Southlake, Texas – The Southlake Carroll Dragons are headed back to the Class 6A Division II state championship after a thrilling last-second victory against Longview Lobos, winning 20-17 on Saturday afternoon.
Carroll and Longview faced off at SMU in Dallas, with both teams looking to secure a spot in the finals. Longview came in as the underdogs after stunning many by defeating DeSoto last week, while Carroll aimed for their first title appearance since 2020.
The game started with a bang as Longview’s defense made a big play, intercepting a pass from Carroll’s quarterback Angelo Renda in the first quarter. After a back-and-forth battle, Longview struck first with a field goal from Alexandre Mitchell, leading 3-0. But Carroll bounced back quickly as running back Christian Glenn scored a 35-yard touchdown, giving Carroll a 7-3 lead as the first quarter ended.
The second quarter saw sparks fly as both teams traded field goals and touchdowns. Longview’s QB Johnny Hamilton scored on a 1-yard rush, tying the game at 10-10 before halftime.
Coming out of halftime, the game intensified. Carroll regained the lead with a 63-yard touchdown pass from Renda to receiver Blake Gunter. But Longview answered back with a touchdown from Kelvin Washington, tying the game once again at 17-17 by the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was filled with tension and missed opportunities on both sides. With just seconds remaining, Carroll found themselves in a crucial position. After a hard-fought drive, kicker Gavin Strange stepped up and nailed a 35-yard field goal as time expired, sealing the game for Carroll.
The Dragons finish the game with a perfect record of 14-0 and will now proceed to face either Humble Summer Creek or Austin Vandegrift in the upcoming state championship. With this win, they are aiming for their first title since their 2011 victory in Class 5A Division I.
Stay tuned for updates as Southlake Carroll continues their quest for the championship title.
