Even a program as decorated as Southlake Carroll's needs a hero once in a while. Riley Dodge was that hero, time and again.

COURTNEY PERRY/DMN

Dodge threw for 39 touchdowns in 2007.

Five days after a hard-fought loss to a powerful Miami Northwestern team, Carroll found itself trailing by 14 points at the end of the first quarter at Rockwall.

It would have been easy for Carroll to explain a second loss. Carroll was playing on the road on short rest. There was no 49-game winning streak to maintain like there had been against Northwestern.

But Dodge wouldn't let his team succumb.

He started firing touchdown passes, ending up with seven. Two came in the fourth quarter as Carroll held off Rockwall, 49-42.

Dodge rarely had to dig so deep to pull out a victory during most of his career, which included 27 wins and a 2006 state championship. Most games, Dodge's unflinching poise and mastery of Carroll's multifaceted spread offense were enough.

But when he had to, Dodge could do whatever it took to get his team a win.

Dodge is an excellent runner, but he mostly used his legs as a last resort. But in the first round of the playoffs against Flower Mound, with Tre' Newton, Carroll's standout running back, out with an injury, Dodge's legs were Carroll's primary weapon.

He rushed 30 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Carroll won, 35-24.

Only two things stopped Dodge this season. One was that immensely talented Miami team. Dodge threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns in the 29-21 loss.

The other was an injury. Dodge's high school career ended in the third round of the playoffs against Abilene, a 22-21 loss, when he suffered a shoulder injury that would later require surgery.

At the time of the injury, Dodge was 8-of-8 passing and had led Carroll to two touchdowns early in the second quarter. The hit that knocked Dodge out of the game came just as he released a touchdown pass, the 100th of his career.

Like a real football hero, Dodge went down firing.

JOHN F. RHODES/DMN

Dodge had a record of 27-2 as a starting quarterback for Carroll.

SOUTHLAKE CARROLL, SR., QB

Height, weight: 6-0, 187

Key stats: Completed 229 of 331 passes (69 percent) for 3,445 yards and 39 TDs. He threw six interceptions.

About Dodge: Career record of 27-2 as a starting quarterback. Dodge threw for 8,137 yards and 100 TD passes in his career.

Did you know? Dodge will play next season for North Texas, where his father, Todd, is the coach. Dodge took summer courses so he could graduate early and go through spring drills at UNT.

Readers' choice: Plano's Rex Burkhead received 61.3 percent of the votes in an HSGameTime.com survey.

RECENT WINNERS

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: SPENCER REEVES

COURTNEY PERRY/DMN

Reeves made 160 tackles and blocked three punts.

If the personality of Skyline's defense could be embodied in one player, it's linebacker Spencer Reeves.

Skyline had the top-ranked defense in the area among 5A teams. Skyline allowed just 203.8 yards a game while climbing to a 12-2 record.

In the middle of it all was Reeves. As Skyline's middle linebacker, he was the primary disruptive force.

"A downhill smasher," is how teammate and fellow linebacker Keanon Cooper described Reeves. "Very aggressive."

Reeves was credited with 160 tackles, but that's only one way he contributed. His personality became the fiery heart of Skyline's defense.

"I had to keep him toned down," coach Reginald Samples said. "He's a guy that's real vocal and always trying to get everybody fired up."

Although a bit undersized to play the middle, Reeves was physical enough to stuff running plays and quick enough to cover sideline to sideline. Wherever the ball went, Reeves was there.

The physical attributes have always been there. What made Reeves' season stand out is the leadership he showed in helping lead Skyline to its first playoff win since 1995.

Skyline won three playoff games and advanced to the Region II final in Class 5A Division I.

"He's been special all along," Samples said. "But I think this year he matured as a senior. His whole attitude about the game really changed."

While raising his play to another level in 2007, Reeves lifted his team to new heights along with him.

REX C. CURRY / Special to DMN

Reeves has committed to the University of Minnesota.

SKYLINE, SR., LB

Height, weight: 6-1, 205

Key stats: 160 tackles, three blocked punts, one interception return for a touchdown.

About Reeves: Reeves was the point man in Skyline's ferocious defense. He played middle linebacker and met linemen and running backs head-on, but also had the speed to get out and disrupt passing lanes. He is committed to play for the University of Minnesota.

Did you know? Contrary to his on-field persona, Reeves has a calm, easy-going nature off the field. "If you see me on the field, you might think I'm a little crazy, but I'm really a quiet guy."

Readers' choice: Plano West's Jackson Jeffcoat received 43.6 percent of the votes in an HSGameTime.com survey.

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COACH OF THE YEAR: KENNY PERRY, ARLINGTON BOWIE

Key stats: In Perry's second year at Bowie, his team went 12-2 and was co-champion of District 8-5A. Bowie's only regular-season loss was by one point to DeSoto.

About Perry: Bowie had never been to the playoffs in 26 years until Perry took over last season. Bowie has won 19 games the last two seasons – the same number of wins it had in the 10 seasons before Perry's arrival.

Did you know? Perry grew up in Arlington and played at Lamar. He played college football at the University of Houston and has also been the head coach at Arlington Sam Houston and Haltom.

Readers' choice: Hebron's Brian Brazil received 46 percent of the votes in an HSGameTime.com survey.

RECENT WINNERS

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: DARYN ALVES, MCKINNEY BOYD, SOPH., QB

Height, weight: 5-7, 155

Key stats: Alves led the area in rushing with 2,643 yards in 13 games. He rushed for 32 touchdowns and scored three 2-point conversions to lead area 4A scoring with 198 points. He also passed for 1,181 yards and nine touchdowns.

About Alves: He was the catalyst for McKinney Boyd's improvement from 0-10 in 2006 to 9-4 and two playoff wins in '07.

Did you know? Alves didn't turn 16 until he had played 11 varsity games. Originally from Modesto, Calif., Alves plays center field and pitches for the baseball team.

Readers' choice: Euless Trinity's Denarius McGhee received 48.4 percent of the votes in an HSGameTime.com survey.

RECENT WINNERS