Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge watches his defense during the first half against Hurst L.D. Bell on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford.
Bob Booth
Special to the Star-Telegram
Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge is stepping down to take a job with SMU Football, he announced Wednesday.
Dodge will coach tight ends and serve as the passing game coordinator for the Mustangs.
Dodge, who also served as Carroll ISD’s Executive Director of Athletics, has led the Dragons since 2018, posting an 108-10 overall record. During his tenure, the Dragons won four regional titles and made two state championship appearances.
“I feel truly blessed to have served as Head Football coach and Athletic Director at Carroll ISD over the past eight years,” Dodge wrote. “Thank you to those who took a chance on a 19-year-old back in 2018. Words cannot fully capture what Southlake, TX means to me — it has been so much more than a job. It has shaped who I am today.”
Dodge, 37, has developed multiple division I quarterbacks, including former Texas standout Quinn Ewers, who made his first start for the Miami Dolphins Sunday.
Dodge was a standout Texas high school football quarterback himself, winning three state championships as a player.
In 2006, Dodge earned MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors. He was named the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year in 2007. In his career at Carroll, he passed for over 8,000 yards and accounted for over 100 TDs.
Prior to being hired as Carroll’s head coach when he was 29 years old, Dodge had stints at Northwest High School and Marcus High School. With Carroll, he developed a reputation as one of the best young offensive minds in Texas high school football.
After his high school career, he played quarterback at North Texas and McNeese. He served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M and as an offensive analyst at the University of Texas.
This story was originally published December 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM.
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.
In 2023, Southlake Carroll had a promising season before it ran into DeSoto in the Class 6A Division II state semifinals.
the eventual Class 6A Division II state champion, in the state semifinals.
The Dragons lost 45-38 — an intense and entertaining 6A Texas high school football playoff game — and DeSoto would go ahead and win state.
Now, two years later, Southlake Carroll has a shot at redemption in what should be another exciting game between Texas football juggernauts. Carroll (14-0) will face DeSoto (11-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Newsom Stadium in Mansfield in a Class 6A Division II state semifinal.
The No. 1 Dragons aim to punch a ticket to the state championship game in consecutive seasons and move one step closer to their first state title since 2011. The Eagles, after a down year in 2024, are looking to reclaim the Class 6A Division II throne — they won championships in 2022 and 2023.
DeSoto had a rough start to the 2025 season, falling to Creekside and North Crowley. But since then, DeSoto has looked excellent, with the exception of a loss to state power Duncanville, winning 11 of 12.
Although the Eagles have three losses, they undoubtedly have one of the toughest schedules in Texas and aren’t to be underestimated. Despite being unranked by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, DeSoto is playing its best football at the right time and is on an eight-game win streak.
Penn broke away for a 75-yard TD, finishing with 93 rushing yards and also adding 43 receiving yards. Boyd also had a solid game, tallying 122 yards.
Although the Dragons have a pass-heavy offense, look for Penn to establish the run. In their win against Denton Guyer, he rushed for 158 yards.
Boyd, an Ohio State signee who mentioned on socials he was feeling under the weather against Guyer, still put on a show, tallying 116 yards on only three receptions.
Pitt signee Angelo Renda threw for 234 yards, all in the first half, with Carroll holding a strong lead. He could have a big game against DeSoto’s defense, considering the unit gave up 335 yards to Wills QB Lincoln Frazier, a freshman.
Frazier did throw two interceptions, which is something Renda will have to avoid. He has seven interceptions on the season and 49 total TDs.
Protecting Renda is a beastly offensive line with multiple high-profile recruits, including junior Michigan pledge Tristan Dare, junior Oklahoma pledge Luke Wilson and senior Memphis pledge Carey Clayton.
Another name to watch is junior wide receiver Brody Knowles, a lengthy deep threat with a 6-foot-5 frame and offers from TCU, Oklahoma and more.
His brother, Graham Knowles, now a Georgia Tech quarterback, was the Dragons’ signal caller in the 2023 game against DeSoto.
As DeSoto will likely focus on Boyd, look for Knowles and wide receiver Blake Gunter to thrive. Knowles and Gunter have combined for an average of 138.4 receiving yards per game.
A look at the DeSoto Eagles
The Eagles exploded for 60 points against Willis in the quarterfinals with the help of a star-studded offense.
Leading the charge is junior running back Sarob Baker, a three-star recruit with offers from SMU, TCU, Texas Tech and more. He rushed for a whopping 402 yards against Willis and is averaging 193.9 rushing yards per game.
The Dragons allowed 154 rushing yards to Guyer, and 100 were from quarterback Kaedyn Cobb. Carroll has been very good against the run, but they haven’t gone against a back quite like Baker.
Charles Baggarly is a high school sports editor and reporter for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He graduated from TCU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and served as TCU 360’s sports editor. Connect with Charles on Twitter or via email.
Maybe it was the 4:30 p.m. start time, or that a 15-play, 94-yard drive in the final 2:50 before halftime yielded no points, but Southlake Carroll, the state’s No. 1-ranked Class 6A team, led Hurst L.D. Bell by only 14 at halftime Friday.
Whatever it was, the Dragons caught fire coming out of the break, making lightning-quick strikes en route to 35 second-half points to blank the Blue Raiders 49-0 in a District 4-6A contest Friday at Pennington Field. The game was moved up two-and-a-half hours because of bad weather in the forecast.
The victory ensured Southlake Carroll (9-0, 7-0), ranked No. 10 nationally by MaxPreps, of its 31st district title, while L.D. Bell (5-3, 3-3) suffered its third consecutive defeat after beginning the season 5-0 and is in danger of missing the playoffs.
Davis Penn, Angelo Renda and Parker Harris each rushed for a pair of touchdowns, and Blake Gunter put an exclamation point on an explosive second half with a 75-yard TD run midway through the final quarter.
The big-play Southlake Carroll offense amassed 701 total yards — 445 in the second half — utilizing a balanced attack (395 passing and 306 rushing).
Southlake Carroll running back Davis Penn (3) is brought down by Hurst L.D. Bell defensive back Caden Digiulio (27) and outside linebacker Sione Fiefia (40) during the first half Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Penn had a pair of 5-yard TD runs, one to open the scoring, and the other on the second play of the fourth quarter after the Dragons held on downs and took over at the Bell 30-yard line. A hook-and-lateral from Brock Boyd, who had taken a pitch from Renda, to Penn produced a 25-yard run to the 5. Penn then scored on the next snap.
Penn finished with 15 carries for 65 yards. His 11 rushing attempts in the first half eclipsed his season-high for any game total (by one) this year as Southlake Carroll has managed his workload after the standout tore his ACL in last year’s second-round playoff win over Wolfforth Frenship.
Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge watches his defense during the first half against Hurst L.D. Bell on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Head coach Riley Dodge said his workhorse back is fully recovered.
“The training wheels are off for Davis Penn,” Dodge said. “He is full throttle ahead. Been great to see him work his way back.”
Though the standout running back has yet to hit the 100-yard mark this season, he is finding the end zone. Penn, who scored three rushing TDs in each of his two previous outings, added two more to increase his season total to 12.
“I feel great,” Penn said. “Excited to part of this team. Full speed ahead. Feels better and better each game.”
Southlake Carroll quarterback Angelo Renda (2) runs for a first down against Hurst L.D. Bell during the first half Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Renda did not throw any TD passes, but completed 23 of 29 passes with no interceptions for 383 yards. The Pitt pledge came out smoking hot after intermission, engineering a six-play, 75-yard drive that featured 5-of-5 passing — to five receivers — before capping the march with a 3-yard TD run himself.
Renda added a 14-yard TD scamper later in the third quarter to finish off an eight-play, 99-yard drive that featured a 46-yard Renda run from his 1-yard line.
Disappointed in not finishing off the long drive just before intermission — running out of time on a swing pass from the L.D. Bell 4-yard line that was stopped for no gain — Renda said the team just “kept calm” and came out determined to start the second half to assume control.
“The second half our offense really came on,” said Renda, who added 82 rushing yards on five carries. “Our defense was amazing the entire game, but we played much better offensively in the second half.”
Dodge credited the Bell defense with keeping the game close in the first half.
Hurst L.D. Bell quarterback Braylon Harris (5) braces for the hit from Southlake Carroll defensive back Taevin Kunz (11) during the first half Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
The Dragons unveiled a new offensive wrinkle in the game as starting defensive back Parker Harris — operating out of the wildcat formation — scored on runs of 2 and 4 yards.
“We put that in this week,” Dodge said. “Parker and the offense executed it perfectly.”
Harris, who was part of Gunter’s Class 3A Division II state title team in 2023 before transferring to Carroll before the 2024 season, was excited to get to run out of the wildcat.
“Awesome,” he said. “We game-planned that this week. And it worked in the game just like practice.”
The second Harris TD came after Gunter hauled in a 74-yard pass from Renda midway through the third quarter, breaking at least six tackles along the way, down to the Bell 4-yard line, where Harris scored on the next snap.
Southlake Carroll wide receiver Blake Gunter (5) gets past Hurst L.D. Bell outside linebacker Kole Martin (32) during the first half Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Harris was equally proud of the defense earning its second shutout of the season (also 49-0, in the season opener against Midland).
“Great job by our defense all night,” he said. “And we were determined not to let them in the end zone.”
The Dragons stopped the Blue Raiders on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line with 3:18 left in the game on an incomplete pass, preserving the shutout.
The Carroll defense held Bell to 175 yards of total offense, including zero passing yards on one completion in the second half. The Blue Raiders were blanked for the first time since a 48-0 loss to Euless Trinity in 2021.
Gunter finished with 95 receiving yards on four catches and added 85 rushing yards on just two attempts.
Boyd, a senior Ohio State pledge, grabbed a game-high nine passes for 170 yards.
“Just a great team win,” said Boyd, who had 144 of his receiving yards in the first half on seven catches. “The offense came out big time in the second half, and our defense was lights out the entire game.”
Carroll will look to finish off an unblemished regular season, the 21st in program history and sixth in Dodge’s eight-year tenure, when it hosts Keller Central (5-3, 3-3) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
Bell was led by running back Jacob Preskenis, who finished with 86 rushing yards on 26 carries.
Hurst L.D. Bell running back Jacob Preskenis (20) is tackled by Southlake Carroll defensive back Taevin Kunz (11) during the first half Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
The Blue Raiders face Trophy Club Byron Nelson (6-2, 5-1) at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at Northwest ISD Stadium before tangling with rival Euless Trinity to end the regular season Nov. 6.
Bell, seeking to make the postseason for the first time since 2013, is at risk of missing out again as Keller Central holds the tiebreaker over the Blue Raiders.
Only one playoff spot in 4-6A is seemingly up for grabs, as Carroll, Byron Nelson and Trinity are in line for berths.
L.D. Bell head coach TJ Dibble talks to the team during a timeout during the first half against Southlake Carroll on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Southlake wide receiver Brock Boyd (left) puts on the brakes but is tackled by L.D. Bell defensive back Caden Digiulio (27) during the first half Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Hurst L.D. Bell quarterback Braylon Harris (5) checks the sidelines for the play call during the first half against Southlake Carroll on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Hurst L.D. Bell head coach TJ Dibble talks with outside linebacker Imani Reynolds (37) after the defense received a penalty during the second half Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Hurst L.D. Bell defensive back Lawrence Dunbar (13) stops Southlake Carroll running back Harrison Phillips (28) at the 1-yard line to end the game Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Southlake Carroll quarterback Preston Perazzo (18) tosses a quick sideline pass during the second half against Hurst L.D. Bell on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Pennington Field in Bedford. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Southlake Carroll quarterback Angelo Renda runs with the football looking downfield to a wide receiver in a district matchup against Keller Timber Creek at Keller ISD Stadium on Thursday Sept. 25, 2025.
Miles Meador
Special to the Star-Telegram
SOUTHLAKE
Quarterback Angelo Renda accounted for six touchdowns — five passing and one rushing — as top-ranked Southlake Carroll continued to steamroll through the regular season with a dominating 63-28 victory over Keller on Friday night at Dragon Stadium.
Renda, a Pitt pledge, connected with Ohio State commit Brock Boyd on first-quarter strikes of 13 and 9 yards, the former drive highlighted by a 47-yard completion to Luc Jacquemard for Carroll (6-0, 4-0 District 4-6A).
Renda completed 19 of 24 passes for 369 yards.
“We just have a great connection,” Renda said of Boyd. “We came out hot. We executed offensively.”
Boyd had eight catches for 102 yards.
“We wanted to come out and start fast,” he said Boyd. “We were physical. We just came out tonight and took care of business.”
Sandwiched between the two Boyd TDs, Keller (3-3, 2-2), No. 9 in the Star-Telegram’s 6A area rankings, deadlocked the score at 7-7 on a 9-yard pass from Brock Burkett to Bodie Davis.
The Keller momentum was brief, as Southlake Carroll reeled off 28 points in the second quarter to forge a 42-7 lead at intermission.
The second-quarter Dragons barrage featured contributions from the offense, defense and special teams.
Renda darted in for a 6-yard TD run, keyed by a 42-yard Parker Harris punt return to the Keller 40.
After Carroll forced a three-and-out on the next Keller offensive series, Jacquemard broke through to block an Indians punt that Caden Mackey scooped up for a 12-yard TD.
Blake Gunter hauled in a 28-yard scoring toss from Renda, who completed his first 15 passes, with 1:58 remaining till halftime, to cap a four-play, 80-yard march.
Dragons defensive back Austin Bussmann came up with an interception on the first snap of the ensuing Keller possession, returning it 10 yards to the 15, and Renda immediately took advantage with a 15-yard scoring toss to Brody Knowles.
Carroll scored on its first five offensive possessions, and possibly would have been six, but Renda’s second-and-goal pass was incomplete in the end zone as time expired in the first half.
Harris returned the second-half kickoff 76 yards to the Keller 21-yard line, which set up a Davis Penn 1-yard TD four plays later.
Gunter, with just over two minutes left in the third period, hauled in an 80-yard TD strike from Renda.
“We have a great group of receivers,” Renda said. “Just get the ball to these guys and let them make plays.”
Gunter did just that on his long scoring play.
“I was able to freeze the defender and hit the open field,” he said. “And then head to the end zone.”
Gunter characterizes his game “as a blocker first,” and gives a lot of credit to Boyd and the whole wideout group.
“Brock and I feed off each other’s energy.” said Gunter, who totaled a game-high 170 receiving yards on six grabs. “Brock is such a great leader, and I have learned a lot from him.”
Carroll head coach Riley Dodge said his team wanted to be physical from the outset and that he was proud of how his team performed.
“We challenged the guys going into this game,” he said. “We took what the defense gave us. And Angelo played a tremendous game, something we have come to expect.”
Keller made the outcome more respectable with three second half touchdowns.
Blake Dyniewski caught a 5-yard TD pass from Burkett, and sophomore backup quarterback Matt McCroskey accounted for a pair of Keller fourth-period TDs — a 1-yard plunge and a 28-yard pass to Cash Erdmann with 24 seconds remaining.
Carroll reserve signal-caller Preston Perazzo scored on a 5-yard run in between the two Keller fourth-quarter scores.
Burkett led Keller with 172 passing yards (18 of 31 with one interception) and the two TDs, while McCroskey finished 7 of 11 for 101 yards and one passing TD in addition to his rushing score.
Brock Meek led the Keller receiving corps with 109 yards on nine catches.
The victory leaves Dodge with a sparkling 99-9 record at Southlake, including an incredible 51-1 in district play, with the lone setback a 34-17 loss to Trophy Club Byron Nelson in 2023, which ended a 38-game league win streak. The Dragons avenged that defeat in a 56-7 regional final rout of Byron Nelson that same year.
Carroll is ranked No. 13 nationally by MaxPreps and 15th by USA Today and has scored 44 or more points in five of its six victories this season. The other win, 35-7 over Hebron, was called official with 10:02 left in the third quarter because of bad weather.
Dodge will be seeking his 100th career head coaching win when Carroll battles Haslet Eaton (3-2, 2-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Northwest ISD Stadium. Keller next squares off against Byron Nelson at 7 p.m. Thursday at Keller ISD Stadium.
