The Weatherford Kangaroos are heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, and in their way is a doozy of a challenge.
Weatherford is scheduled to play Southlake Carroll at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 at Southlake’s Dragon Stadium.
Carroll (8-2, 7-0) is a program everyone knows in Texas high school football and this team is no different. The Dragons’ two losses this season came in the pre-district against North Crowley and Allen after beating one of Oklahoma’s premier programs, Jenks, in the first game.
Carroll’s offense is well balanced by its offensive line led by Tristan Dare (Missouri commit), Ty McCurry (three-star recruit) and Luke Wilson (Oklahoma commit). This allows quarterback Hudson Tomcheck (1,791 passing yards, 18 touchdowns) to get the ball to his playmakers. His receivers on the outside are tall Illinois-commit Brody Knowles (48 catches, 843 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Cal-commit Blake Gunter (48 catches, 832 yards, 5 touchdowns).
On the ground, the running back duo of Dez Bryant Jr. (571 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Brooks Biggers (418 yards, 1 touchdown) along with Tomcheck (571 yards, 10 touchdowns) make Southlake a tough rushing attack to stop.
The defense is not quite as renowned as the offense in terms of players with commitments or offers, but is no less effective. While the team gave up 129 points in its first three games playing nationally ranked programs, the Dragon defense has given up just 94 against its seven district opponents.
“Really when has the narrative really changed since before Week 1,” Roos coach Marshall Williams said. “It goes back to Dave Campbell picking us to finish second to last in the district and then it goes week to week to the Star Telegram or Dallas Morning News or whoever wants to give their 2 cents on who is going to win the game. We have been chosen to lose multiple times throughout the year.”
Weatherford’s loss to end the regular season against Arlington hit the team hard since the Roos were so close to winning at the end. That reaction is one that shows Williams how much the team cares.
“Friday morning was a gloomy morning which can be a good or bad thing,” Williams said. “I’ve been a part of teams where you’ve lost a crushing game like Arlington and kids are done with it after 15 minutes and moved on with the rest of their lives. This team didn’t. The buses were completely silent on the way home and kids were hurt. But yesterday’s (Monday) practice was great.”
Williams knows Weatherford will have to play its best game of the season to have a chance, and he and the coaching staff are preparing to do just that knowing the type of program Southlake Carroll is.
“Carroll is obviously a rich-traditioned program,” Williams said. “I coached there for two years; I know that world. It’s not we have to play Carroll; we get to. We get the opportunity to play an elite program and test our will.”
Whatever happens Friday, Williams wants the people of Weatherford to remember the journey this team has had this season getting back to the playoffs.
“I’m just really proud of our kids,” Williams said. “Regardless of how Friday night goes our season should not be what the last game is. What these kids have done, what these coaches have done, what this community has supported and where we are right now. We could beat Carroll; we could barely lose to them or get blown out. But it doesn’t have anything to do in my mind about what the journey has been and the success that has happened for this football program after being 3-17 the last two years to 6-4 this season.”
Weatherford 7 7 14 0 - 28
Arlington 14 10 36 - 33
SCORING SUMMARY:
First Quarter
A-G. Cambron 24 run (Kick good), 9:08
W- Hemphill 40 pass from Jones (Marino kick), 7:00
A-Brown 50 run (Kick goo), 5:32
Second Quarter
A-C. Cambron 32 run (Kick good), 7:36
A-Garrett 35 yd FG, 3:56
W-Jones 2 run (Marino kick), :31
Third Quarter
W-Hemphill 78 run (Marino kick), 11:40
A-Garrett 25 yd FG, 6:53
W-Quimby 1 run (Marino kick), 1:16
Fourth Quarter
A-C. Cambron 8 run (Two-point no good), 7:38
INDIVIDUAL STATS:
RUSHING-Weatherford, J. Hemphill 5-85-1, D. Quimby 13-75-1, B. Jones 13-46, E. Garrett 2-19. Arlington, C. Cambron 16-112-2, K. Brown 7-82-1, G. Cambron 2-28-1, J. Nelson 3-23, C. Moore 3-21, J. Henderson 2-18.
PASSING-Weatherford, B. Jones 10-15-154-1-0. Arlington, C. Cambron 5-6-54-0-0.
RECEIVING-Weatherford, J. Hemphill 4-83-1, A. Moore 1-38, R. Tidwell 2-34, E. Garrett 1-1, D. Quimby 1(-1), P. Clark 1(-1). Arlington, K. Brown 2-31, G. Cambron 3-14, C. Moore 1-9.
SPECIAL TEAMS-Weatherford, J. Marino 4-4 (XP)
DEFENSE-Weatherford, H. Ferguson 9 tck, 1 TFL, C. Parker 8 tck, C. Peterson 6 tck, N. Soto 5 tck, 1 TFL, 1 Hurry, Q. Martinez 5 tck, L. Hall 4 tck, A. Feriend 4 tck, X. Olivares 3 tck, K. Wakeland 3 tck, K. Redditt 3 tck, S. Garcia 3 tck, K. Hampton 3 tck, A. Arevalo 2 tck, Z. Zanett 1 tck, C. Goff 1 tck, J. Valdez 1 tck.
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