Game: Friday, November 14
Southlake Carroll's Stockton-to-Donovan passing attack is a playoff-caliber weapon — disrupt the timing or prepare to be torched.
Southlake Carroll (9-2) is a disciplined, well-coached 6A powerhouse running a modern spread offense built around QB Cole Stockton's rhythm-passing game and WR Mason Donovan's elite route-running. Under Riley Dodge, the Dragons execute with speed and precision — operating no-huddle tempo to exploit defensive fatigue and attacking all three levels of the field with efficiency. Defensively, they bring consistent edge pressure led by All-District DE Bradyn Pierce, with a flexible 4-3 base that tightens up in critical situations. This is a complete football team that has playoff experience, mental toughness, and the weapons to make a deep postseason run — Highland Park must be their best in all three phases to advance.
1 = no threat · 10 = elite
Southlake Carroll runs a tempo-based spread offense out of primarily 11-personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) with heavy use of 10-personnel (4 WR) on obvious passing downs. The scheme is built around horizontal spacing and quick-rhythm throws to manufacture easy completions and get playmakers in space. Play-action rollouts — particularly boundary rollouts — are a staple of the passing attack and consistently put linebackers in conflict. Stockton's pre-snap diagnosis and post-snap timing are the engine; he does not require big plays to move the ball — he will nickel-and-dime you until the coverage breaks. The no-huddle tempo is a weapon in itself, designed to limit defensive substitutions and exploit fatigue in the 4th quarter. The red zone offense is highly efficient, leveraging Donovan's contested-catch ability and Fowler's short-yardage power to convert inside the 20.
1. Elite passing efficiency: Stockton-to-Donovan is among the top connections in 6A Texas football; 28 TDs and 1,089 receiving yards speak for themselves. 2. Tempo and no-huddle execution: The Dragons can accelerate or decelerate pace at will, creating defensive communication and substitution problems. 3. Red zone efficiency: The offense converts touchdowns at a high rate inside the 20, with multiple weapons threatening at every level. 4. Play-action and rollout game: Boundary rollouts stress edge defenders and linebackers in coverage simultaneously, creating high-percentage throws against defenses that over-commit to the run. 5. Dual-threat backfield: Fowler's 5.2 YPC keeps defenses honest and opens the play-action game.
1. Stockton under pressure: His 7 interceptions suggest a tendency to force throws when the pocket collapses — disrupt the timing and make him uncomfortable. 2. Backup QB drop-off: Braden Burks is described as a game manager only — if Stockton is rattled or turns the ball over, there is no elite backup to sustain the offense. 3. Run game dependency on Fowler: Backup RB Jarrett Kiesz averages only 3.8 YPC — if Fowler is limited, the run game loses its threat and the offense becomes more predictable. 4. TE depth: Win Dowdy is a capable receiving TE, but Landon Mills behind him is used primarily in heavy formations — not a true mismatch creator. 5. Speed of tempo vs. line depth: No-huddle pace can expose offensive line fatigue in extended drives — sustained defensive pressure can disrupt their tempo rhythm.
Carroll runs a base 4-3 defense with nickel (5-2-4) packages deployed heavily on passing downs. The front four is led by Bradyn Pierce on the edge, who sets the tone for an aggressive pass-rush identity. The linebacker corps is disciplined in run fits and gap assignments — Garrett Woodall is a reliable starter who diagnoses quickly. The secondary shifts coverages by down-and-distance: 2-high looks (Cover 2, Cover 4/Quarters) on early downs to prevent explosives, transitioning to single-high (Cover 1, Cover 3) on obvious passing situations to free up blitz packages. The defense has improved dramatically in the second half of the season and is battle-tested heading into the playoffs. Their red zone defense is a legitimate strength — they force field goals when opponents get inside the 20.
1. Edge pass rush: Pierce (8.5 sacks) and backup Cole Morrison (7 sacks) give Carroll a legitimate two-man edge rush threat that will challenge any offensive line. 2. Coverage flexibility: The ability to run both 2-high and single-high shells keeps offenses guessing and makes pre-snap reads difficult. 3. Red zone defense: This unit has consistently forced field goals and turnovers inside the 20 — a critical playoff differentiator. 4. Linebacker run discipline: Woodall and the LB corps have improved gap integrity and pursuit angles over the course of the season. 5. Late-game conditioning: The defense tightens up in 4th quarters, reflecting Dodge's emphasis on physical preparation.
1. Vertical vulnerability: The scouting data explicitly notes the secondary can break down on vertical shots over the top — attack the 1-on-1 cornerback matchups with go routes and post-corners. 2. Single-high Cover 3 on obvious downs: On 3rd-and-long, when they roll to single-high with blitz, the seam routes and dig routes behind the linebackers are available — hit the TE or slot receiver quickly. 3. Transition from 2-high to single-high: The coverage rotations can be exploited by identifying the pre-snap tip of safety depth/alignment and attacking the side where coverage transitions create a void. 4. Nickel package run defense: Moving to a 5-2-4 nickel on pass downs reduces run-fit integrity — a well-executed draw or outside zone on a pass-down look can catch them in a light box. 5. Morrison is still developing: While Pierce is elite, the opposite edge (Morrison) is an emerging but unproven starter — attack the other side of the line on run and pass plays.
Southlake Carroll's special teams are an extension of their disciplined program identity. Their kicker and punter provide solid field position management, and their return game requires HP's kick coverage units to be disciplined in their lanes. The tempo and athleticism of their offensive skill players cross over into return units, making all phases a threat.
Not specifically named in available data — monitor game film for kickoff depth/hang time; if kicks are consistently landing at the 5-10 yard line, instruct returners to fair-catch or take a touchback.
Not specifically named — evaluate punt hang time and coverage speed from film; any punt under 4.0 seconds of hang time is a return opportunity for HP's best returner.
Carroll's athletes on return units are a legitimate concern given the speed of their offensive skill players. HP's coverage units must maintain lane discipline and avoid over-pursuit — do not give up a return touchdown by gambling on a cut-back lane.
Carroll's kick coverage should be expected to be well-drilled under Dodge's program. HP's return team must use their blocks and avoid freelancing — establish field position conservatively early and take calculated risks only when trailing.
HIGH — Carroll's ability to operate no-huddle and score quickly means a short field off a bad kick or punt is extremely dangerous. HP's special teams must prioritize field position above all else; do not give this offense a short field.
PRIMARY: 2-High Safety (Cover 2 / Cover 4 Quarters) on early downs — designed to take away vertical routes and force underneath completions. HOW TO ATTACK: Use horizontal spacing and crossing routes underneath to stress the curl-flat defenders. Attack the middle of the field with seam routes from the TE and slot — Cover 2 is vulnerable in the deep middle between the safeties. Quick-tempo screens and bubbles can stress the flat defenders in Cover 2 and create run-after-catch opportunities. SECONDARY: Single-High (Cover 1 Man / Cover 3 Zone) on obvious passing downs and red zone — blitz-heavy. HOW TO ATTACK: Against Cover 1, use pick/rub routes and mesh concepts to create separation underneath; motion the RB out of the backfield to create linebacker mismatch in coverage. Against Cover 3, attack the seams and the holes between the hook-curl zones with TE drag routes. In the red zone against Cover 1, use back-shoulder fade routes to the boundary — Stockton's corner throws are a known weapon, use the same concept against his defense. COVERAGE TIP: Watch safety depth pre-snap to identify the shell — both safeties deep = 2-high (Cover 2/4); one safety walking down = single-high (Cover 1/3). Signal plays based on pre-snap alignment.
Riley Dodge is one of the elite program builders in Texas 6A football and coaches with a championship-level attention to detail. Offensively, Dodge is aggressive — he will push tempo to tire out HP's defense, and he is not afraid to go no-huddle from the opening snap to dictate pace. Expect him to script the first 15 plays and look for early explosive opportunities to establish psychological momentum. He is a 4th-down aggressor when field position or game context warrants it — do not be surprised by a 4th-and-short go call in Carroll territory. Halftime adjustments are a Dodge signature: if HP's defense stops something in the first half, expect a counter-scheme in the second half. Clock management at the end of halves will be disciplined — do not give him a two-minute drill opportunity with timeouts remaining. Defensively, Dodge will likely gameplan specifically for HP's top playmakers and adjust blitz packages based on what he saw on HP's film — expect something you haven't seen from them all season in the first series.
None reported — monitor Carroll's practice reports and local Southlake area media (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, SportsDay) through game week for any updates, particularly on Cole Stockton and Bradyn Pierce.
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