Dragons standouts rested for Westlake

The results of the Carroll football team’s scrimmage against Duncanville from this past Friday have to be taken into context.

Carroll head coach Hal Wasson and his staff elected not to play running back Lil’Jordan Humphrey, wide receiver Zach Farrar, and offensive linemen Anton Ezzard and Chase Sanford in the meeting at Dragon Stadium.

After the first 20 plays, the Dragons seemed to settle in and play to a level that Wasson expected. Facing a very athletic team like Duncanville can go a long way.

“We saw some clarity,” Wasson said. “And there was some much needed improvement. We got what we wanted out of the scrimmage.”

What the coaching staff did not get was the answer as to who the starting quarterback is going to be for Friday’s 2015 opener at Austin Westlake. Both senior Montana Murphy and junior Mason Holmes had their moments.

However, there wasn’t the separation that put one ahead of the other, Wasson said. There was still time this week of preparation to potentially make a decision. Time will tell.

“We’d love to have a starting quarterback,” Wasson said. “But if we have two guys, then that’s what we have.”

Round two with Dodge

The Dragons will leave for Austin on Friday morning to complete the home-and-home series against former head coach Todd Dodge. Carroll won 2014 opener, 17-14, at Dragon Stadium when the Chaparrals turned it over on downs at midfield in the closing moments.

Dodge’s team is coming off a 7-4 season and predicted second to Lake Travis in District 14-6A. Westlake features junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who has committed to Texas. Ehlinger accounted for 2,927 yards (2,233 passing, 694 rushing) and 35 total touchdowns.

This should be a great matchup against the Carroll secondary. The Chaparrals own two strong returning receivers in Reed Klubnik (6-3, 180, 915 receiving yards, 10 TDs) and Chase Cokley (478 yards, 5 TDs).

“It’s a big road trip and a huge test for us,” Wasson said. “But there’s no other better way than to jump into in. That’s a very seasoned team Todd has.”

Carroll Dragons

Coach: Hal Wasson (9th season)

2014 record: (13-1/6-0 in District 7-6A; lost to Cedar Hill in Class 6A Division II Region I finals)

Returning starters/key letter winners: DB Obi Eboh (6-2, 185) Sr.; RB Lil’Jordan Humphrey (6-5, 200) Sr.; WR Zach Farrar (6-4, 217), Sr.; FS Robert Barnes (6-3, 185) Jr.

Notable: The Dragons play arguably one of the toughest road schedules in all of Texas in 2015 when they travel to Austin Westlake, Tulsa Union, Abilene, Coppell and Euless Trinity … Humphrey has a chance to surpass his single-season school record of 1,829 rushing yards this year. But there should be more complementary help with senior Sherod Coleman. Coleman was a move-in from Denton and could not play on the varsity last year because of transfer rules … Carroll should feature one of the top secondary units in the state led by Eboh and Barnes … Ryan Miller continues to impress as the nose tackle for this three-man front. His fall camp has only reinforced what the Carroll coaching staff thought in the spring … Farrar is the go-to receiver … The Dragons should make the playoffs out of District 7-6A. But contending for the district championship? Well, most believe Euless Trinity is the favorite. Plus, the Carroll game is Oct. 16 at Pennington Field.

This story was originally published August 24, 2015 at 4:24 PM with the headline "Dragons standouts rested for Westlake."