By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
Football in September is typically highlighted by the college game's monster out-of-conference showdowns. USC at Nebraska, Virginia Tech at LSU, and Miami at Oklahoma are just a few of the big games on the slate next month.
But come Sept. 15, college football move over - the high school game has a monster of its own.
Southern Methodist University's Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas will be the site as Miami's Northwestern Bulls travel to take on the Southlake Carroll Dragons in a clash between state powers that is sure to have national implications. The game is scheduled to be televised by ESPNU with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The unique and timely pairing also illustrates a growing trend in high school football. Taking a page from basketball, elite programs are taking their game out-of-state with increasing frequency to face the nation's best (See Story:.).
The Dragons, reigning Texas 5A Division I champions, will put a 48-game winning streak on the line against an immensely talented Bulls team that captured the Florida 6A state title last year, beating opponents by an average of over five touchdowns per game.
In addition to being the teams to beat in their respective states, the two schools are likely to be ranked at or near the top of every major national preseason poll. The last time preseason No. 1 met No. 2 in the regular season was in 2003 when De La Salle (Calif.) knocked off Evangel Christian (La.).
The Dragons
16-0 in 2006, Texas 5A Division I state champions
98-11 since 2000 with state titles in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006
Winners of 48-straight games
A high-powered offense was Southlake Carroll's trademark under former head coach Todd Dodge, who moved on to the University of North Texas after a successful seven-year run with the program. With quarterback Riley Dodge (Todd's son) and Tre Newton back for their senior seasons, that's not likely to change under new head coach Hal Wasson.
In his first year as a starter, Riley Dodge earned MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors after throwing for over 4,000 yards and 54 touchdowns and running for over 1,000 with 13 more touchdowns.
Newton, son of former Dallas Cowboys star Nate Newton, is a multi-talented back who has powered the Dragon ground game for the past two seasons. As a junior, the future Texas Longhorn surpassed 2,000 yards and doubles as a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield.
First-year coach Hal Wasson recognizes the good fortune of taking over the reigns of a team with well-rounded leaders like Dodge and Newton.
"First and foremost, they are great young men," Wasson said. "They are great role models and great players, very competitive players. I'll be the first one to say I'm certainly glad they are on our football team."
The Dragons multi-dimensional offense also features University of Oregon commitment Blake Cantu - Dodge's primary target - and Chris Brainard, a good route runner with great hands.
Up front, Carroll features three Division I prospects in guard Jake Jackson, center Nick Leppo, and tackle Sam Schwartzstein.
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Defensively, Southlake Carroll is young, but talented. Three starters return, most notably, linebacker Derek Tomlin. The 6-0, 200-pound senior is an intelligent player with a great blend of strength and quickness.
The Bulls
15-0 in 2006, 6A state champions
25-2 over the past two seasons
Three 6A state titles since 1995
Not to be outdone, Northwestern will bring a similarly potent offense to Dallas, featuring a flurry of Division I commitments and prospects.
Behind center is 6-4 senior Jacory Harris, who put up monster numbers through the air a year ago while helping the Bulls put up an average of 43 points per game. Already committed to the University of Miami, Harris threw for over 2,900 yards and 37 touchdowns.
For as talented as he is, Harris is made even better by playing with arguably the best pass-catching duo in the country, 6-3 Aldarius Johnson and 6-6 Tommy Streeter. Johnson, also committed to Miami, is one of the top offensive threats in the country regardless of position. Streeter is a tall, athletic target with the ability to tower above defensive backs. Johnson and Streeter combined for over 2,000 receiving yards as juniors.
The Bulls will have three players splitting time at running back, Daquan Hargrett, Tyrese Jones, and sophomore Corvin Lamb. All three players are capable of contributing be able and providing a complement to the well-established passing game.
Somehow overshadowed last season was the Northwestern defense, which didn't give up a single point from Sept. 16 to Nov. 9 last season - a span of seven full games. For the year, the Bulls allowed just 7.2 points per game.
Defensive end Marcus Forston, yet another future Miami Hurricane, led the way with 92 tackles and 20 sacks. Sean Spence is another playmaker and a leader at the linebacker position.
Unfortunately, the storyline over the summer at Northwestern wasn't its flurry of college prospects making commitments or the upcoming showdown with Southlake Carroll. Head coach Roland Smith, along with his entire varsity staff, was fired in the wake of a scandal involving a former player.
Enter new head coach Billy Rolle, who led Northwestern to a state title in 1998 but ended a six-year run at the school citing a desire to be closer to his family.
He inherits a team on the brink of one of the more highly-anticipated high school football clashes ever, a game bringing together two teams from different states, different backgrounds and environments, with little in common besides a history of success on the gridiron.
The Game
Randy Rodgers, a former assistant coach at the University of Texas and a respected authority on Texas high school football, recognizes the enormity of this showdown.
"Everyone argues where the best high school football is played," Rodgers said. "There's all the coffee shop, internet chat discussions, and this gives a fan the opportunity to see two top teams with national reputations on the same field."
The intrigue that comes along with pitting elite teams from different states against each other is something not to be underestimated.
"You have a team in Texas that has been the best team in Texas for five years, and a team from Florida that is one of the stronger teams there," Rodgers said. "So the fans get to see what happens when you get a top team from Texas and a top team from Florida. From a fan standpoint, it's really interesting."
Both teams will have hurdles to clear before Sept. 15, so players have been forced into a tempered enthusiasm for the game.
"Our players are very excited about this opportunity. It's not something we talk a lot about right now, we've got a lot of irons in the fire," Wasson said, referring to the team's season opener against Lake Highlands.
"There's no secret. They know this is going to be a very big opponent for them to play, but it's not something we are talking about daily."
As Rolle assumes control at Northwestern, expect the same attitude from the Bulls, who know well the rigors of a championship season.
While the teams themselves can try and downplay the magnitude of the game, fans in Texas and Florida - and all over the country, for that matter - will wait eagerly for the biggest high school football game of the season.