captured the undefeated District 4-6A championship.
Meeting five weeks later on Saturday – it was a far different tale.
Carroll avenged the only district loss in the Riley Dodge era and scored six first-half touchdowns on its way to a dominating 56-7 victory in the Class 6A Division 2 Region 1 championship at Choctaw Stadium
The Dragons (13-1), #10 in the state rankings, is back in the state semifinals for the third time in the past four years. They lost to Duncanville in 2021 and reached the state championship game in 2020.
Byron Nelson (13-1), #7 in the rankings, ends its best season all-time.
The Bobcats set a record for most wins in a single season, had their first win over Carroll and first outright district title and reached the fourth round for the first time. They had gone to the third round the previous two seasons, which had been the deepest playoff runs prior to Saturday night.
=========================================
HOT START
Carroll scored 14 points in the first quarter, but the way Byron Nelson opened the game, it looked like the Bobcats would be on the board first. Jonathan Kabeya took the opening kickoff 59 yards from his own 4 to the Carroll 37. But the offense stalled with two incomplete passes and a gain of 1.
Then on fourth-and-9, QB Tom Von Grote was tackled behind the line by Carroll’s Wyatt Duffy and Dustan Mark. On Carroll’s first play from scrimmage 4-star RB Riley Wormley took the hand-off, stiff armed one defender and gained 42 yards to the Byron 21. Two plays later and Wormley finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown with 9:29 left in the first quarter.
Byron punted after a three-and-out and Carroll marched downfield again.
The 8-play and 69-yard drive was capped by a 28-yard TD pass from Graham Knowles (Georgia Tech commit) to tight end Jack Van Dorselaer to make it 14-0 with 4:39 left in the period. The Carroll defense forced Byron’s offense to three turnovers in the first half – all interceptions.
=========================================
DEFENSIVE STARTER
The first interception came on the ensuing drive when Bridger Jense tipped a pass attempt and Trey Ferri came down with the ball at the Byron 39. But the turnover didn’t hurt the Bobcats as the Dragons were forced to punt.
However, on their next possession, the Dragons started at the Byron 42.
Five plays later and Knowles connected with Clayton Wayland on a 24-yard touchdown pass and 21-0 lead with 10:32 left in the second quarter. Carroll continued to put the pressure on and keep its foot on the gas.
A muffed punt by Byron was recovered by Carroll’s Drew Davis.
After a defensive pass interference on Byron Nelson put the ball at the 2, sophomore star back Davis Penn punched it in on a 1-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 28-0 with 5:58 left before halftime.
Carroll got its second interception – also from Ferri, who returned it 72 yards. The ball came back a bit after a holding penalty, but the Dragons still had good field position. Knowles hit Wayland on a 44-yard pass and Wormley capped it off with a 6-yard touchdown run to up the lead to 35-0 with 1:52 to play.
Carter High had Carroll’s third pick of the first half.
Penn finished off that drive with a 3-yard TD run and the Dragons led 42-0 at the break. He added his third touchdown run that gave the Dragons a 49-0 lead midway through the third quarter. Davis finished with 146 yards on 22 carries – with 98 yards coming in the second half.
=========================================
AFTER HALFTIME
Byron’s big play in the second half came on a 67-yard pass from Von Grote to Landon Farco.
The Bobcats avoided the shutout on Von Grote’s 1-yard touchdown with 4:14 left in the third.
Carroll’s final score came on a bit of luck. A pass to Brock Boyd was fumbled and Penn picked it up and scored from 32 yards out with 2:31 left in the third. Ethan Greene intercepted a Byron pass in the fourth quarter – giving the Bobcats four picks on the night and five turnovers overall.
After throwing for three picks in the first meeting, Knowles was by far better and finished an efficient 13 of 16 for 193 yards with two touchdowns. Wayland had 123 yards on seven catches with one TD.
Wormley added 61 yards and two TDs.
Carroll gained 258 yards rushing and 451 overall.
Byron was held to 179 yards passing and 48 yards rushing.
Von Grote was 9 of 19 for 149 yards. Tucker James carried 13 times for 35 yards.
