EDITOR’S NOTE: As a part of a content partnership between TexasHSFootball and FloFootball, the Arlington High-Southlake Carroll matchup will be the second of two televised high-profile Regional Semifinal round games will be hosted on the site.
FRISCO, Texas — If you’re not ready for high-flying, heart-stopping action from kickoff to final whistle, you may not want to visit Frisco at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Star.
That goes doubly so for Arlington High School (10-2) and 5-foot-10 and 180-pound senior quarterback D’Montae Davis, who accumulated 330 yards and five touchdowns during the Colt’s area round win over El Paso Montwood.
PLENTY OF AMMO FOR THE COLTS’ REVOLVERS
Powered by an offense that’s scored 37 or more points in seven of its 12 games, Arlington leads one of the most diverse attacks in the UIL Class 6A. It’s also one that’s proven it can score against some of the state’s toughest defense regardless of classification — namely the likes of Keller Fossil Ridge and South Grand Prarie High Schools.
Davis leads the team with 1,594 yards passing and 20 touchdowns against three interceptions after completing 113 of his 183 pass attempts this season. He’s also added 1,234 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns.
Though the strong-armed scatback is a focal point, he’s not the only hammer in the Colt’s toolshed.
Kenland McCray is the team’s ground-yardage leader, compiling 1,343 yards and 10 touchdowns through 12 games. Right behind McCray is Zander Benson, who has gained 366 yards and scored seven touchdowns this season. Led by Trey Cleveland (32 rec, 486 yards, 6 TD), the Colts’ receiving corps has five players with 100 yards or more and two more — Qaklon Fore (7 rec, 85 yards, TD) and Grant Harder (8 rec, 72 yards) — nearing the century mark.
The defense has been one of the bend-don’t-break variety, holding opponents to 23.7 points per game despite high-scoring affairs against Arlington Sam Houston, El Paso Montwood, and North Crowley High Schools.
Photo courtesy FloFootball
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DRAGON’S FIRE
Southlake Carroll (9-3), though, has a potent offense led by the powerful arm of scarily accurate Will Bowers (2,037 yards, 26 TD, 8 INT) and legs of TJ McDaniel (222 rush, 1,778 yards, 22 TD). The Colts’ junior quarterback has completed 145 of his 213 attempts (68 percent) to 16 different receivers.
While other signal-callers may rely on one or two wideouts to stretch the field and extend plays, Bowers uses several — including team-leading receivers Cade Bell (43 rec, 691 yards, 3 TD) and Hudson Shrum (22 rec, 240 yards, 3 TD). There are seven pass catchers in his arsenal with at least 115 yards receiving this year and nine that have at least one touchdown.
The Dragon’s leading ground-to-air touchdown artist is second-year varsity athlete and sophomore RJ Mickens.
Southlake Carroll defensive back and wide receiver RJ Mickens. EJ Holland/TexasHSFootball
The Southlake Carroll defense, too, is a crux to the high schools winning ways on the gridiron. Led by leading tacklers Mickens (91 Tk) and seniors Matty Werner (112 tackles, 1 sack) and Ryan Thompson (143 tackles) and junior and senior sack artists Michael Parrish (76 tackles, 5 sacks) and Jacob Doddridge (58 tackles, 5 sacks), the Dragons have allowed only 17 points per game it their nine victories.
The average point total of its opponents during three losses to Carrolton Hebron, Euless Trinity, and Arlington Martin — all teams that either reached the playoffs or are still alive in them — was 35 points. During the last five games, though, Southlake Carroll has improved that total by point, shutting out one team and holding three others to 17 or fewer points.
Its only loss during that span came against Hebron via a 36-31 finish.
Marcus Matthews-Marion is the managing editor of TexasHSFootball, covering prep football throughout the Lone Star State. Follow him on Twitter, @TheMJMatthews, and read more of his content here.
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