From Staff Reports

sports@salisburypost.com

CONCORD — It was another steady dose of Darren Isom and Brandon Sloop on Friday night at Northwest Cabarrus. The two Carson running backs combined for 283 yards and six rushing touchdowns in Carson’s 49-10 victory.

A muffed punt by Carson’s Austin Lear led to a Northwest Cabarrus field goal in the first quarter. The Trojans were ahead 3-0, but then Sloop and Isom ran for four first-half touchdowns — two apiece —to put Carson ahead 28-3 at halftime. Both ran for touchdowns in the third quarter. Dylan Livengood had a 3-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.

All of Isom’s scoring runs were from 23 yards out or more.

“It’s a two-headed monster that people don’t want to defend because they’ll run by you, run over you or run through you,” head coach Joe Pinyan said. “It’s a tribute to the guys up front. Our five offensive linemen had a great game, and you have to tip your hat to those guys because those two guys are rushing got 100 yards a game for a reason.”

The 39-point victory was the Cougars’ second win in the last three games. They beat South Rowan two weeks ago before losing to Concord last week in a close game at home.

Carson (4-5, 3-3 SPC) is in fifth place in the conference with two games left on the schedule. They line up at home against Hickory Ridge next week and then at Cox Mill in the regular-season finale.

“We’re playing two really good teams in the next two weeks,” Pinyan said. “In the last three weeks, we’ve beat South Rowan and lost two really close games to Concord and West Rowan. So this was a big game for us to have to get momentum going into the Hickory Ridge game.”

Mallard Creek 52, A.L. Brown 35

The Wonders took a double-digit loss in the Mecka on Senior Night, although A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome saw major positives in a 52-35 loss to Mallard Creek, the defending  4AA state champion.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of how our kids fought against a team that I believe is the best in North Carolina,” Newsome said. “Physically, we just gave up a whole lot of size. I look out there on one play and Chris Hill, who is 160 pounds soaking wet, is having to take on a 275-pound blocker.”

The Wonders (4-5, 2-3) and Mavericks were tied 7-7 early, but the Mavericks separated themselves with three straight touchdowns. Mallard Creek was ahead 28-7 with 5:38 left in the first half.

The Wonders scored before the break for a 28-14 halftime deficit.

A.L. Brown was able to cut it to 38-28 at the 8:24 mark in the fourth quarter but got no closer.

“We got another big touchdown run from Damon Johnson, a kickoff return touchdown by Jayln Cagle, some big plays from Daveon Perry and a tremendous effort from Sandon McCoy running and blocking,” Newsome said. “Offensively, we couldn’t have played much better than we did. Mallard Creek is just awfully talented, a lot of Division I athletes, and they are hard to stop.”

The Mavericks got two touchdowns in a nine-second span with less than two minutes to play to secure the 52-35 victory.

“I think we gave them all they wanted and I think they left here with a sigh of relief,” Newsome said. “But it was a very physical game. I just hope we didn’t get too banged up. If we play like we played tonight the rest of the way, we’re going to be a pretty tough out when we get to the playoffs.”

The Wonders are at West Charlotte next week.