The 2021 season kicks off Thursday, August 26th, with the Southlake Carroll Dragons taking on the Highland Park Scots at Jerry’s World (AT&T Stadium) in Arlington, TX. The kickoff is set for 8:00 PM and will be televised on ESPNU.
Southlake Carroll Dragons-2021
The big story leading up to the start of this season is Southlake Carroll QB Quinn Ewers skipping his senior year…of high school. He decided to report to Ohio State a year early so he could take advantage of earning money with the new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities now available to college athletes.
By all reports, junior QB Kaden Anderson (6-4, 205) will take over the QB position for the Dragons.
The Dragons return 15 starters from a team that went 12-2 and made it all the way to the 6A-Division I state championship game, losing to Austin Westlake 52-34.
In addition to Anderson, the offense features RB Owen Allen (5-11, 195) who rushed for 2063 yards and 28 touchdowns, and WR Landon Samson (6-0, 180), who caught 75 passes for 1293 yards and 15 touchdowns. Anderson will also target TE RJ Maryland (6-4, 215), who caught 30 balls for 736 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The defense is led by LB Barret Baker (6-3, 210), who made a whopping 129 tackles. He will be joined by LB Benecio Porras, who racked up 101 tackles. DB Avyonne Jones made 58 tackles and intercepted two passes from his spot in the secondary.
Highland Park Scots-2021
The Highland Park Scots return just six starters from their 11-1 team of a year ago. Their offense was gutted by graduation. So, some younger players will have to step up and make plays.
Highland Park does return RB Christian Reeves, who rushed for 396 yards and four touchdowns. DE Jack Curtis (6-4, 230) is also back after making 36 tackles, 16 TFLs, and eight sacks. Other defensive leaders are LB Mason Gallas (6-0, 185) and DB Blake Bevans (6-2, 165). Gallas made 45 tackles, 1 TFL, and two sacks in 2020. Bevans made 27 tackles last season.
The Scots hold the state record for most wins in Texas high school football history with 854.
Tony Thomas is a freelance writer. He also writes about college football on his own site, www.thegridironnews.com.
Who is your pick to win this game? Highland Park or Southlake Carroll? Comment below.
