Preview: Carson at West Rowan

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 20, 2011

nTime: 7:30 p.m.
nRecords: Carson 3-6, 2-2 NPC; West Rowan 7-2, 4-0 NPC
nSeries: The Falcons have won all five meetings.
nLast meeting: Created the biggest traffic jam in the history of China Grove. Carson was exceptionally strong in 2010, but it was still no match for the Falcons, who romped 41-14. Trey Mashoreís punt return TD was a backbreaker, and Patrick Hampton caught two TD passes from B.J. Sherrill.
nLast game: Carson struggled in all phases against Hickory Ridge in a Monday makeup game. West Rowan wasnít challenged in a 54-0 rout at North Iredell.
nNext week: Carson is at North Iredell to conclude the regular season. West Rowan is at talented West Iredell.
nGame notes: West Rowan hasnít lost in the NPC since 2007 and is seeking its 30th consecutive conference victory and a share of its eighth straight league title. The Falcons also want to extend their county winning streak to 41 games.
Carson isnít nearly as explosive as it was last season and averages a modest 20 points per game, while allowing 25.
Tenth-ranked Westís numbers arenít quite as scary as they were in 2010, but 35 points per game offensively is still solid, and the Falcons allow an average of 15 per game.
Carsonís soph QB Austin McNeill took a beating from Hickory Ridge pass-rushers on Monday, so itís imperative that the Cougars get their running game rolling to take some pressure off. The bad news is theyíll be trying to do that against the countyís top run defense. West allows just 80 rushing yards per game.
LBs Terrence Polk and Logan Stoodley will be key players for West, while Carson will count on LB Patrick Ratliff and DL Jeremiah Smith.