Texas, Florida champs start season 1-2 in football poll/SLC & Miami NW

[KFDM COOP]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/football/2007-08-21-super-25-top-2_N.htm

[KFDM COOP]

Who's No. 1?

Today, it's Southlake (Texas) Carroll. After Sept. 15, it could be Northwestern (Miami).

These two teams, who are at the top of USA TODAY's Super 25 preseason football rankings, meet Sept. 15 in Dallas at Southern Methodist University's Ford Stadium (ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET).

The game could be the third time in Super 25's 25-year history that No. 1 has met No. 2 and the first time a team would travel out of state to make it happen.

More than a No. 1 ranking might be at stake for the Dragons, who finished last season as the Super 25's top team. They're also riding a 48-game winning streak. "Expectations (at Carroll) never change," says first-year coach Hal Wasson, who was hired in January after Todd Dodge left for North Texas University.

Wasson, an assistant to Dodge in 2001 and 2002, bought into the same spread offense and defensive philosophies. He returned to Carroll after a four-year stint at nearby Fossil Ridge, where his teams went 28-15, including a district title in 2006.

"The names and faces may have changed (since 2002), but the structure has stayed the same," Wasson says.

Carroll, 79-1 since 2002 with four Class 5A state championships, has finished No. 1 in the rankings twice in the last three seasons.

Quarterback Riley Dodge, Todd's son, leads the way. He was Texas' 5A player of the year in 2006 after throwing for 4,237 yards and 54 touchdowns.

"He's the consummate field general," Wasson says. "Riley is trustworthy, accountable, a playmaker and makes the guys around him better."

Riley originally made a verbal commitment to play for the Texas Longhorns (his father's alma mater) but recently switched to North Texas.

Running back Tre Newton, a first-team 5A selection in 2006 and son of former Pro Bowl NFL lineman Nate Newton, isn't wavering on his Texas commitment. As a junior, he rushed for 1,285 yards and 14 TDs. Wide receiver Blake Cantu (14 TDs) is Riley's primary target.

If Carroll is built on a structured offense, Miami Northwestern, Florida's Class 6A champion, stresses speed and athleticism.

Four Northwestern players have committed to Miami (Fla.), including 6-4 quarterback Jacory Harris, who passed for almost 3,000 yards and 37 TDs last season. Receivers Aldarius Johnson (6-3, 200 pounds) and Tommy Streeter (6-4, 195) combined for 33 TD receptions. Tackle Marcus Forston (20 sacks) spearheads a 4-3 defense.

"All of them will play at the next level, and it won't surprise me when some play on Sundays (NFL)," says Northwestern coach Billy Rolle, who is in his first season after taking over for Roland Smith. Smith was fired in July for covering up a sex scandal that involved a star running back and a 14-year-old girl on Northwestern's grounds in December.

Rolle, who previously coached Northwestern, is the only coach in Miami-Dade County to guide two schools to state football titles.

Northwestern finished fifth in last year's rankings.

[TradinUp BH]

This will be a high scoring game. SLC 48, Miami 42

[Guest coachhooker]

that is a big test for coach wasson for his first game as head coach at slc

[HORNSFAN86]

Can't wait to see it. I wonder if Riley is going to "up chuck" and then throw a

TD pass, again. That was good stuff I don't care who you are. LOL, SLC

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

Can't wait to see it. I wonder if Riley is going to "up chuck" and then throw a

TD pass, again. That was good stuff I don't care who you are. LOL, SLC

lmao  man i loved that, i still youtube it.