Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: Carson 5-4, 2-2 NPC; South 6-2, 2-1 NPC
Series: South leads 2-0, including a 35-7 win in the first historic meeting of the neighbors in 2007
Last meeting: Raiders prevailed 15-6 in 2008, but it was a scrap
Last week: Carson blew away North Iredell 41-7; South finished up a 35-6 win against West Iredell on a cold Saturday
Next week: Carson is home against West Iredell; South is home against Statesville
Game notes: It would be a huge rivalry game even if both teams were lousy, and this season both southern Rowan schools are enjoying banner years. This should be the best game yet between the neighbors.
Carson won only three games its first three seasons, so coach Mark Woody and his staff have every reason to feel great about 5-4 with a good chance to win more.
South coach Jason Rollins and his staff have every reason to feel good about 6-2. South will have its first winning season since 2003, when it went 7-6. This is a strong team, arguably one of the best 15 in 3A. South’s losses are to NW Cabarrus (6-2) and West Rowan (9-0). South handed A.L. Brown its only loss and owns an impressive win over Salisbury.Carson hasn’t really logged a signature win yet because East dodged a crossfire of bullets. The Cougars haven’t beaten any team that currently owns a winning record ó but they’ll be out to change that tonight.Statistically, South has a slight edge on offense and a substantial one on defense, but Carson has stars in RB Shaun Warren, WR Cody Clanton and QB Zack Gragg.
The game could be decided by underpublicized players such as South offensive lineman Andrew Moody or Carson fullback Clifford Long. ó Mike London