by Justin Thomas
Behind the leadership of 11 All-District 1stbrTeam selections on offense, includingbrDistrict MVP and quarterback MasonbrHolmes, the Carroll offense was incrediblybrconsistent in 2016.
The Dragons averaged nearly 37 points per game,brscored at least 28 points in their final 11 games andbrposted better than 35 points seven times in a nine-gamebrstretch.br
And while the 2017 version of the Dragons' attackbrwill be breaking in some new faces, head coach HalbrWasson and the Carroll players are confident in thebrability of the unit to do the same.br
Four starters are back on the offensive side of thebrball, headlined by senior offensive linemen MatthewbrLeehan (center) and Baylor commit Jackson Kimblebr(left tackle). Both were first-team all-district selectionsbra year ago (as was the entire starting Dragons' line)brand the pair is excited at the opportunity to bring alongbrthree new starters.br
“Last year, we had three all-state players and threebrall-district players,” Kimble said. “This year, Matt and Ibrare kind of the leaders of the o-line. It's different. Lastbryear, we were allowed to have a bad practice here orbrthere or mess up. This season, we really have to set thatbrexample. That's not acceptable. It makes the whole linebrlook bad because they feed off our energy. If we're slack-bring, they're going to, so we have to keep that energy up.”br
Rounding out the Carroll unit in the trenches isbrsenior Logan Stelling (left guard) and juniors HenrybrMossberg (right tackle) and Cameron Hataway (rightbrguard).br
“I really feel like we're ahead of where we were lastbryear at this point last year though,” Kimble said. “Andbrwe had that incredible line then, so I'm real excitedbrfor it.”br
Wasson has also been pleased with the progression up front and believes the offensive line could be abrstrength of the team.br
Senior running back Tavian Gould saw limitedbrvarsity action last season (135 yards, one touchdown)brand will combine with Coppell transfer and junior TJbrMcDaniel in the backfield.br
The pair will be tasked with replacing the productionbrlost by the graduation of Audrick Gaines (1,524 yards,br21 touchdowns).br
Gould has high hopes his final year with the Dragons, including averaging at least eight yards per carry.br
“I also want to get two to three explosive plays perbrgame that can really make an impact,” he said. “Webrhave some big guys up there in front of us, so we justbrhave to look for that crease and hit it.”
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McDaniel, meanwhile, eclipsed 100 yards in Carroll's season-openingbrwin over Broken Arrow with two touchdowns.br
Wasson likes the depth and quality the Dragons possess at thebrposition, but noted he would like to see an improvement in blockingbrfrom Carroll's backs.br
“Their vision and feel for the offense continues to get better,” he said.br“But we're going to have to do a better job in protection.”br
Under center, junior Will Bowers is looking forward to the prospectsbrof continuing the tradition Carroll has become accustomed to having atbrquarterback.br
“I've been here my whole life,” Bowers said. “I've grown up a Dragonbrthrough kindergarten. [Knowing the tradition is] a little extra pressure,brbut I'm excited to try and live up to that. I know there is an expectationbrthat I have to meet and I'm prepared to do that, but at the end of the daybrI just have to be myself and play within myself.”br
Bowers received plenty of competition from the likes of seniorbrClayton Webb and sophomore Blake Smith during the offseason, butbrWasson noted the job belongs to Bowers.br
“We're really pleased with what we saw from all three of them,” hebrsaid. “They've all done good things and bring some different things tobrthe table. It's a competitive spot and the camaraderie has made them allbrmuch better, but I've never liked to put our quarterbacks in a situationbrwhere they're looking over their shoulder.”br
Bowers believes he is ready for the responsibility of helming the Carroll offense, and that he has developed a nice chemistry with his receiving corps during the offseason.br
“It's been a good fall camp and we're really picking up the tempo andbrgetting ready for game speed,” he said. “That experience came throughbrspring ball though. Getting all the reps then really helped for fall campbrand getting me prepared. I feel like we've really started to bond and it'sbrreally coming together right now. We just have to have good decision making and an understanding what the defense can do and how tobrattack them.”
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Last year, Bowers completed nine of 15brpasses for 166 yards and three touchdownsbrwith no interceptions in backup duty tobrHolmes.
Against Broken Arrow, he went an efficient 20-of-26 for 258 yards and a touchdownbrwith two interceptions and Wasson notedbrhe was pleased with how Bowers respondedbrto the miscues, one of which was a result ofbra deflection.br
Carroll's lone returning starter at the skillbrpositions offensively is senior Cade Bell (25brcatches, 325 yards) who had a huge debutbragainst Broken Arrow with eight receptionsbrfor 153 yards and a touchdown.br
Joining Bell outside will primarily be se-brniors Colton Phillips, Tucker Slechta (return-bring from injury), Hudson Shrum and DarrylbrCrockett (who will also contribute in the secondary) and sophomore Wills Meyer.br
On the field, Carroll anticipates a balancedbrattack that will benefit not only from an increase in team speed, but an increase in tempo.
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“I feel like as a team we are in better shape because we've been practicingbrreally fast,” Gould said. “I think we're going to be very good because we'll bebrconditioned to handle it more. There is a lot of speed and tempo, with tempobrbeing the main thing. We're able to go from play to play to play.”br
With the talent in place and a tempo that will stress opposing defenses,brthe Dragons have the potential to be among the dynamic offenses in the Metroplex.br
That could put the Dragons in place for another district title and a lengthybrpostseason run — one that Bowers is excited for the chance to lead his seniorbrteammates on.br
“I've understood that since the end of last season,” he said. “I am going tobrhave to carry a load for the senior class and I'm ready for it and prepared andbrI know the rest of the guys are too.”br
“It all comes down to winning the last game,” Kimble said.