{"id":138959,"date":"2025-08-12T06:21:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T06:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/138959\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T06:21:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T06:21:16","slug":"why-dallas-area-schools-like-north-crowley-southlake-carroll-skipped-spring-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/138959\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Dallas-area schools like North Crowley, Southlake Carroll skipped spring football"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Ray Gates was hired at North Crowley<\/a>, he knew the team would not participate in spring practice.<\/p>\n

Gates believed skipping spring ball would give his players their best chance to prepare for the season. <\/p>\n

Under UIL rules<\/a>, Texas high school football teams that opt out of spring training, an 18-day period, are allowed to begin full-contact practices and interschool scrimmages a week earlier in the fall.<\/p>\n

This year, Aug. 9<\/a> was the first day of full-contact activities, and Aug. 14 will be the first day of interschool scrimmages.<\/p>\n

High School Sports<\/p>\n

The latest news, analysis, predictions and more for each season.<\/p>\n

Gates said he values giving everyone on the roster a chance to shine in live competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt allows us to play a lot more guys early in scrimmages and evaluate guys in meaningful snaps,\u201d Gates said during North Crowley\u2019s practice Monday. \u201cSpring ball gets to a point where, after the first week, the luster kind of falls off. You pull out your guys who can play for you, and they don\u2019t get a lot of work during that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Dallas-area programs appear to be making the same choice, increasing their fall workload. Coaches such as Gates have a consistent stance, while others decide on a year-to-year basis.<\/p>\n

North Crowley also has several new move-ins before this season, but Gates said that didn\u2019t factor into his decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t structure anything based on that,\u201d Gates said. \u201cOur philosophy has nothing to do with a kid moving in. That\u2019s outside our control. We\u2019ve been fortunate and blessed to build a program. When you look around our campus, there are new facilities going up, and with the growth in this area, naturally you\u2019re going to have people move in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photos: Defending state champ North Crowley hits practice field for first time ahead of 2025 season<\/p>\n

\"AView Gallery<\/p>\n

Riley Dodge\u2019s decision came down to Southlake Carroll returning 19 starters from last year\u2019s Class 6A Division II state runner-up team. He said veteran experience and ongoing facility upgrades made skipping spring practice logical this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just kind of made sense,\u201d the coach said after Monday morning\u2019s practice. <\/p>\n

Dodge said fall practice gave his staff a better look at how players\u2019 bodies changed in the offseason. Defensive back William Chen, a Brown commitment, said most starters on defense gained at least 10 pounds.<\/p>\n

Wide receiver Brock Boyd, an Ohio State pledge, said he prefers the fall schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to get the two scrimmages, then by Week 1 it feels like you\u2019ve already played two games,\u201d Boyd said. \u201cYou\u2019re kind of getting into that rhythm. I think it allows us to start hot out of the gate, and we\u2019re already through so many installs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Returning quarterback Angelo Renda also factored into Dodge\u2019s decision. The Pittsburgh pledge passed for 4,566 yards and 54 touchdowns last season as Carroll went 15-1.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll cross that bridge the following year when we\u2019ll be a lot younger,\u201d Dodge said. \u201cBringing in a new quarterback is also a driver of the decision. But I think we got a lot done even without spring ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Twitter\/X: @ronharrodjr<\/p>\n

Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Sign up for our FREE HS newsletter.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Ray Gates was hired at North Crowley, he knew the team would not participate in spring 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