Southlake Carroll, a team of destiny?

[LewP]

Today, the Southlake Carroll Dragons take on Katy for the Class 5A Div II championship.

Is Carroll a team of destiny? Does Katy even have a chance?

http://www.dfw.com/images/dfw/dfw/13430/180377979820.jpg

Welcome to Dodge City:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/13430294.htm

[etbu]

CLASS 5A DIVISION II FINAL
Dominating teams Katy, Carroll to settle title


By EMILY DAVIS
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

IRVING - Nine state titles — four in the past five years. Fifteen trips to the state championship. A 114-8 record over the past four seasons.

Combined, Katy and Southlake Carroll are unstoppable — dominating the state championship and the road leading to it since 2000.

Separately, it's a different story.

Southlake Carroll (15-0) is out for blood — ready to avenge its only loss in the past four years that came in the form of a 16-15 defeat in the 2003 Division II state championship game.

Katy (14-0) is looking to make it two straight against the Dragons in today's title game at Texas Stadium.

"We do think about 2003 some," Katy senior defensive back Will Thompson said. "But I think we're a better team now than we were then. But so is Southlake Carroll, so it will be a great matchup."

Thompson has learned to be diplomatic when he talks about Carroll. He was a sophomore the year Katy won its fourth state championship.

Two years have passed since then. Katy went through an adjustment period, breaking in new head coach Gary Joseph in 2004 and suffering a loss in the regional final.

Now the Tigers are all grown up and have learned to respect their opponents — no matter how much their blood boils when they hear talk of Carroll's No. 1 national (USA Today) and state rankings (Associated Press).

"It all leads up to this game," Katy senior offensive lineman Joey Welch said. "We've worked hard to get this chance to win a title as seniors. That's what we live for."

Still, today's Class 5A Division II championship has more to it than just a great story of two blue-collar squads battling it out. Their similarities and connections run much deeper.

"I'd say these programs were quite similar," Katy offensive coordinator Jeryl Brixey said. "Things take on new meaning for programs that don't settle for simply making the playoffs."

It can start with Carroll coach Todd Dodge, who first put his name on the map while growing up 150 miles from Katy.

Dodge ranks No. 50 all-time (22nd among Class 5A quarterbacks) in the state with 5,642 passing yards he accumulated as the starter at Port Arthur Jefferson from 1978-80.

His current quarterback, senior Greg McElroy, will go down in history alongside him. McElroy's 4,322 yards passing for the season rank No. 6 all-time in the state. Former Carroll quarterback Chase Wasson holds the single-season passing record with 4,822 in 2002.

"They've found a lot of success with their offense," Brixey said. "But we're a different team than the last time we faced them."


Black day for Katy
Although 2003 is the year Katy always will remember after being crowned state champions with the one-point thriller, the Tigers would like to forget the last time they had a date to play in Texas Stadium.

It was 1998, and the team, band, cheerleaders and boosters had loaded buses headed for Irving. Moments before they pulled out of town, officials made a stunning announcement: Katy had been removed from the state championship game against Midland Lee because of an ineligible player.

Tears and heartache were all the Tigers knew until the next season, and Katy hasn't played in Irving since.

On the other hand, Southlake Carroll is 3-0 in Texas Stadium this season.

"It's a day we'll always want to forget but unfortunately will remember," one fan e-mailed.

The Tigers boast a strong quarterback in Andy Dalton, whose 41 touchdown passes are a school record and rank 13th all-time in the state. He is three shy of tying former Baytown Lee standout Drew Tate for 10th all-time with 44 TD passes.

Dalton's 2,648 yards passing are No. 6 in the state this season.

"Our kids have worked really hard," Joseph said. "From the beginning of the season, they haven't settled for anything. They've worked and taken the things we've taught them, and that's a testament to them and this program."

emily.davis@chron.com



Go Katy Tigers
:clap:

[3afan]

of course they have a chance --- no one thought Smithson Valley had a chance last year & SLC needed a last play FG to win ..... ask Plano if Katy has a chance

[District303aPastPlayer]

i believe they have a chance, but really... SLC is unreal...

[Old Tiger]

SLC is a great dynasty in high school I hope they continue to have the same sucess as they've had the past 6 years.