For title-rich Carthage football, the beat goes on: Buck's Ballpark

Bulldogs might be the most dominant high school program in Texas in the 21st century. What's the secret sauce?

BULLARD, TEXAS - Since the start of the 21st century, Carthage has arguably been the most dominant team in Texas high school football.

The Bulldogs have won nine state titles - the first coming in 2008. Their most recent Class 4A championship came last year.

Already this season, they started 5-0 after a methodical 45-14 win against a Bullard team that had come in 4-0 themselves. Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs seem to be heavily favored to make it back to “Jerry World” in Arlington.

Needless to say, another special fall could be brewing in the biggest town in Panola County.

“It’s exciting to have the community behind you and the sport that you love, and then you go to school and you’ve got your teachers and your classmates and everybody else on your side rooting you on to do better and be successful,” Bulldog senior receiver Bradan Manning said.

So, what has the Bulldogs’ secret sauce the past 15 years or so been? For Scott Surratt, Carthage’s coach who has guided the team to those aforementioned nine crowns, the answer lies in its simplicity.

“We always go in (prior to each season) with two things: Have fun and win, or win and have fun, but we’re going to have fun because if we’re not having fun, we’re in the wrong business so hopefully, we can win doing it,” Surratt said. “But obviously, we’ve had a good run and hopefully, we can keep it going.”

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Surratt, though, quickly turns modest, immediately deflecting attention to not only his players but also his assistants.

“It goes back to the coaches; we believe in our schemes, and we have a lot of coaches that come in and visit from 6A to down every year,” Surratt said. “But the magic’s not in the schemes, I believe the magic’s just how hard we play, and that’s a tribute to my coaches and players and just how we drive the players every day in practice.

“Like I said, we’re going to have fun and win, but to really have fun, you’ve got to win. I’ve never had too much fun losing. … I just try to keep everything in perspective and keep it small and win the small battles daily and then hopefully, win the big one on Friday night.”

And there’s also a “next man up” mentality within the program. Not just with injuries, but replacing graduated players and even transfers.

For instance, at running back, Tevin Pipkin, Keaontay Ingram and LaRandion Dowden have been those who have been exceptional at toting the rock. Likewise, the Bulldogs have had more than their fair share of signal callers, from Gunner Capps to Kai Horton to Connor Cuff.

“It is, it’s next man up and next play, you’ve got to be ready,” Surratt said. “We had a couple of helmets come off (last Friday) and we had (another) guy go in there and make a great play that’s a backup for us.

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“Everybody’s one play away, but it’s just everybody plays for each other and it’s a program deal here and that’s what we try to make it and not make it about yourself and just see what happens if we play as hard as we can.”

And there’s more talent in the backfield, where a couple of sophomores lead the way in quarterback Jett Surratt (the coach’s son) and tailback KJ Edwards, both of whom turned in career highs in the Bullard win.

Jett Surratt completed 30-of-42 passes - both career highs - for 266 yards and two touchdowns. As someone who knows up, close and personal the magnitude of what it means to put on that red Bulldog uniform and play for one of the state’s premier coaches, the younger Surratt is enjoying the ride.

“It’s awesome; I felt like I’ve stepped into the role of quarterback at a young age, but I have a great line that protects for me and allows me to get it to my receivers and my running back right here (pointing to Edwards), he allows me to get some good looks.”

Edwards perhaps epitomizes the “next man up” mentality the Bulldogs employ. The running back room took a hit in the offseason with the transfer of Dowden - instrumental in last season’s title run - to Wills Point. Then starting tailback KD Matlock suffered a serious injury in the season opener against Kilgore.

In steps Edwards, who helped the Bulldogs rally in the second half to defeat Kilgore and has kept things going. Against Bullard, he had career highs in yards (223) and touchdowns (four).

“We both know that since we’re sophomores and underclassmen (referring to Jett Surratt), we both know we have big roles to fill, so we just come out every day (and work hard) at practice, just perfecting our game,” Edwards said.

Matlock, who was thought to be lost for the season, did come back this Friday and scored two TDs as the Bulldogs improved to 6-0 after downing Brownsboro, 45-0, in Carthage's Homecoming game.

But back to the Bullard win: Manning also turned in a career night with 10 catches. Two of those were the pair of TDs thrown by Surratt.

“They’re young, but they know how to play the game, and they’re going to do what they need to do to help us get to the next level and help us win state at the end of the year,” Manning said, referring to Surratt and Edwards.

Carthage’s defense also got in the act, recording six quarterback sacks - two each from KD Beechum and Daquives Beck. The other sacks were from Klayton Ingram and Colt Hodges, both of whom forced takeaways, Ingram with a pick and Hodges with a recovered fumble.

With another state title, Scott Surratt will achieve history, becoming the first Texas high school football head coach to win 10 titles. Currently, Surratt is tied with legendary Brownwood coach Gordon Wood with nine titles.

Though, truth be told, Surratt actually has been part of 10 title teams already, having won state as an assistant at Texarkana Texas High.

“It’s always been a goal to win one, and we won one at Texas High when I was an assistant, but you never dream of anything like this, stacking them up like this,” he said. “But yes, it’s a goal to win one more, and if we ever won one more, it would be a goal to win another one.

“But we’re trying to keep everything now and if we keep it now, then who knows, and get healthy and see what happens.”

And, Surratt admitted, winning title number 10 will especially mean more if his son gets to experience that opportunity.

“Obviously, it would be special with my son to win one when he’s in high school any year,” Scott Surratt said. “I would take that right now, and just to see him enjoy it. … He’s our leader on the team, even though he’s a sophomore so that would be the most special thing for me because I’ve had my time, and I want him to have his.

“I’ve had some really good friends who coach their kids and they said, ‘Enjoy it. Make sure whatever you do, enjoy it,’ because some of them said it was absolutely miserable coaching them. And me being toward the end of my career; I’ve been doing it 33 years, I’m going to make sure that I enjoy it, win, lose or draw, and I’m going to love him just as much when he throws a pick or a pick-six or a touchdown. But we’re having fun with it.”

That’s what it’s all about at Carthage - just simply having fun.

Surratt’s players know his message.

“It’s a blast; we have fun every day,” Manning said.

“The energy from our teammates; they’re always ready to go, they always want to win, they don’t ever want to lose, they’re just trying to keep it going and keep getting state championships.”

Another potential fun ride to Jerry World is unfolding before our very eyes. If you’re a Carthage player, coach or supporter, enjoy it.

“It’s awesome; there’s no better program than Carthage,” Jett Surratt said.

Photo of Carthage coach Scott Surratt (center) by Robbie Rakestraw

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveTX 

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