Jett Surratt is used to celebrating with Carthage players on the field after its state championship victories, but the 2022 win over Wimberley was the most special for him. For the first time, he stood with his father, head coach Scott Surratt, in the confetti as a player.

“I’ve seen myself on the jumbotron a lot and I finally got to see it in a jersey,” Jett said. “It was a pretty cool experience.”

Carthage is a well-oiled machine. Scott Surratt has compiled a 205–29 mark with nine state titles over 16 illustrious seasons. Through all the deep playoff runs his son has waited patiently, working for the moment he could finally play on the East Texas blue blood program his father built.

Now the rising sophomore has blossomed into a 6-foot-2-inch quarterback, and that moment has finally arrived.

“We’ve always talked about it,” Jett said. “I’ve been in the film room since I was in fourth grade.” 

Surratt spent his freshman year learning from senior Connor Cuff as he tossed for over 4,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. Now he’s taking the reins with the expectations of winning another state title. There’s pressure on the young signal caller, but Surratt enjoys the situations where the difference between a win and a loss is all on him.

He’s been an avid golfer since he was nine, and he's already the school record holder with a round of 65 on Carthage’s district champion golf team.

“I would say being a quarterback, you have to be mentally tough,” Surratt said. “And in golf, obviously, it’s all on your own. So you have to just be mentally tough and battle it out no matter what because you’re the leader of the team.”

While he has the talent to pursue golf full time, football is a family affair. Ahead of his first season as a starter, he holds offers to in-state programs Texas Tech, Houston and UTSA. He won’t be the only sophomore in Carthage’s backfield next year either.

Running back KJ Edwards rushed for 535 yards on 11.38 yards per carry as a freshman in Carthage’s playoff run last season. He has reeled in offers from Baylor, Nebraska, SMU and Texas. KD Matlock returns for his senior season in the backfield after posting over 650 all purpose yards last year.

At Carthage, winning state is the goal every year. Now the quarterback who was born in the system has the opportunity to carry on its reign.