History was on Southlake’s side Friday night at Dragon Stadium; the victor between Carroll (4-1, 2-0) and Euless Trinity (4-1, 1-1) has alternated over the last four years since 2012. Last season, the Trojans ran for over 600 yards of offense, barely edging the Dragons by two points.
This year’s matchup was close through two quarters, before Southlake outpaced Trinity by 14 points in the second half — securing the 42-28 win. The defeat marked the Trojan’s second district loss in their last 72 games.
The opening drives for both team did not result in a score. After feeling each other out as two tentative prize fighters in a rubber match, both programs went to their respective corners during a timeout, and came out in a scoring frenzy — hammering the defensive front receptively like rock ‘em sock ‘em robots operated by overtly caffeinated kids.
The offensive onslaught resulted in eight consecutive touchdown possessions; the o-line for both programs did a fantastic job with critical blocks, opening up gaping holes for even the most obese person to scramble through.
Southlake quarterback Mason Holmes only threw one touchdown before Friday’s meeting. The senior set the offensive tone early, firing-off three scores in regulation. During halftime, a verbal lashing occurred in both locker-rooms in regards to an inability to stopping the ground game. Both defenses were stouter in the beginning of the second half, before Southlake scored on a grinding, 12-play drive that resulted in a three-yard touchdown run for running back Audricke Gaines, who finished the contest with 32 carries for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Whenever Trinity needed a stop, Gaines would scramble through the defensive line for positive gain; the offensive back has averaged 132 rushing yards per game and has eight touchdowns this season.
The Dragons’ special teams stepped up for a critical blocked field goal and the secondary nabbed an interception with less than a minute remaining in regulation.
Since 2006, both teams are a combined 214-34; the winner of the past two years meeting went on to win the district title.
