It’s Dragons vs. Trojans time

The first thing any follower of District 7-6A wanted to find out when the schedules were released was when Carroll and Euless Trinity were playing each other.

Oct. 16 was the date and it was circled. Separated by about 15 miles, these two proud programs meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bedford’s Pennington Field. The Dragons won a thriller in 2014 at Dragon Stadium, 10-6.

Carroll (5-1, 2-0) got off to somewhat of a slow start with Richland last Friday before running away in the second half, 52-21. Head coach Hal Wasson said he didn’t sense that his team was looking ahead to the Trojans (7-0, 3-0).

“We’ll never change our approach,” Wasson said. “There’s no doubt that these are two great programs. I know we have great respect for them. We know it’s the biggest game because it’s the next one. We have a standard. We stick to our routine.”

One of the subplots for this one is pretty much what it was in 2014. Carroll’s defense, a youthful group that continues to grow, must find a way to hold its own against a punishing physical Trojans rushing attack. Usually, Trinity’s running game has opponents wanting no part of it by the fourth quarter.

Even though this Carroll defense has more new faces in the front seven than a year ago, it can draw upon the experience. Carroll yielded 212 yards but kept the Trojans out of the end zone. The challenge will be controlling the damage that Trojans’ quarterback Tyler Natee (555 yards) and running backs Ja’Ron Wilson (1,032) and De’Juan Garrett (572) can inflict. Each of those is averaging at least 7.4 yards per game.

Carroll faced pretty solid running games between Tulsa (Okla.) Union and Abilene. But those teams do not present the physical challenge Trinity does.

“With their running game, you have to play with great leverage,” Wasson said. “Where they succeed is yards after contact. Three yards can be turned into seven. Seven yards can be turned into 20. If that keeps happening, it’s going to be a long night. You’ve got to limit big plays.”

Another subplot is the diversification of Carroll’s offense. The Dragons had eight difference receivers against the Rebels. That should give quarterback Mason Holmes more comfort instead of leaning on only Zach Farrar (560 yards) and Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

But Carroll’s running game has seen some emergence behind Humphrey – when he’s lined up in the backfield – of Shemar Coleman and Jack Johannson.

“Multiplicity is a good thing,” Wasson said. “Instead of having one guy you’ve got to stop, there are three guys. When you have that incorporation to go along with the consistency, that puts more stress on the defense. We like to feed off of who we think we are.”

Briefly

Humphrey is a balancing act all by himself. He has 1,186 (626 rushing, 560 receiving) total offensive yards. Every time he has the ball, he’s pretty close to being good enough for a first down. Between his 137 rushing and receiving touches, he’s averaging 8.7 yards … Carroll-Trinity can be heard on KWRD 100.7 FM with the pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 3:02 PM with the headline "It’s Dragons vs. Trojans time."