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ARLINGTON -- Written off by many as a contender to defend its state crown after opening the season with a shutout loss to Allen, Southlake Carroll set out to prove doubters wrong.
The Dragons apparently carried the perceived slight into the postseason as Carroll routed Arlington Martin 65-7 on Friday night in a Class 5A Division I bi-district matchup at Cowboys Stadium. Carroll will face El Paso El Dorado (7-4) in the area round at 4 p.m. Saturday at Grande Communications Stadium in Midland.
"You've got to keep that chip on your shoulder and that's what I love so much about the game of football," Carroll coach Hal Wasson said. "You have to play with an attitude about you, and I don't have to tell our guys that, that's the way they prepare."
The Dragons (10-1), led by Texas A&M recruit Kenny Hill, has 475 first-half yards and scored on their first seven possessions en route to a 49-0 lead by intermission.
Hill didn't take a snap after the break finishing 16-for-17 passing with 258 yards and three touchdowns. The senior also rushed for a game-high 137 yards and scored twice on six carries.
"We just came out quick, that was the plan all week," said Hill, who pushed his playoff record to 10-1 as a starter. "It's always good to come out here and get a win like that, against a team like that. They're a great team, we just came out hot and made the plays."
Junior running back A.J. Ezzard added 80 yards and a pair of scores, including a 57-yard sprint on the first play of Carroll's second possession.
Nine Dragons receivers caught a pass, led by junior Ryan Weigel, who finished with four grabs for 109 yards and a 63-yard score. Senior Luke Timian caught three passes for 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Derek McLemore capped the scoring for Carroll on a 65-yard touchdown pass from backup Ryan Agnew in the fourth quarter.
The season for Martin (7-4) ended at the hands of Carroll for the second straight year. They lost to the eventual state champs 31-14 last season in the state quarterfinals.
Martin, without injured star running back Kyle Hicks, could get nothing going on offense.
A swarming Carroll defense held the Warriors to just 274 total yards and snared two interceptions, one by Aaron Hoagland and another by Ray Crockett.
Jarret Johnson, 817-390-7760
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