Facing powerhouse Southlake Carroll can be intimidating, but Lake Highlands coach Scott Smith said his players aren't worried.
The teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Southlake's Dragon Stadium.
"Our guys know who they are up against, and they have a tremendous amount of respect for what Southlake Carroll has done," he said. "But our guys aren't intimidated by that."
Carroll has won 48 consecutive games and three consecutive Class 5A state championships. Lake Highlands was 3-7 last year and lost this season's opener, 27-24, to Tyler Lee.
Smith said he welcomes the opportunity to measure his team against the best.
"They are a pretty special team," he said. "They have earned the right to get all the accolades that they have received until somebody beats them."
Gabriel Cabarrouy
Joseph Cleaver kicked a 29-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to give Tyler Lee the win over Lake Highlands at newly refurbished Wildcat-Ram Staduim. The last-second heroics negated a 24-point second-half comeback by Lake Highlands, which had two returns for touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Tyler Lee scored twice in the first three minutes after recovering its opening kickoff at the Lake Highlands 17 and then blocking a Lake Highlands punt at the 11 on the next possession.
Three turnovers and a blocked field goal hampered Lake Highlands' efforts although its defense contained Lee which had to travel only 53 total yards in gaining a 21 nothing half-time deficit.
Lee's lead was 24-0 before Lake Highlands scored on Alonzo Wilson's 33-yard touchdown run. Lake Highlands' Mitchell Hodge returned a blocked field goal 75 yards for a touchdown, and a Lee turnover led to a 45-yard field goal by Scott Renkes to cut the lead to 24-17 with 6:16 left. Hodge recovered a botched snap and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown on Lee's next drive.
Lee quarterback Brandon Rodgers hit DaDa Brown on a 20-yard screen pass on third down to extend Lee's final drive, and Rodger ran for 30 more yards to set up Cleaver's winning kick.
Coach: Scott Smith (3-7 in one season)
Last playoff appearance: 2005, Class 5A Division II area round
Returning starters: 5 offense, 5 defense
| SET YOUR SIGHTS ON | ||||
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. |
| Jacob Andrews | QB | 6-0 | 180 | Sr. |
| Runs the offense well and is a leader | ||||
| Chase Inman | LB | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
| A physical defender who can run | ||||
| D.J. Monroe | RB | 5-10 | 190 | Sr. |
| Good speed and hands; also a great blocker | ||||
| John Shorter | DB | 6-0 | 185 | Sr. |
| QB of the defense; likes contact; top return man | ||||
| Jake Vines | QB | 6-3 | 170 | Jr. |
| Best pure runner; versatile athlete | ||||
Coach Scott Smith enters his second season with nine new assistants. The spread offense will remain basically unchanged, but the defense has switched to a base 4-3 alignment. ... A three-way battle at quarterback between John Shorter, Jacob Andrews and Jake Vines was unresolved after spring drills. ... Shorter returned two punts for TDs in the same game last season. ... Coaches are high on Reid McCann (6-2, 220), who started at defensive end as a sophomore.
2007 SPORTSDAY PREDICTION: 4-6
COACHES POLL SAYS: Sixth place in 9-5A