The Arlington High football team suffered a heartbreaking 28-24 loss last Saturday night to the Southlake Carroll Dragons.

The game was played in front of a raucous crowd at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, and the Colts came to play.

Southlake scored on the first drive of the game, but Arlington put the clamps on the Dragon offense for the remainder of the first half as the Colt defense did not allow another point.

Midway through the second quarter, senior RB Kenland McCray scored on a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. McCray looked to be stopped short of the line of scrimmage, but avoided five defenders to scamper into the endzone.

The next offensive drive for the Colts resulted in an interception returned for a touchdown making the score 14-7 Dragons. Just three plays later, senior QB D’Montae Davis gashed the Dragons up the middle, scoring on a 59-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes remaining until halftime. The score would remain knotted at 14-14 going into the half.

On the first drive of the second half, Arlington drove the ball down the field with methodical precision, scoring on a 1-yard Davis rushing touchdown. The Colts had their first lead of the game. The lead did not last long as Carroll scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown just 1:30 later.

The seesaw affair continued as the Arlington offense marched down the field into Dragon territory, but stalled out near the redzone. A 37-yard field goal by junior K Griffin Kell gave the Colts a 24-21 advantage.

Following the Arlington field goal, Southlake drove the ball all the way to the Colt three-yard line and faced a 4th and goal. The quarterback rolled right, but threw back to his left on a perfectly executed fourth down pass. Southlake took the lead 28-24 with just under 10 minutes to play, which was the last score of the game.

After unsuccessful offensive drives by both teams, Arlington got the ball back with around two and a half minutes remaining in the game. The offense’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down, giving Carroll the ball back for the final time. The football season was over, but head coach Scott Peach remains unwavering in support of his team.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this football team,” he said. “From day one going back in December to a year later where we’re at, the way they have worked, the way they have come together, I could not be more proud.”

In spite of their third round loss, the Colts had, by all measures, a fantastic season. It all started with an improbable comeback win against South Grand Prairie, a huge road win at Flower Mound Marcus, and a Homecoming to remember at UTA against Plano East. Their district season included wins over North Crowley, Lamar, Bowie, Paschal and Sam Houston. Their eight wins set up a playoff showdown with undefeated Keller Fossil Ridge, which Arlington won in dominating fashion. The next round saw Arlington put on an offensive clinic in a win against El Paso Montwood, which set up the huge third matchup against Southlake. The Colts almost eliminated a Texas high school power, who has won eight state championships, but fell just short.

The District 4-6A award winners were named after the season and Arlington was well-represented. QB D’Montae Davis was named the district’s Offensive Most Valuable Player and K Griffin Kell was named Co-Special Teams MVP. The all-district first team included junior twin linebackers X’Zavion and A’Tavion McDonald, junior DB Kyron White, and senior DB X’Zavier Guyton. The all-district second team also included many representatives from AHS. Peach believes this is one of the most special teams he has ever been apart of.

“The 2017 team will go down as one of the best teams in the history of the school,” he said. “They did it the right way with class, hardwork, and togetherness. I’ve had the chance to coach some good teams, but this one will go down as one of the greats, without question.”