Though many people like to hate them, any sane, logical high school football follower would have a hard time arguing against Southlake Carroll's roost atop Texas high school football over the past decade.
The Dragons won four state championships in five seasons from 2002-2006 under former head coach Todd Dodge and produced future college stars like Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, and current North Texas quarterback Riley Dodge, who could be a star in the making playing for his father in Denton.
Since the Dodges skipped town a few years back, the Dragons have slid a bit, but there's no question they're still one of the most tradition-rich programs in Texas under current coach Hal Wasson.
Three years ago, the Dragons played Evangel Christian out of Louisiana before meeting up in a much-anticipated matchup with Northwestern HS out of Miami (Fla.) two seasons ago -- a loss. Then, last year they were supposed to meet up with Bellaire, but it was canceled due to an impending hurricane on the Gulf Coast.
It doesn't look like hurricanes will be a problem in 2009, as the Dragons have set a marquee matchup with Galena Park North Shore, according the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. North Shore is a Houston-area school that is riding a 78-game winning streak, which is the longest in Texas prep history, breaking Southlake Carroll's record of 72 from 1986-1994 while in Class 3A.
When Dodge left the Dragons, it looked obvious that they would suffer some when it came to the record books, and they have, but make no mistake, they're still a program to be reckoned with even though they are in possibly the state's most loaded district and are set to have early matchups in the playoffs with powers like Euless Trinity.
Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. Only five days until Opening Day!
