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Wixon: Carroll LB Steven Bergmark's TD run, blocked FG, fumble recovery, INT preserve 16-7 win over Euless Trinity in 5A regional semis

Bergmark does it all in victory over Trinity, sets up duel with DeSoto

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — Southlake Carroll coach Hal Wasson told his players that one of them was going to have a special night against Euless Trinity. Somebody, he said, will become a big name in Dragons history.

Steven Bergmark became that player Saturday as Carroll beat Trinity, 16-7, in front of more than 12,000 at the Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex. His 1-yard touchdown run, blocked field goal, fumble recovery and game-clinching interception led Carroll (12-1) into a long-awaited matchup with DeSoto (13-0).

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The Class 5A Division I Region I final will be 2 p.m. Saturday at SMU’s Ford Stadium.

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“This time of year, this is a gauntlet,” Carroll coach Hal Wasson said. “We played a heavyweight tonight, and I know we’ve got another one next week.”

They will all be heavyweights going forward, and Bergmark showed he could carry a heavy load against Trinity (10-3). On a night when Trinity’s defense clamped down on a Carroll team that was averaging 54 points per game, the junior linebacker helped the Dragons’ defense lock up a win.

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As for the individual accomplishments, Bergmark was stunned. He never thought he would have a game like Saturday.

“Not in my wildest dreams,” he said.

He helped Carroll avoid a nightmare against Trinity, which could’ve been the first to score when it lined up for a 27-yard field goal. Bergmark rushed through and blocked the kick.

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That was a huge play because Carroll struggled to pull away from Trinity, which stayed close with time-consuming drives that limited the chances for Carroll’s offense. The Dragons had scored seven first-half touchdowns in each of their first two playoff games, but Saturday, they had a total of three first-half possessions.

The final one got Carroll its only touchdown. The drive’s big play came when quarterback Kenny Hill, who was the Dragons’ workhorse in the game with 29 carries for 130 yards, connected with Keaton Duhon for an 18-yard completion to the 2-yard line. But after Carroll was stopped short of the end zone on two runs, it was Bergmark’s turn. On his only run of the game, and second of the season, he took the handoff and smashed into the end zone to give Carroll a 10-7 lead at the half.

Carroll opened the second half with a 16-play drive, but once again, Trinity’s defense stiffened near the goal line. Carroll settled for a field goal, and Trinity was still within a touchdown.

But on Trinity’s next possession, Hawkins was sacked on a third-and-6, and Bergmark pounced on the fumble. Thanks to Bergmark’s blocked field goal, Carroll was able to make it a two-possession game when Drew Brown nailed a 42-yard field goal with 8:23 left.

Trinity still had some fight left, but Bergmark also had one more big play. Trinity pushed to the Carroll 16 as the clock rolled under three minutes, but Bergmark picked off a pass near the goal line.

“I just knew I had to make plays,” Bergmark said. “Today was the game I had to make plays.”

Follow Matt Wixon on Twitter @mattwixon.