The contest has all the makings of another one-sided rout for Carroll, right?
Dragons coach Hal Wasson doesn’t think so, and he doesn’t expect his players to take on that point of view, either, when they host a Mesquite team at 7:30 p.m. Friday that’s come up just a little short in some close battles this season.
"They’re going to be a big test for us," said Wasson, whose Dragons (3-0) obliterated Houston Bellaire by a 61-13 final on Sept. 11. "Mesquite has some rich tradition and they’re a very athletic football team.
"We have to come out sharp," he said. "They’ve played three very good football teams and played down to the wire, and it just didn’t work out for them. Take away a play here or there and they could easily be 2-1 or 3-0. … It’s a big game for them and it’s a big game for us to make sure we stay on track and keep on track."
In other words, Carroll can’t get caught up looking ahead to the hype that surrounds next week’s much-anticipated battle with Galena Park North Shore and take this week’s opponent for granted. Mesquite is a team hungry for a win, which makes them that much more dangerous.
The Skeeters have lost their contests by an average of 11.7 points, their biggest loss being a 31-14 decision against Lake Highland in their season opener. But Mesquite, another pass-oriented team, has shown firepower and must be kept in check.
Led by quarterback Davian Harper (63-of-109, 583 yards, 1 TD) and wide receiver Tim Paris (15 catches, 212 yards, 1 TD), the Skeeters have the tools to compete.
"They like to spread it around and throw it," Wasson said. "They’re basically 60 percent pass and 40 percent run. They’ve got a big-time receiver in Paris and have a lot of other good receivers. They have a very athletic quarterback who can throw the ball.
"Defensively, their strength is their defensive front. We have to do a good job of protecting our quarterback."
Not only have Mesquite’s games been close contests, but what caught Wasson’s attention the most is the fact that the Skeeters almost pulled off an upset over District 6-5A foe Hebron – a team that defeated Carroll en route to a district championship last year.
"They were ahead of Hebron going into the fourth quarter," Wasson said of Mesquite’s 34-30 loss to the Hawks a couple of weeks back. "Hebron’s got our respect, so for [Mesquite] to do that is pretty impressive."
Carroll Not Sloppy Despite Rain
The Carroll coach was obviously pleased with his team’s performance after a 61-13 victory over Houston Bellaire last week. But it wasn’t just because of the points his team put up or the offensive firepower his team so deftly displayed.
The Dragons’ home opener last week was nearly postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather. Flash-flood rain and lightning caused the game to start late and was delayed an additional 30 minutes after a lightning meter detected nearby activity at the start of the second quarter.
"I think our players showed a lot of maturity with having to wait around to play and the starting and stopping that took place due to the weather," Wasson said. "I was happy with the way our quarterbacks and running backs handled the ball in adverse conditions as well."
Carroll looked right at home running and throwing despite the rainy weather. Dragons quarterback David Piland passed for 331 yards and four touchdowns, running back Tommy Avers rushed for 105 yards and another score, and the offense racked up 634 total yards.
Despite the one-sided romp, Wasson said there is still work left to be done for his team to improve on its play against Bellaire (1-2).
"We want to minimize the big play defensively and improve our coverage there against the pass," he said. "Offensively, we’re executing and on track, but we want to improve on the consistency with the running and catching and downfield blocking. There are always areas that need to be improved upon."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carroll (3-0) vs. Mesquite (0-3)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Dragon Stadium, Southlake
Prediction: Carroll 41, Mesquite 20. Look for a big running night for Tommy Avers and the Dragons, as Mesquite has given up lots on the ground to its first three opponents.
Result: www.southlakejournal.com
Get the full version of this article at The Southlake Journal and full Southlake news at www.southlakejournal.com.
