Dragons Fall To Guyer In Region FInal

MANSFIELD – The Carroll Dragons saw their impressive season come to an end Saturday afternoon at windy Mansfield ISD’s Vernon Newsom Stadium.

Carroll fell to Denton Guyer 24-14 in the Class 5A Division II Region I final. Guyer advances to the state semifinals to meet Longview next Saturday at SMU.

For the Dragons, this was their longest playoff run since the 2006 state championship season. Carroll overcame a season-opening loss, injuries and went four rounds deep in the playoffs.

Guyer (12-2) pulled away from the Dragons (10-4) in the fourth quarter. With the score 10-7, Guyer extended its lead to 17-7 with 9:45 left in the game on a short touchdown run. Guyer controlled the ball most of the game with its running game while Carroll was missing leading rusher Paul Stevenson, who did not play because of an injury. The Dragons were held to 33 yards rushing and 225 total yards.

The Dragons, who lost to Guyer 28-14 in District 7-5A play, opened the scoring on a 28-scoring strike from quarterback Kenny Hill to Peyton Williams.

Carroll led 7-0 but Guyer added 10 points in the second quarter with the wind at its back. The Wildcats added a field goal and 30-yard TD pass from quarterback J.W. Walsh to Cameron Hunter with 39 seconds left in the first half for a 10-7 lead. Both teams were scoreless in the third.

Dragons sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill finished 19-of-30 for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Williams led all receivers with eight catches for 89 yards and two TDs.