Carson at West Rowan

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 10, 2008

* Time: 7:30 p.m.
* Records: Carson 3-3, 2-2 NPC; West Rowan 5-1, 4-0 NPC
* Series: West leads 2-0
* Last meeting: West won 20-0 in 2007
* Last week: Carson lost to South Rowan 15-6; West Rowan beat West Iredell 37-22
* Next week: West is at East Rowan; Carson is home against North Iredell
* Game notes: Carson lost big to West years ago and managed only one first down against the Falcons last year. The Cougars have never gotten in the end zone against West, which has outscored them 68-0.
Carson, which owns a road win over a good Lake Norman team and county wins over North and East, is much better than in previously years, but itís no picnic going to Mount Ulla to face the Falcons. West has won 26 county games in a row.
Carson has a great athlete in Daniel Yates, but the rushes of Shaun Warren are the teamís bread and butter, and no oneís been able to run the ball at all against West.
Westís defense, which has gotten two picks each from Marco Gupton, A.J. Little and Austin Greenwood, allowed a season-high 46 rushing yards to Northwest Cabarrus, but that was basically one long run in mop-up time. West held Davie to 38 rushing yards. West Iredell, North Iredell and North Rowan produced negative rushing numbers against the Falcons.
Stop the run and run the ball effectively and youíre going to be good, and West, which is also throwing for 107 yards per game, is very good.
West star K.P. Parks got banged up last year in the Carson game and had one of his lowest rushing totals ever, but heís churned for 1,061 yards on 156 carries this year and has 74 career TDs. Freshman linebacker Chris Barnhardt and his teammates will try to slow him down.