Southlake Carroll topples Euless Trinity in high-offense, back-and-forth thriller

The Southlake Carroll and the Euless Trinity offenses went back and forth in an electric shootout.

It seemed like neither defense would stand tall, but the Dragons eventually got a much-needed stop and secured a 56-48 victory in a District 4-6A high school football game at Pennington Field on Friday. The game renewed an old rivalry between two historically great programs.

Southlake Carroll, No. 2 in the Star-Telegram’s Class 6A rankings behind North Crowley, now has consecutive ranked wins. Byron Nelson holds a No. 3 ranking, and Carroll took down the Bobcats on September 13. Trinity entered week four with a No. 4 rankings.

Southlake Carroll football has been a state championship contender most years, and it appears that won’t change this season. The Dragons have a young team but have looked like experienced veterans through the opening four games.

A back and forth offensive thriller

Southlake Carroll started the game with an 85-yard scoring drive capped by a one-yard rush by USC commit Riley Wormley, who had 42 yards in the series. Following both teams trading turnovers, the Dragons extended their lead with a 5-yard scoring scamper by Baylor commit Davis Penn.

The Trojans responded with their first touchdown drive. Quarterback TJ Tupou rolled to his right and found tight end Lukas Sanchez for a 13-yard score with 9:42 remaining in the second quarter.

Wormley responded in a jiffy on the opening play of the Dragons’ next series, taking the ball 75-yards down the sideline for a touchdown. An onside kick recovery then set up a 30-yard touchdown; junior QB Angelo Renda faked the pitch and found wide receiver Brock Boyd, a TCU commit.

The Dragon defense continued to do its job. A fumble recovery from Crawford Lawrence gave Carroll the ball back, and wide receiver Brody Knowles capitalized in one-on-one coverage, hauling in a beautiful 17-yard touchdown pass from Renda.

Tupou took matters into his own hands to cut Carroll’s lead, finishing a strong drive with a 1-yard score. Carroll led Trinity 35-14 at the half.

The Trojans needed a score and a stop to start the third quarter, and they got it. Fullback Micahel Saafi cut the lead with a 10-yard rushing touchdown, and, set up by a 47-yard reception by wide receiver Ethan Wright, Tupou did the same with a two-yard score.

Suddenly in a one-possession game, Carroll’s offense went to work with several short completions from Renda to Boyd. Wormley then caught a short pass and took a hard hit, bouncing five yards back from the impact; Wormley wasn’t fazed, turning on the jets and taking it 35-yards for a touchdown.

Trinity’s offense, before the end of the third quarter, capped another scoring drive with an eight-yard touchdown rush from running back JT Harris. Southlake took over, and Renda nearly avoided a pick-six, finding wide receiver Luc Jaquemard, who went on to tally a 46-yard touchdown.

With every Carroll touchdown, Trinity was able to respond. Tupou notched his third touchdown of the game, a one-yarder. The Dragons’ consistent offensive attack, though, made it challenging for Trinity to make progress.

With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Renda heaved a 14-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Blake Gunter who fought through contact for the reception.

The Trojan offense kept finding ways to claw back into the game, cutting the lead with a five yard touchdown rush from Harris. Trinity finally secured a rare stop -- with the game on the line, the Dragons defense stood tall and capitalized when it mattered most.

On September 27, Southlake Carroll will continue its season at Dragon Stadium against Keller Timber Creek, and Euless Trinity will hit the road to face Byron Nelson.