ROCKWALL – Playing in its first game after a loss since 2003, Southlake Carroll played like a team with something to prove.

A week after Miami Northwestern broke Carroll's 49-game winning streak, quarterback Riley Dodge threw seven touchdown passes in a 49-42 win over Rockwall at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium.

"We were a little mad," Carroll quarterback Riley Dodge said. "We knew we were playing a tough offense, and we had to overcome a lot of adversity to get the win tonight."

Two of Dodge's touchdown passes came in the fourth quarter to wide receiver Blake Cantu and were the difference in a tight game. Cantu reeled in a 58-yard touchdown pass from Dodge with 8:40 left to play to give Carroll a 42-35 lead. Cantu finished with 12 receptions for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

"Any of these receivers can get three touchdowns in a game," Dodge said. "Blake is a playmaker, so we knew we had to get him the rock."

Rockwall jumped on top early, turning two Carroll turnovers into 14 points in the first quarter. After Dodge's first touchdown pass of the game, an 88-yard kickoff return from Rockwall's Grant Gunderson pushed to the score to 21-7 at the end of the first quarter, sending the packed Rockwall section into a frenzy.

But Carroll fought back, scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter to tie the score, 28-28, at halftime. The scored was tied, 35-35, entering the fourth quarter. That when Dodge and Cantu took over.

TOM FOX/DMN

Southlake Carroll receiver Chris Brainard (19) tries to outrun the Rockwall defense after making a first-half reception.

"I've said from the get-go that if I have to choose a quarterback, I'm choosing Riley Dodge," Carroll coach Hal Wasson said. "I can't say enough good about him."

The game featured highlight-worthy performances from both quarterbacks. Dodge finished with 387 yards passing. Rockwall quarterback Braden Smith threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns.

The game was delayed with 5:58 left in the second quarter when Carroll defensive back Matt Rake took a blow to the head from Rockwall's Matt Claggett while returning a kickoff.

Wasson told KKGM 1630 that Rake was taken to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas for "precautionary reasons."