Slovacek's I-35 Showdowns of the Week — Week 1

Slovacek's logoTo honor the loyal football fans that travel great distances to support their favorite team, DCTF and our friends from Slovacek’s in West, Texas are proud to present The Slovacek’s I-35 Showdowns of the Week: Southlake Carroll (0-0) at Austin Westlake (0-0) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Chaparral Stadium in Austin This one would be big, even without the elephant in the room. Both of these teams come into this inter-regional clash ranked in DCTF’s Preseason 6A Top 25 poll, with the Carroll Dragons coming in at #11 and the Westlake Chaps at #25. Both rosters are stocked with future college stars and both programs are looking to re-establish themselves as perennial state title contenders. And, oh yeah, the coach. Todd Dodge, the architect of Carroll’s early-century dominance, welcomes his old team to his new digs on the edge of the Texas Hill Country – where he’s looking to use his blueprint to return Westlake to the lofty stature they achieved in the ‘90s. The current Dragons never got to play for Dodge, but his shadow still looms large over the posh Tarrant County suburb. Running back Lil’ Jordan Humphrey is the big name to watch for the Dragons on offense, but the Carroll mystique has always revolved around exceptional quarterback play. With Ryan Agnew off to San Diego State this year, the next man up in the long line of Carroll signal callers is senior Montana Murphy. How well he adjusts to the role will go a long way in determining the fate of the 2015 Dragons. Westlake, of course, has a bit of a quarterback history of their own – highlighted by Drew Brees and Nick Foles. Looking to join that pantheon is dual-threat Sam Ehlinger, who accounted for 35 total touchdowns last year as a sophomore. He’ll have a few of his favorite targets from last year, Reed Klubnik and Chase Cokley, back to inject a healthy dose of continuity into this year’s Chaparral attack. Ehlinger and company will be facing a Dragon defense that is short on experience, which may be a good sign for the Chaps. That defense, though, is led by DCTF Super Team defensive back Obi Eboh – who broke up ten passes last year and will look to help his defensive cohorts grow up quickly. The winner of this match up will not only confirm their status as a legitimate threat to make a deep run in the 6A playoffs, they’ll also give us a definitive answer to all of those wondering which is the best side of a large inland body of water on which to live. Aledo (0-0) vs. Cedar Park (0-0) 7:30 p.m. Friday at McLane Stadium in Waco The football season can sometimes be like swimming in frigid waters. You want to ease yourself in slowly, getting your wits about you before fully submerging. If you subscribe to that theory, then it might be a little early in the season for a match up of the #1 and #2 teams in the state. For the rest of us, though, Aledo and Cedar Park is a dream scenario for Week 1 – with the schools occupying the top two spots in DCTF’s Preseason 5A top 25 poll. This isn’t the first season-opening contest between these two schools on Baylor’s campus. Last year, Aledo overcame a ten-point second half deficit to beat Cedar Park 21-17 in the first game after longtime coach Tim Buchanan’s sudden and unexpected departure from the program. Having an early season test benefited both teams, as each of them went on a march all the way to the UIL State Championships at AT&T Stadium- where Aledo won their fifth title in six years in the 5A Division I bracket and Cedar Park dropped a heart-breaker to Ennis in the stunning 5A Division II final. Many of the familiar names from each of these team’s 2014 runs are now gone, but each program has been built to last and have the next wave of stars ready to go. Senior Jack Grimm and junior Jav Guidry will carry on the Cedar Park tradition of versatile, two way athletes, while linebackers Augustine Tambe and Mac McCaskill will anchor the Timberwolves’ stout defense. Brothers Hunter and Wes Harris highlight a burly Aledo offensive line, who will look to create an easier transition into the starting role for new Bearcat quarterback Dillon Davis. Gone, too, is former Cedar Park coach Joe Willis. His sudden and unexpected departure this summer leaves former offensive coordinator Carl Asbeck to lead the program. Being thrust into the head coaching role for a team expected to contend for a title may be a tough spot, but the blue print for success will be standing on the other sideline. Aledo’s Steve Wood, a former Bearcat assistant, was in his first game as head coach when these two teams faced off in Waco last year.