Owen Allen runs for 3 touchdowns in win over Allen, leads Southlake Carroll to 6A D1 semifinals

Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News (Michael Ainsworth)

DENTON, TEXAS— The Southlake Carroll Dragons have been arguably one of the most sensational teams in the country this season. Late this summer, star quarterback, Quinn Ewers, forwent his senior season to enroll early at Ohio State. Many wrote off the Dragons this year, but quarterback, Kaden Anderson proved many people wrong, and kept Southlake Carroll in championship contention.

The Dragons had yet another tough test in front of them in order to stay alive in the 6A D1 State Playoffs. The Allen Eagles came into the matchup after defeating a very talented Euless Trinity team 59-21. The Eagles looked to continue their momentum into this week, but the talent Southlake Carroll had was just too much for them.

Allen showed their momentum from last week to start the game. Quarterback, Michael Hawkins, took the first play from scrimmage on the read option 75 yards to the end zone to give Allen an early 7-0 lead. (PAT good). After the Dragons were forced to punt on their first drive, they answered on their next. Kaden Anderson and running back, Owen Allen, led Southlake Carroll all the way to the Allen 18-yard line. Anderson capped off the drive with an 18-yard pass to Landon Sampson for a touchdown, tying the game at 7 (PAT good).

The Dragons defense then gave Southlake Carroll the lead shortly after, as cornerback, Avyonne Jones, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to make the score 14-7 (PAT good). Southlake Carroll’s powerful run game led the way on their next drive. After a long run by Jacob Jordan to the Allen 12-yard line, Owen Allen put the Dragons at the 2-yard line to end the first quarter.

Owen Allen finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown to start the second quarter, making the score 21-7 (PAT good). Southlake Carroll kept going, as they recovered a fumble by Allen at their own 48-yard line. Kaden Anderson led the Dragons down the field once again, and Owen Allen finished it off with another 2-yard touchdown (PAT blocked).

Southlake Carroll then went back to the run game. After forcing a punt from Allen, Owen Allen and running back, James Lehman, got the Dragons down the field inside the Allen 4-yard line. Owen Allen then rushed for this third touchdown of the first half, making the score 34-7 (PAT good). This didn’t mean Allen was finished, however. Michael Hawkins found wide receiver, Jordyn Tyson, for a deep pass and a first down to the Southlake Carroll 23-yard line. Shortly after, he found Jacob Brasher for an 8-yard touchdown to make the score 34-14 going into halftime (PAT good).

Allen started the second half with some rhythm down field, but linebacker, Nate Gall, came up with a big sack to halt the momentum, and force Allen to attempt a 49-yard field goal, which was no good. After Southlake Carroll was forced to punt, and Allen turned the ball over on downs, Kaden Anderson broke the silence with a deep pass complete to tight end, RJ Maryland, to the Allen 11-yard line to end the third quarter.

Kaden Anderson kept the ball himself and ran into the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter (PAT good). But Michael Hawkins led Allen down the field on their next drive to the Southlake Carroll 16-yard line. The Dragons defense contained them, forced Allen to turn the ball over on downs off of an incomplete pass, and gave the offense the ball at their own 15. Southlake Carroll tried to drain as much clock as possible, and they were able to get down field while doing so. After Owen Allen ran for another first down to the Allen 25-yard line, James Lehman finished the drive with a touchdown to make the score 47-14 (PAT good). Despite the game being out of reach, Allen wasn’t done putting points on the board. Michael Hawkins led the Eagles down the field, and ran in for a 6-yard touchdown (PAT good). It was too little, too late for Allen, however, and Southlake Carroll drained the rest of the clock to walk away with a 47-21 win.

Southlake Carroll continues their undefeated season, and improves their record to 14-0. The Dragons will take on the winner of Duncanville and DeSoto in the 6A D1 semifinals next week at a date and time to be determined. Allen’s season comes to an end, and they finish the season with an 11-3 record.