Southlake Carroll Ignites in Second Half to Torch L.D. Bell, Clinch Another District Crown
HURST For two quarters, the top-ranked team in Texas looked human. Then Southlake Carroll reminded everyone why it wears the No. 1 next to its name.
After a sluggish first half that saw the Dragons up just 14–0, Southlake erupted after the break unleashing 35 unanswered points in a blistering second half to bury Hurst L.D. Bell, 49-0, on a storm-shifted Friday evening at Pennington Field.
The win wasn’t just another check in the win column it delivered Carroll’s 31st district championship, improved its record to 9-0, and kept its national top-10 ranking intact.
Slow Start, Sudden Storm
The early kickoff (moved up to avoid bad weather) seemed to throw the Dragons slightly off rhythm. They dominated possession including a 15-play, 94-yard drive before halftime but came up empty on the scoreboard as the clock expired.
Whatever was said at halftime worked. Southlake came out of the locker room like it was shot out of a cannon. The offense ripped off lightning-fast scoring drives, and the defense tightened the screws, holding Bell (5-3, 3-3) to just 175 total yards and zero passing yards in the second half.
Penn, Renda, and Harris Lead the Surge
Quarterback Angelo Renda and running back Davis Penn powered the offensive explosion. Renda, the Pitt commit was nearly flawless, completing 23 of 29 passes for 383 yards, then adding two rushing touchdowns himself.
Penn, returning from last year’s ACL tear, continued to show why the staff trusts him in clutch moments. He punched in two short TDs, both from five yards out, including one following a dazzling hook-and-lateral trick play that set up the score. Though Penn finished with 65 yards on 15 carries, his consistency in the red zone remains unmatched now 12 rushing touchdowns on the year.
Carroll also showed off its depth and creativity. Defensive back Parker Harris took over in a wildcat look and delivered two short touchdown runs, adding a new wrinkle to the Dragons’ already lethal offense.
Then came the exclamation point a 75-yard sprint from Blake Gunter, who capped a monster night with 95 receiving yards and 85 rushing yards on just six touches.
Big-Play Offense Hits 700 Yards
The Dragons were practically unstoppable, piling up 701 total yards, including 445 after halftime. Their attack was as balanced as it was explosive 395 through the air, 306 on the ground with highlight moments coming from all corners of the roster.
Ohio State commit Brock Boyd was Renda’s favorite target, hauling in nine receptions for 170 yards, with most of his damage coming before the break.
Defensive Domination and a Shutout Sealed
While the offense grabbed headlines, the defense earned the mic-drop moment pitching its second shutout of the season. Led by a swarming front and lockdown coverage, Carroll never let Bell breathe. A fourth-down stop inside the 5-yard line with three minutes remaining sealed the clean sheet.
It was Bell’s first shutout since 2021, and their third straight loss after starting 5-0. Running back Jacob Preskenis battled hard, grinding out 86 yards on 26 carries, but the Dragons never let him find open field.
