Time: 7:30 p.m.
Bracket: 3A East
Seeds: No. 9 Carson Cougars vs. No. 1 Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders.
Records: Carson (7-5), Cardinal Gibbons (11-1)
Power ratings: Ken Massey’s system rates Cardinal Gibbons No. 93 in N.C. Carson is ranked 136th. nHead coaches: Gibbons: Mike Sheehan ; Carson: Mark Woody (4th year, 10-35)
Gibbons offense: 28.3 ppg
Gibbons defense: 8.2 ppg
Carson offense: 26.1 ppg
Carson defense: 23.3 ppg
Carson vs. winning teams: 1-4, beat Hickory Ridge (7-5)
Gibbons vs. winning teams: 1-1, beat Cedar Ridge (7-5)
Gibbons at home: 7-0
Carson on the road: 3-4
Who beat Cardinal Gibbons? Louisburg (9-3)
Series: First meeting
Next week: Winner takes on the No. 5 Eastern Alamance-No. 4 West Craven winner
Game notes:Cardinal Gibbons won the Carolina 6 Conference. Carson coaches believe they can win this game despite the gaps in records and seeds ó plus a long road trip ó and it’s hard not to have faith in the Cougars at this point.
Carson is glad to be facing an I-formation team for a change. Gibbons’ base offense is similar to what the Cougars employ.
Carson tailback Shaun Warren (1,852 rushing yards) should be good to go after an injury scare last week.
Zack Gragg, who didn’t play opening night, has thrown for 1,257 yards. Receiver Cody Clanton is 48 yards away from 1,000.
Carson’s defense still doesn’t have imposing stats, but young players such as Garrett Smith, Ryan Shoaf and Chris Barnhardt are improving every week. ó Mike London