Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Jay M. Robinson 1-2; Carson 2-2
Series: First meeting
Last week: Robinson lost to South Rowan 35-21; Carson shellacked West Davidson 33-0
Next week: Robinson is home against A.L. Brown; Carson opens its NPC slate at Statesville’s Greyhound Hollow
Game notes: The Cougars have ridden on a lose-win-lose-win roller coaster so far, but they have an opportunity to match last season’s 3-2 start tonight.
Robinson surrendered 250 rushing yards to South Rowan last week. Carson presents an old-school power attack as opposed to South’s triple-option approach, but the Cougars should be able to do some damage on the ground.
Tailback Shaun Warren ranks second among Rowan rushers with 145 yards per game, and Carson is getting 186.3 yards per game on the ground. Steve Newton is one of the linemen opening the holes for Warren and fullback Jacorian Brown.
Carson QB Zack Gragg is second in the county with 87.3 yards per game. Cody Clanton ranks second among Rowan receivers with 11 catches for 247 yards.
Carson’s defense, which includes sophomore linebacker/punter Chris Barnhardt, has produced a strange set of numbers.
The Cougars rank first in the county in passing defense but last in rushing defense.
The chief threat for Robinson appears to be QB Robert Cloninger, the son of coach Bobby Cloninger.
Cloninger threw for 111 yards against South and also accounted for half of Robinson’s 140 rushing yards.
Robinson’s lone win so far came in a 62-0 rout of Cuthbertson, a new school in Union County.