6A DI State Semifinal Preview and Prediction: Southlake Carroll (11-1) vs. Duncanville (10-1)

By Rodney Wooters and Zac Byrd

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Southlake Carroll (11-1) vs Duncanville (10-1)

3 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park

For the third straight season, Carroll and Duncanville meet up in the playoffs. But this time it’s a round later as in 2018 and 2019 these two resided in the same region.

Southlake Carroll has suffered blowout losses at the hands of Duncanville in two straight years and the Dragons are hopeful this season is different as junior QB Quinn Ewers, an Ohio State commit, is back and hitting on all cylinders. In last week’s 59-35 win over Euless Trinity, Ewers in his second game back after returning from an injury torched the Trinity secondary for 450 yards passing and six touchdowns, while completing an incredible 35 of 39 passes.

His top target was Minnesota signee WR Brady Boyd, who had 17 receptions for 261 yards and four touchdowns.

Duncanville is fresh off a dominating win over district rival DeSoto, 56-28, on Saturday night. The Panthers defensive front seven controlled an explosive DeSoto offense all night, while the Panthers passing game exploded as QB Grayson James had his best game of the year throwing for 471 yards and three touchdowns, with SMU signee Roderick Daniels doing most of the damage with eight catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns.

Duncanville’s secondary last week got hit a few times in the passing game by DeSoto; I expect Carroll to do much of the same as they’ve got a more accurate and dynamic QB.

The key is going to be the Dragons offensive line. If they can give Ewers time to make throws and go through progressions, the Dragons have a chance to score, but if the Carroll offensive line struggles with Duncanville like they have in the past two years, expect another lopsided game.

I think Carroll’s offensive line is a step up from DeSoto and the Dragons will give Ewers time to work and the Dragons keep this close for a while.

In the end Duncanville’s got the defense that will clamp down in big moments and an offense that’s rapidly improving late in the season.

Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 15

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