Football Playoff Run Ends In Abilene

Abilene, TX – In a game marred by penalties, the second round playoff jinx continued for the Panthers on Friday afternoon.  The Southlake Carroll Dragons seemed to have all the magic they needed to spell a 38-7 decision over Permian in the Texas Class 6A playoff at Abilene Christian’s Anthony Field.
   
Southlake receiver Brady Boyd and quarterback Hunter Holden connected for three of the Dragons’ touchdowns, all in the first half.  Lucas Salazar scored the lone touchdown for the Panthers, but that didn’t come until late in the third quarter.

Carroll went on offense first and took the opening drive 68 yards in just four plays for a quick 7-0 lead.  A penalty would wipe out a 35-yard Harper Terry run on the first play from scrimmage on Permian’s first possession.  Three running plays later, the Panthers were punting the ball away.  The Dragons were back in the endzone in two plays on their next possession.  Again, the first play of a Mojo drive was negated by penalty.  This time, a holding call snuffed out a 32-yard pass.

A second punt would follow.  The muffed punt set the Dragons up inside the redzone at the Permian 18.  The Mojo defense bowed up to dish out negative yards on back-to-back runs. They penetrated the line and collected a sack on third down.  It would force Carroll to settle with a 34-yard field goal.  The Panthers were able to collect their first first down on the next set of downs, but the drive would stall. The first period ended with Mojo trailing 17-0.

The Dragons opened the second quarter adding to their tally on a 34-yard pass from Holden to Boyd.  The Panthers put together a ‘move-the-sticks’ drive, and showed promise of getting on the scoreboard, until a Carroll defender intercepted an intended pass at the 8-yard line.

With the Dragons pinned deep, the Mojo defense kept the heat on and forced a three-and-out until a ‘running into the kicker’ penalty on fourth down gave Carroll new life.  It would be short lived as the Panthers’ Joaquin Gonzalez nabbed a Holden pass to return the favor.  Unfortunately, the Permian offense was unable to cash in and convert it into points.  On the ensuing possession, the Dragons added another touchdown on a 4-play, 79-yard drive to take a 31-0 halftime lead.

Permian received the second half kickoff and had another opportunity to get on the board.  Methodically moving the ball down the field, the Panthers reeled off eight consecutive running plays with each inching closer to paydirt.  The drive was held up just inside the Carroll redzone.  A missed 24-yard field goal once again left Mojo scoreless with the clock now working against the Black Cats.  It would take all of three plays before a 46-yard touchdown run by Dragons running back Owen Allen upped the deficit to 38-0.

The Panthers finally broke the silence on a sustaining drive that covered 82 yards in 10 plays.  Salazar barreled his way across the goal line late in the third frame to leave Permian trailing 38-7.  That’s how the game would end as neither team added to their score in the final quarter.

Terry led Permian’s ball carriers with 92 yards rushing and another 85 through the air.  Shy Stephens-Deary finished with 68 ground yards from just two attempts.  He also had three receptions for 38 yards.  Rodney Hall recorded two catches for 44 yards.  The Panthers end the season with an 8-3 record.  The 2020 team can add co-District Champion and Bi-District Champion to its resume.

   
SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter
SLC – RJ Maryland 22 pass from Holden (McFadden kick), 10:32
SLC – Brady Boyd 59 pass from Holden (McFadden kick), 7:32
SLC – Joe McFadden 34 FG, 3:29

Second Quarter
SLC – Boyd 34 pass from Holden (McFadden kick), 10:57
SLC – Boyd 4 pass from Holden (McFadden kick), 0:34

Third Quarter
SLC – Owen Allen 46 run (McFadden kick), 6:14
PER – Lucas Salazar 1 run (Hayden Kidd kick), 1:46

Fourth Quarter
no scoring

  
Game summary and statistics – Terry Alan