STEPHENVILLE, TX — The Southlake Carroll Dragons showed why they’re the No. 1-ranked team in Texas with a 72-7 win over San Angelo Central on Friday in the second round of the Class 6A Division II playoffs at Art Briles Stadium in Stephenville.
Carroll’s roster is stocked with Division I college commits all over the field, and that was on display throughout the game.
The Dragons forced three turnovers in the first half to quickly end any hopes Central had of hanging around.
Carroll led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and 38-0 at halftime. The Dragons took a 59-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
Central’s winningest season since 2017 came to end with a record of 8-4. Friday’s blowout loss shouldn’t sour a year that was a remarkable turnaround from a one-win season just two years ago.
"The Dragons came as advertised, and obviously this is not how you want to go out," Central head coach Mark Smith said. "But I'm super proud of these seniors and the work they put in."
Carroll improved to 12-0 and advances to play No. 7-ranked Prosper (11-0) next week in the regional semifinals.
Central actually came out and moved the ball well, picking up two first downs on its opening drive before having to punt. Carroll marched 87 yards for the game's opening TD, a 31-yard strike from Pitt commit Angelo Renda to Ohio State commit Brock Boyd.
It was one of five TD pass by Renda in the first half.
Central turned the ball over the next three times it touched the ball, and the game quickly got out of hand.
Bobcats defensive back Michael Duran intercepted Renda in the end zone to keep Central in the game early.
This story will be updated.
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9:52 p.m. FINAL - Southlake Carroll 72, San Angelo Central 7 ... Carroll improves to 12-0 and will play No. 7-ranked Prosper (11-0) next week in the Class 6A Division II regional semifinals. Central's winningest season since 2017 ends with a record of 8-4. Great season for the Bobcats after going 1-9 just two years ago.
9:48 p.m. Preston Perazzo throws a 4-yard TD pass to Cade Holmstrom, giving Carroll a 72-7 lead with 1:16 to play.
9:47 p.m. Carroll trying to punch in one last score with less than two minutes to go.
9:41 p.m. Central stopped on fourth and 1, and Carroll will take over at the Bobcats' 46.
9:34 p.m. Carroll with a 59-yard TD run by Gavin Gooden, and the Dragons lead 65-7 after a botched extra point.
9:31 p.m. After the extra point, Central trails Carroll 59-7 with 9:49 left in the game. Bobcats drove 75 yards in 10 plays. It was the first time Carroll has allowed a touchdown in over a month, since Oct. 17 against Justin Northwest.
9:29 p.m. Central with a 26-yard TD pass from Micah Smith to Jimmy Edwards. The Bobcats came out in a jumbo set on fourth-and-1, and a play-action fake resulted in a wide-open score. Central pulls within 59-6 before the extra point early in the fourth quarter.
9:25 p.m. End of 3rd Quarter - Southlake Carroll 59, San Angelo Central 0
9:24 p.m. Central's Elijah Allen with a big run that would have put the Bobcats at Carroll's 19-yard line, but a holding penalty will bring it back to the 30.
9:18 p.m. Blake Gunter breaks away for a 44-yard TD run, and Southlake Carroll now leads 59-0 with 3:10 to play in the third quarter. The Dragons have Division I college commits all over the field, and it is showing.
9:16 p.m. Carroll's Brody Bourgeois with an interception of Central QB Micah Smith. It's the fourth turnover the Dragons' defense has forced.
9:12 p.m. Davis Penn with a 6-yard TD run, and Southlake Carroll pushes its lead to 52-0 with 4:13 to play in the third quarter.
9:09 p.m. Highlight-reel catch by Brody Knowles keeps the chains moving for Carroll.
9:07 p.m. Carroll is driving, but we have an injury timeout after Central's Brayan Sandoval was hurt on a play. Sandoval was able to walk off the field under his own power.
9:03 p.m. Central tries a trick play with a wide receiver pass by Colton Hill, but it doesn't work and the Bobcats have to punt. Carroll will take over on its 14.
8:59 p.m. Carroll attempts an onside kick up by 45, but Central recovers.
8:56 p.m. We're underway now in the second half, and Southlake Carroll quickly moves down the field for another touchdown. The Dragons lead 45-0 with 9:37 left in the third quarter after a 42-yard TD run by Luc Jacquemard.
8:25 p.m. HALFTIME - Southlake Carroll 38, San Angelo Central 0
8:24 p.m. Central unable to threaten, and that brings an end to the first half.
8:22 p.m. Central has the ball at its own 48-yard line with 11 seconds to play in the first half. Bobcats trying to get on the scoreboard before halftime.
8:19 p.m. An 11-yard catch by Jimmy Edwards gives Central a first down for the first time this quarter.
8:15 p.m. Southlake Carroll with a 16-yard TD pass from Angelo Renda to Blake Gunter, and the Dragons now lead 38-0 with 1:07 left in the first half. That's five TD passes already by Renda.
8:08 p.m. Central offense struggling to move the ball now, and the Bobcats have to punt the ball back with 1:53 left in first half.
8:02 p.m. Brody Knowles with a 36-yard TD pass from Angelo Renda, and Carroll has extended its lead to 31-0 with 2:40 remaining in the second quarter.
7:56 p.m. Central with another three and out on offense, and the Bobcats will have to punt again.
7:51 p.m. Southlake Carroll's drive stalls at Central's 10-yard line, and the Dragons settle for a 27-yard field goal by kicker Gavin Strange, who is committed to Duke. Carroll leads 24-0 with 5:38 left in the second quarter.
7:45 p.m. Central's offense goes three and out, and the Bobcats have to punt it right back.
7:40 p.m. On the very next play, Angelo Renda fires a 49-yard TD pass to Brock Boyd, and Southlake Carroll suddenly has a 21-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the second quarter.
7:38 p.m. Central QB Micah Smith hit by Austin Bussmann, and he fumbles the ball. Carroll recovers at Central's 49. That's the third turnover by the Bobcats offense in this first half.
7:36 p.m. Central facing a fourth-and-2 at Carroll's 37-yard line. But the Bobcats with a false start, making this a much tougher situation.
7:34 p.m. Zey Johnson busts a 20-yard run, and the Bobcats are across midfield to Carroll's 45. Central has already picked up seven first downs, so they've shown some ability to move the ball. They just have to stop turning the ball over.
7:33 p.m. End 1st Quarter - Southlake Carroll 14, San Angelo Central 0
7:32 p.m. A Zey Johnson run gives Central a first down at its 35-yard line, and that will bring the first quarter to a close.
7:29 p.m. Carroll caps another 87-yard drive with a 20-yard TD pass from Angelo Renda to Caden Mackey, and the Dragons lead 14-0 with 1:18 left in the first quarter.
7:25 p.m. Central's promising drive is ended by another interception, this time by Robbie Ladd, and this one will stand. The Dragons take over at their 13-yard line.
7:24 p.m. A deep pass is caught by Colton Hill, and Central is now inside Carroll's 20-yard line.
7:22 p.m. Central intercepted again by Luke Bussmann, but a roughing-the-passer penalty allows the Bobcats to keep the ball.
7:21 p.m. Darius Huitt breaks off a big run, and the Bobcats are at their own 41-yard-line now.
7:20 p.m. Central responds with an interception of its own! Michael Duran picks it off in the end zone!
7:17 p.m. On the first play of Central's next drive, Bobcats QB Micah Smith is intercepted by Parker Harris, a Colorado Mines commit.
7:15 p.m. Carroll QB Angelo Renda is committed to Pitt, while WR Brock Boyd is committed to Ohio State.
7:14 p.m. Southlake Carroll quickly marches 87 yards down the field for the game's opening touchdown on a pass from Angelo Renda to Brock Boyd with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter. Dragons lead 7-0.
7:10 p.m. Central is stopped on third and long and will have to punt. Southlake Carroll makes a fair catch on its own 13-yard line after a 42-yard punt by Caleb Holbert.
7:07 p.m. Central converts on third down again with another pass from Smith to Garcia, and the Bobcats are at midfield.
7:05 p.m. Central picks up a first down on its opening drive when Gabriel Garcia hauls in a 7-yard pass from Micah Smith on third and 6. Bobcats with the ball on their 39-yard line.
7:02 p.m. Central receives the opening kickoff and will start at its 28-yard line.
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