Dragons Take Field this Summer

Carroll Football Building Chemistry Via 7-on-7 Competition

By Zach Warner
The Southlake Journal

Running back Tommy Avers and the Dragons have qualified for the state 7-on-7 tournament.

With the spring football season over and summer vacation officially started, break time is not on the agenda for the Dragons.

In the eyes of Carroll’s football players and coaches, summer is just the next phase in the off-season schedule, as athletes began 7-on-7 competition on May 30.

Playing minus the helmets and pads and looking to continue

fine-tuning their passing game and pass defense, the Dragons participated in State Qualifying Tournaments (SQTs) each of the last two weekends. Carroll started by traveling to Colleyville Heritage on May 30, then hosted its own SQT last weekend.

"It’s always our No. 1 goal in 7-on-7 to improve on what we do," said Kirk Rogers, Carroll receivers coach, who oversees the team’s 7-on-7 summer program. "We’re a team that throws the football a lot and has to defend the pass a lot. Hopefully we’ll hone our skills in both areas.

"One thing I’m trying to harp on is being more consistent," he said. "Just catching the football on a consistent basis without a lot of balls hitting the ground."

Competing in SQTs, high school teams attempt to earn a berth to the 7-on-7 state tournament, scheduled to take place July 10-11 at Texas A&M University in College Station. Only the winner and runner-up in each SQT earns a trip to the state event.

Carroll did not qualify on its first attempt at the Colleyville Heritage tournament, but earned a trip at the SQT championship it hosted last weekend when it finished second. The Dragons will compete in one other SQT this spring, hosted by Lewisville on June 20.

Before last week’s tournament, Rogers said that he wouldn’t be surprised if his team earns a spot in the 7-on-7 state tournament this summer.

"We’ve got a good shot," he said. "Our kids are competitive kids. [Making state] is not our ultimate goal, but anytime we have a chance, we’re going to compete.

"You can’t hold them back," he said. "They’re going to get after it."

Starting earlier this week,Carroll was scheduled to begin playing in a 7-on-7 league every Tuesday and Thursday evening, hosted by L.D. Bell High School. The league is intended to give teams extra practice competing in the pass-oriented game. The Bell League is expected to last about four weeks, Rogers said.

Carroll’s 7-on-7 team make-up this season leaves them with plenty of depth, Rogers said. Carroll will utilize eight receivers, while incoming senior quarterbacks David Piland and Kyle Williamson will take turn playing quarterback. Piland and Williamson are still competing for the starting job this fall and will continue to be monitored for progress this summer.

While the Dragons’ next starting field general is still unknown, Carroll is still learning about its corps of receivers as well. Only incoming senior Brett Renger played a substantial amount of downs on varsity last season. Sean Landers is a player who has switched from quarterback to linebacker in the past and will now be stepping in as a receiver.

However, with size and strength, Rogers said that there’s plenty of things he’s liked about this year’s receiving unit in terms of its overall ability.

"The thing they’ve been excelling at the most is getting yards after the catch," Rogers said. "It’s very rare that the first person ever tackles them.

"That’s helpful, because you don’t necessarily have to get it to them over the top," he said. "You can run an underneath route and let them go with it."

Rogers said the lack of veteran varsity receivers isn’t an area of concern. It’s not uncommon for units to start from scratch from year to year. That was the case for the receivers in 2008. The summer 7-on-7 competition will give the quarterbacks and receivers a chance to learn each other’s tendencies and build chemistry.

The success of this summer’s competition won’t be determined on whether or not the Dragons earn a trip to the state tournament, Rogers said.

"We don’t necessarily measure it by how many games we win or lose; we’re looking for consistency," he said. "But the more consistency you have, the more likely that will equate to a win.

"We’ve made a lot of progress in spring ball, so I’d be shocked if we didn’t do well."

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