High school football countdown: Southlake Carroll

Twenty-fifth and last in a daily series spotlighting key area high school football teams leading to tonight's season openers.

Southlake Carroll Dragons

District 4-5A

Coach: Hal Wasson

Last season: 16-0 (7-0 in District 4-5A), beat Fort Bend Hightower 36-29 to win 5A Division I State Championship

Key players: QB Kenny Hill (6-1, 205); WR/CB Tanner Jacobson (5-10, 180); RB A.J. Ezzard (5-9, 180); WR Mike Gardiner (5-9, 165); LB Steven Bergmark (6-0, 185) OL Cam Manning (6-3, 260); DB Ray Crockett (6-0, 160); K Drew Brown (5-10, 160)

The big picture: Southlake Carroll is always expected to compete for a state championship, and this year is no different. Offensively, the Dragons return a lot of talent, including star quarterback Kenny Hill and explosive running back A.J. Ezzard. Defense is another story, however, as Holmes and a cadre of playmaking linebackers, including Kansas State freshman Will Davis, all graduated. Wasson said that in the team's scrimmage against Duncanville last week, 10 defensive players were taking their first varsity snaps.

Quotable: "There's been a lot of success here, but we put that in the rearview mirror from a year ago and try to build on it. As we always say, tradition doesn't block, tackle or run, but it does set the bar." - Head coach Hal Wasson

Notable: If Carroll can win another state championship this year and Kenny Hill stays healthy, he will be the first Southlake Carroll quarterback to start for two championship teams.

-- Louie Horvath

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