By Art Garcia
Photo by Ron Jenkins
The “Dodge Bowl” won’t happen, a casualty of the, ahem, novel offseason. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to pick it up in ’21,” says Riley Dodge. The Dragons’ nondistrict schedule had to be reworked, which meant Dodge worked the phones and emails of his coaching contacts around the state. While much of Class 6A and Class 5A kick off the season in Week 1, the Dragons will scrimmage with DeSoto in Week 1, followed by games against Rockwall-Heath, Rockwall and Denton Guyer. District 4-6A play opens Oct. 22 at Byron Nelson High. After months of uncertainly, Dodge can take a breath … for a second. Then the real work begins. “If you look at our schedule now, we’re playing Rockwall-Heath, who’s got everybody coming back and a very talented offense. We go play Rockwall High, who played in the semifinals. They got beat by Duncanville the week after us. And then we go play a rival of ours, Denton Guyer, who wasn’t on the schedule and is now, and was in the state championship last year. We have a pretty salty nondistrict schedule.”
All games start at 7 p.m.
* designates District 4-6A games
Oct. 2 Rockwall-Heath Senior Night
The Hawks went 5-5 last season, 2-4 in District 10-6A. QB Josh Hoover threw for 2,926 yards and 33 TDs in the team’s first season in the spread last year.
Oct. 8 Rockwall
New coach Trey Brooks moves up from offensive coordinator after the Yellowjackets went 12-3 and reached the state semifinals. Junior QB Braedyn Locke passed for 4,282 yards and 53 TDs.
Oct. 16 Denton Guyer
Coach Rodney Webb is a transplant from Rockwall, inheriting the 6A-D2 state finalists. Texas A&M commit and QB Eli Stowers accounted for more than 4,000 yards passing and rushing, and 47 TDs.
Oct. 22 @Byron Nelson *
RB Max Modeste (758 yards, 9 TDs) is back to run behind a veteran offensive line. The Bobcats were 1-9/ 1-6 in district last season.
Oct. 30 Keller * Pink Out
Playoff team under coach Carl Stralow returns about a third of its starters from a 7-4/5-2 squad. QB Hayden Anderson picked up first-team all-district honors as a junior.
Nov. 6 @Keller Central *
First-year coach Mike Sports, promoted from defensive coordinator, is largely rebuilding the Chargers, who went 7-4/4-3 and reached the playoffs in 2019.
Nov. 13 Bye Week
Nov. 20 Northwest Eaton *
The Eagles, coming off a 4-6/2-5 campaign, should rely heavily on RBs Jahbez Hawkins and Isaac Jones.
Nov. 25 @Keller Timber Creek *
New coach Marshall Williams knows the Dragons well, having spent the last two years as Carroll’s defensive coordinator. The Falcons were 3-7/2-5 last season.
Dec. 4 Keller Fossil Ridge *
Former Denton Ryan defensive coordinator Derek Ramsey takes over as coach of the Panthers, who were 1-9/ 1-6 in 2019.