By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó The large picture, protected by a clear wrapping, is propped up on the filing cabinet that sits to the left of Mark Woody’s desk.
Coaches and players on Carson’s football team, positioned in front of a goalpost, smile as they pose for a commemorative snapshot. The Cougars have just collected the first victory in program history, a 36-0 shutout of North Rowan.
The outcome was significant, but Woody isn’t taking a results-oriented approach.
Carson, which opened in 2006, went 0-22 in its first two years but broke through for three wins last season.
“One of the things we talk about is not worrying about the wins and losses and trying to get better,” Woody said. “That sounds like a cliche, but if you get caught up in trying to preach, ‘Wins, wins, wins,’ then you lose focus of the long term.
“That being said, we want to win and everybody does. We’re battling some things, and I think we’re about to turn the corner.”
Woody was noting the stigma that’s still attached to losing against Carson.
The Cougars beat North Rowan, East Rowan and Lake Norman during a 3-2 start, but they dropped their final six games.
Carson came up short against Salisbury in Week 2 and fell to 3-3 with a 15-6 setback against rival South Rowan. The Cougars lost NPC contests by four, 14 and three points in consecutive weeks.
“Nobody wants to get beat by Carson, and we fight a little bit of that, but that’s OK,” Woody said.
Returning all-county players Shaun Warren and Jenson Harden hope to help Carson turn some of those narrow misses into wins.
Warren, a junior, rushed for 1,079 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He reached the century mark six times, topping out with a 183-yard effort against East Rowan.
“I’ve been doing this, it’s year 20, and in terms of moves and flat speed and being a football player, he’s up there in the top 10,” Woody said.
Woody has worked with talented runners such as Corey Alexander (Mooresville, South Carolina) and Andre Williams (Northern Durham, North Carolina) while witnessing the feats of standouts such as Jay Graham (Concord, Tennessee) and George Bell (Fayetteville Britt, Virginia Tech, Catawba).
Warren managed to improve his already impressive speed during the offseason.
“He went to a combine down in Kannapolis and ran a 4.3, so they invited him to Atlanta, and there he ran a 4.3,” Woody said. “Then they invited him to Oklahoma, but that was (last) week and he didn’t want to miss practice.
“In between there he went to a one-day combine at Wake, where they clocked him at 4.3 or 4.4. Did the same thing at Duke and then went to Maryland and did the same thing. The fastest we’ve had him up to this point was 4.5, and he’s a kid that’s worked to get everything.”
Warren will be joined in the backfield by fellow juniors Jacorian Brown and Clifford Long. Brown has gained 30 pounds since last year, when he had a pair of 100-yard games.
Zach Gragg, a junior, takes over at quarterback after playing behind Ryan Jones at times in 2008. Gragg appeared in seven games and completed 17 passes for 164 yards.
“He got in some key games and did real good,” Woody said. “The kids really like him. He has leadership ability and qualities that the others expect from that position, and he’s not afraid to tell the other kids where they need to be.”
Nick Houston, a junior who threw for approximately 1,000 yards in his final jayvee season, and Dontae Gilbert, who could contribute in the “athlete” role, provide depth at quarterback.
Targets such as Daniel Yates and Travis Hayes are gone, but Woody said he’s excited about the potential of new receiver Cody Clanton. Zach Smith and Duwan Robertson also play wideout, and Dillon Eagle could make an impact at tight end.
“He’s a big, tall target who runs well,” Woody said. “He’s something we haven’t had yet. We’ve been looking for a tight end.”
Seniors Colton Ballard (guard), Stephen Newton (tackle) and Tyler Christy (center) are expected to anchor the offensive line. Caleb Denton, a guard who played defense the last two years, and tackle Jacob Scarborough could complete that unit.
Woody joked that Carson has enough offensive linemen to form a separate team, and the fourth-year players were around for the program’s inception.
“We laugh about back in 2006 playing guys that, in some cases, we didn’t find out until after the fact that they had never been on the field and had to start for us against Sun Valley,” Woody said. “They’ve come a long way, and some started for us early on. Newton, I remember him having to snap with a broken hand against West Rowan as a freshman.”
Six different players could fill four spots on the defensive line: Joseph Basinger, Micah Honeycutt, Justice Schenck, Ryan Shoaf, Garrett Smith and Jesse McMinn.
Basinger, a junior, started at defensive end last year before suffering an ACL tear in the fourth game.
“He was lighting it up early on against North and East and had some big plays and all of a sudden he’s gone,” Woody said. “He’s back, looks good and is healthy. That’s a big thing for us.”
Honeycutt, a junior, and Schenck, a senior, are interior linemen. Shoaf, whom Woody said has lived in the weight room during the last year, and Smith, a returning starter, play end. McMinn could help at either position.
“We’ve got some things up front happening that we haven’t had,” Woody said. “That’s probably, in my opinion, the thing that’s hurt us the most the past three years. That’s a tough position, and we had to rely on some young kids.”
John Mullis is gone from a linebacking corps that now features Chris Barnhardt, Zack White and Alex Lee.
Barnhardt, a sophomore, is up to 240 pounds, and White puts up a fight despite weighing only about 160. Brown has practiced at linebacker, but the emergence of Lee could make double duty unnecessary.
“I think our linebackers across the board could be as good as we’ve had,” Woody said.
Harden, a safety, and cornerback Zack Grkman are experienced members of the secondary. Jared Raper is another safety, and Dieonte Moses and Derrick Sewell are competing at the other corner spot. Moses, a senior, has moved to the area from Ohio.
Woody said he expects Grkman, who has practiced some at safety, to play at the next level. Harden had three interceptions and was one of the Cougars’ leading tacklers last season.
“Those guys are like fifth-year seniors,” Woody said. “They’ve been here since the get-go. It’s nice to have those guys back there to bring the young ones on, and we have a lot of defensive backs in the program.
“Jenson’s got a nose for the ball. He’s one of those kids who truly enjoys playing the game. He comes to practice with his lunch pail every day. He wants to work hard and be better. You can already see some young players developing the same attitude he shares.”

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Follow the Cougars

Aug. 21 at Hickory Ridge
Aug. 28 at North Rowan
Sept. 4 at Salisbury
Sept. 11 West Davidson
Sept. 18 Robinson
Sept. 25 at Statesville*
Oct. 2 East Rowan*
Oct. 9 at West Rowan*
Oct. 16 North Iredell*
Oct. 23 at South Rowan*
Oct. 30 West Iredell*
Nov. 6 Open

Game time: 7:30 p.m.
*3A North Piedmont