The spring re-alignment to the new powerhouse 7-6A district createdbra wealth of early anticipation for the 2014 football season. The thought of abrregular season schedule boasting such post season rivals as Coppell and Eulessbrhad the entire city buzzing. For Dragon Nation, August 29 and the matchupbragainst Austin Westlake couldn't come soon enough.
And that was before Hal Wasson took an impromptu May phonebrcall from longtime friend and former Dragon head coach Todd Dodge.
“I called Hal to tell him I accepted the job,” said Dodge, “andbrhe told me Westlake was playing Carroll the first game of the year. I had nobridea at the time, but we both got sort of a laugh … at the coincidence.”
The two finished a brief and friendly chat and went to theirbrrespective corners to prepare for the week one matchup. The last time the twobrmet was in the 2011 state title game where Dodge coached the Dragons and hisbrson Riley to a 43-29 victory to the school's third straight state championship.
The weather was unseasonably cool Friday, and the standsbrwere filled with Dragon faithful ready to witness Dodge's return to DragonbrStadium.
“Obviously it's a special place to me. I spent eight yearsbrhere, and a lot of guys on the [Dragon] staff were with me then. It was specialbrto be coming back here,” said Dodge after the game. “Early when we got here Ibrallowed myself to reminisce a little, but then I got focused in.”
The Dragon Faithful were focused in as well, ready to see anbrair-raid attack like none ever. However, on opening night Ozarka may have brought the water but it was the defense that reigned as the Dragons nipped AustinbrWestlake 17-14 in a hard fought battle.
Experienced senior quarterback Ryan Agnew returned underbrcenter albeit with a completely retooled supporting cast. Agnew threw for 101bryards, no touchdowns and was intercepted twice, yet the versatile senior didbrrush for 92 yards and a late third quarter score. Call it opening night jitters,brsolid defense or a little of both, Agnew and the Dragons could only muster 267bryards of total offense just slightly more than half of the team's average ofbr523 yards per game last season.
On Agnew, his lone returning starter Wasson said, “He alwaysbrplays well. I want him to relax a little bit and not feel like he has to carrybrthe whole team. And he will. It's so important for him to be good, but you havebrto remember he has 10 new guys around him. Once we settle down and get somebrexperience I think you'll see a lot better stuff out of him.”
With continued snaps together as a unit the team will beginbrto gel. And when they do it is clear junior tailback Lil' Jordan Humphrey willbrbe a key weapon. Tall and athletic he showed plenty of range with sweeping runsbrrushing for 76 yards and a score on just 12 carries. He also led the Dragons withbrfour receptions and 22 yards through the air. Another bright spot was senior Tariq
Tariq Gordon showed his versatility as a two-way standout
Tariq Gordon showed his versatility as a two-way standout
Gordon; the seasoned defensive back had three receptions for 32 yards, morebrimportantly he set the tone as an emerging two-way star in the making.
Gordon's hands were also on display defensively as he and seniorbrSafety Kevin Cramer each picked off Chaparral passes for the team's twobrinterceptions of the evening. The Dragons shut down Dodge's offensive system bybrthrowing immense pressure at quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Four different playersbrlogged six sacks led by seniors Joseph Paulsen and Dragon Pride Player of the Week Joel McClellan with two abrpiece. King Newton added a sack as did middle linebacker Clark Parr whose 15brtackles paced the defense that held Dodge’s Chaparrals to 266 yards of totalbroffense.
On this night, the defense kept the Dragons developingbroffense in the game and Wasson knows it.
“I can't say enough good stuff about our defense,” saidbrWasson after the game, “The second half we did a remarkable job. Then we‘ve gotbrto respond offensively. We've got to do a lot better job protecting. We're notbrmaking excuses; we've got five new guys up front, and they'll be a lot betterbrnext week than they were this week.”
Next up for the Dragons will be the Redskins of Tulsa Unionheld at AT&T Stadium. For more Dragon Pride sign up for our Football Fan Blast.
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