Quinn Ewers comes from a long line of quarterbacks who bring the Dragon spirit to the game. Their names can be seen on the walls all around the senior high school football facility, a reminder of the long lineage of greatness and the heavy expectations resting on Quinn’s shoulders.
Regardless of all of the pressure that he’s under, Quinn has carried the weight in stride. In his first year as quarterback, Quinn not only completed 291 passes and threw over 4,000 yards as a sophomore but also helped the Dragons achieve a 13-game winning streak last year, solidifying his status as the top recruit in the nation.
Despite his achievements, Quinn says he still has a way to go to become one of the all-time greats. He points to the wall of previous Carroll quarterbacks describing where he’s setting his sights.
“I’m just trying to get like them,” Quinn says. “Most of those guys have state championships, so I need one myself to even be in that conversation.”
THE FIRST STATE QUARTERBACKS
While the Southlake Carroll football program was founded in 1961, it wasn’t until the late ’80s when the Dragons made a splash in Texas high school football. After racking up 15 wins across the state, Mike Uldrich was the first Carroll quarterback to lead coach Bob Ledbetter’s team to a state championship win against Navasota High School in 1988 and the first to throw over 1,000 yards in a single season.
But that wouldn’t be the last time the Dragons made a state appearance. Will Mantooth’s aggressive offense powered the Dragons through an undefeated season and a second 3A state championship win against Houston Jones High School 48-0 in 1992.
“When he wasn’t playing football, Will was a bronc-riding, bull-roping cowboy doing rodeo on the weekends,” CISD Sports Information Director Jay Armstrong remarks. “He was a Texas cowboy through and through.”
In 1993, quarterback Kris Brown helped the team prevail in its third and final 3A championship win against Cuero High School in 1993. Playing as both starting quarterback and kicker, Kris saw the school’s transition from 3A to 4A the following year when he kicked four field goals, including one of over 50 yards. Kris went on to a 12-year career as a kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys.
THE STANDARD IS SET
When Todd Dodge took over as head coach in 2000, quarterback Ricky Lay led the Dragons to the 4A Division II semifinals, where Carroll was defeated by Ennis High School 49-17. After Ricky graduated and went on to play for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2002, wide receiver Chase Wasson took over as quarterback and led Carroll to its first 5A state championship win 43-35 against Comal Smithson Valley. He also set the record for third-most touchdown passes in Texas high school football with 54 completed passes throughout his tenure.
After Wasson graduated, Chase Daniel took the reins and led the Dragons through two state appearances in 2003 and 2004. As a junior, Daniel was a dual-threat, throwing 3,681 yards with 42 touchdowns and running 1,529 yards with 18 touchdowns. In his senior year, Daniel helped the Dragons see its second 5A state championship win, won 5A State Player of the Year and was named the National Player of the Year by EA Sports. Daniel went on to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2007, win a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints in 2010 and currently plays for the Detroit Lions.
Greg McElroy followed Daniel in 2005 when he passed 4,636 yards, scored 56 touchdowns and nine interceptions as quarterback. After winning against the Katy Tigers in the 5A state championships, Greg was also named the 5A State Player of the Year and an EA Sports All-American. After high school, Greg won a national championship with the Alabama Crimson Tide and is currently a college football analyst with ESPN.
In the tail end of the 2000s, Carroll saw yet another outstanding quarterback in Riley Dodge. During his junior year, Riley threw 4,184 yards and scored 54 touchdown passes, tying Chase Wasson’s record. And not only was he named ESPN’s RISE Junior of the Year and a Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week twice but also he led Carroll toward its third consecutive 5A state championship win against Austin Westlake in 2006.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DRAGON
After both Todd and Riley left Carroll in 2006 and 2007, Chase’s father Hal was hired as head coach and Kyle Padron came aboard as quarterback. During his senior year, Kyle threw 1,547 yards and scored 18 touchdowns before he broke his throwing hand in the fifth game of the season. He completed 129 out of 193 passes and rushed for 297 yards total.
Heading into the 2010 season, sophomore Kenny Hill Jr. got an early start as quarterback after a UIL ruling affected Carroll’s roster. Sports fans immediately recognized Kenny’s potential since he’s the son of Major League Baseball pitcher Kenny Hill Sr. Not only did the Dragons dominate the season 15-0 in Kenny’s junior year thanks to him passing and rushing over 4,000 yards but also the team won its eighth state title against Fort Bend Hightower in 2011.
“He took the quarterback position to the next level,” Carroll Athletic Booster Club President Bill Webb says. “He could move in the pocket, which was not something a lot of Southlake Carroll quarterbacks had done in the past.”
After Kenny graduated and went on to collegiate play, several Dragons continued to uphold the Carroll quarterback legacy, including Ryan Agnew, Mason Holmes and Will Bowers. Even though their teams didn’t make state appearances, Bill says they’re still an important part of Dragon history.
“When Mason was playing against DeSoto in 2016, he was down to half a leg in that playoff game and ended up with serious knee injuries,” Bill recalls. “He was in tears because he pretty much knew it was over. He had to have surgery and still limps to this day. He literally gave up his body for this program. That’s what it means to be a Dragon to these kids.”
CONTINUING THE TRADITION
After coaching for Flower Mound Marcus High School for a couple of years, Riley returned to his roots to become the Dragons’ head coach in 2018. He says his time spent here as Carroll’s quarterback has helped place him in players’ shoes.
“It’s a natural benefit for myself with these kids,” Riley says. “I know this place. I can speak their language. I understand the expectations and traditions here, and I understand the pressure that these kids have on them.”
The Dragons’ season ahead is no doubt going to look different from previous years, not just with a delayed season start but also with health and safety concerns surrounding the pandemic. But Riley doesn’t think Carroll has even scratched the surface of some of the players’ potential, especially Quinn. And with the help of supportive parents, boosters and trainers from Performance Course and Bill’s own Quarterback Ranch, the Dragons are backed up by an amazing community that believes in them and their potential for success.
“The one thing that’s common about all of them is that the stage is never too big for them,” Bill says. “They get better and better every week, and our kids always find a way to adapt, evolve and grow. There’s not another high school in America that has a more significant lineage of quarterbacks than Southlake Carroll.”