By Brian Gosset
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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When Southlake Carroll and Byron Nelson met in their District 4-6A football game on Friday night, the Dragons and Bobcats had something in common – Travis Pride.
Pride spent the previous nine years as the head coach of Byron Nelson before he passed away at the end of May. The best season came in 2023 when Pride led Byron Nelson to a 13-1 record, district championship, regular season win over Carroll and a trip to the regional final.
But before he became a head coach, Pride at one time was an assistant at Carroll – when the Dragons’ current coach Riley Dodge was a student at CHS.
Pride was on the staff when Carroll won state titles in 2004 and 2005.
Dodge was quarterback for Carroll and led the Dragons to another title in 2006. He has been head coach for his alma mater since 2018. Dodge took to Twitter/X on Saturday to post about Pride after the game.
“In honor of an amazing Husband, Father, Son, Brother, & Coach! Missed you on the sidelines last night! I know your drawing plays in Heaven!”
The cheerleaders held a banner that highlighted Pride.
Carroll, #1 in the 6A state rankings, is 3-0 after a 52-3 win over Byron Nelson. The Dragons have also beat Midland and Hebron this season and will face Euless Trinity in Week 4. QB Angelo Renda (Pitt) threw for three touchdowns while Brooks Biggers rushed for two scores.
Ohio State committed WR Brock Boyd caught two TD passes from Renda.
The Bobcats (1-2) will have their bye week before playing Trinity on Sept. 26.
