IRVING – Riley Dodge's final play in a Southlake Carroll uniform was a touchdown pass made possible by a spectacular scramble.

Watching the highlight of his 100th career touchdown pass won't ease the pain in Dodge's right shoulder. And it certainly won't help his heartache.

A clean but brutal hit on the play by Abilene linebacker Chris Williams caused a third-degree separation of Dodge's shoulder, ending his high school career. Dodge watched from the sideline with his throwing arm in a sling as Carroll lost to a Texas team for the second time since moving up to Class 5A in 2002.

"I feel like I let my team down," Dodge said quietly after the Dragons' 22-21 loss Saturday afternoon.

Of course, nothing could be further from reality.

Dodge dominated the game before being injured early in the second quarter. He completed all eight of his passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns to give Carroll a 14-3 lead. On Dodge's last play, he rolled to his right to buy time, zig-zagged back across the field while avoiding Abilene defenders and fired a perfect pass to Ethan Cunningham in the end zone before hearing his shoulder pop.

Former Carroll coach Todd Dodge, who was in Miami for North Texas' game against Florida International, will probably be more proud of the way Riley Dodge handled himself after the injury.

Dodge, who will play for his dad again at North Texas, came out of the Texas Stadium tunnel after getting the diagnosis and went right to his backup. Dodge told junior Kyle Padron that he was Carroll's leader now, and that the rest of the Dragons believed in him. Dodge offered words of wisdom and encouragement to Padron throughout the game.

"Riley is a tremendous competitor, a tremendous role model for this program," Carroll coach Hal Wasson said. "It's been truly an honor for me to be around him his senior year. ... He's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of guy."

Dodge left Texas Stadium with eye black smeared, dealing with an emotional mix of pain and pride after a fumbled snap in the final minute prevented Carroll from attempting a game-winning field goal.

"This team never quits," Dodge said. "We had a chance to win the game at the end, but things happen for a reason. I'm so proud of this football team, but it's going to be a tough pill to swallow tomorrow."