Capital One Bank Dallas Coach of the Week: Carlos Lynn

If Seguin (Arlington) goes on to reach the Class 4A state playoffs in a month‘s time, a big reason will be the five-minute, 75-yard drive that took down Lancaster, 48-42, on Friday night.

The Cougars had to rally not only against a team that made it to the Class 4A Division II state title game a year ago, but they had to do it on the road, at Lancaster's Beverly Humphrey Stadium.

The winning drive embodied elements of unity and bonding that Seguin coach Carlos Lynn has emphasized. The Cougars overcame 30 penalty yards and stayed alive by converting a fourth down at their own 42-yard-line.

Seguin quarterback Kelton Moore carried the ball on five of the drive's 11 plays that concluded on his 15-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds remaining. Moore finished it off with a two-point conversion pass to Malcolm Rogers, helping Seguin improve to 4-2 for the season and 2-1 in a very competitive District 15-4A.

For overseeing Seguin's important win, Lynn was selected as the Capital One Bank Dallas Coach of the Week.

Tight games are nothing new for the Cougars. Seguin has one-point wins over Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth) and Mansfield Summit (Arlington) and a seven-point road loss to District 15-4A co-leader Ennis.

"It seems like we've been in a pressure cooker all season,'' said Lynn. "In this district, there aren't a lot of blowouts.''

Lynn, 40, is in his sixth season at Seguin. The Cougars are trying to break a three-year playoff drought.

"We've been on the cusp the last few seasons, but we haven't quite gotten over the hump,'' said Lynn, in his sixth season at Seguin. "This year, we have 33 seniors, the most we've had. The kids have come through our program and have a better understanding of what we're trying to do.''

Moore is a key offensive cog. The 6-foot, 195-pound senior who has drawn recruiting interest from the University of Nevada, carried 31 times for 240 yards and four touchdowns against Lancaster. His season rushing total climbed to 1,150 with 15 touchdowns.

With Moore's 221 passing yards against Lancaster, his season total is up to 772 yards.

When Lynn arrived in 2008, Seguin was coming off a one-win season.

"We wanted the guys to know there is more to being in the football program than playing on Friday nights,'' Lynn said. "We want them to have an experience that they can fall back on when football is over.''

Lynn has been a part of championship teams as a player in high school and college and as an assistant coach in high school. He was a guard/defensive end on the Wilmer-Hutchins team that won the Class 4A title in 1990.

Three years later he was a member of the NAIA national championship squad at East Central University (Ada, Okla.), and in 2006 Lynn was the defensive coordinator for Cedar Hill in its drive to the Class 5A Division II state title.

Lynn credits his coach at Wilmer-Hutchins, Robert Woods and East Central defensive coordinator Todd Graham — now the head coach at Arizona State—  for playing a large role in his chosen career.

"When I think back to those days and how much I learned from those guys, they have had so much influence on me,'' Lynn said.

It was Graham that planted the idea that Lynn should consider going into coaching.

"I had always been a team captain and I was a communication major in college when Coach Graham pushed me toward coaching. And 18 years later, here I am.''

Lynn coached at Wilmer-Hutchins under Woods and then followed him to Cedar Hill.

Lynn and Antwanette, his bride of 15 years, have one son, 9-year-old Caleb.