Carver knows Lincolnton is ready

David says Wolves, who won 2-A state title in 2007, will rely heavily on fullback

Credit: Journal File Photo

Jarvis Jones of Carver sacks Cedric Williams of Atkins during a game on Oct. 23.

By: Mason Linker | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: November 19, 2009

Some of Coach Brent David's football players at Carver have tried to calm him down this week, to no avail.

David, Carver's second-year coach, is fired up about Friday's game against the visiting Wolves of Lincolnton in the second round of the Class 2-A playoffs. And he said that his players had better be ready.

"Coach (Scott) Cloninger (of Lincolnton) went to school there, was an assistant there for 22 years and has been the head coach for eight," David said. "He has won a couple of state titles and been to four.

"He is a wolf, man. He has those kids buying in. They will bring about six busloads up here and they will be ready to get in the Yellowjackets' junk."

Carver is one of four area teams that will play second-round games in Class 2-A on Friday. Lexington (6-6) will play at No. 1-seeded Starmount (10-2), and Thomasville (8-4) will be at home against Polk County (10-2). In Class 2-AA, West Stokes (8-4) will play at East Lincoln (10-2).

Carver's defense has been exceptional since the finish of a grueling nonconference schedule. The Yellowjackets, with big lineman SamQuan Evans (6-1, 275) leading the charge, have allowed only 17 points in their past six games.

That defense will be put to the test by the young and speedy Wolves, who won the 2-A state title in 2007 and were runners-up in 2005.

"They are an option team, and they want to establish the fullback," David said of Lincolnton. "They run six various formations, and they are heavy on three of them. I have charted 85 plays, and they ran the football 64 times. They run it over 60 percent of the time, and they will run that fullback 85-90 percent of those.

"Really, we don't have any other choice but to go out and win that football game. I have a special place in my heart for this team. The one constant is our kids have fought like crazy every game, so I think we will see a bunch of fighting Yellowjackets out there."

Starmount got just enough going last week to nip Surry Central 20-17. Jake Barr's late interception return sealed the win in a game in which Surry Central fumbled nine times -- and didn't lose any.

"We told the players they will need to have short memories, and we have had two really good days of practice," Coach Scott Johnson of Starmount said yesterday. "They seem focused, so we will see."

The Rams are bracing for a big and fast Lexington team that will have Codie Boger, a converted receiver, at quarterback for the third straight game. Lexington runs a spread offense with a short passing attack.

"They are big, and that's a problem for us," Johnson said. "They have some big linemen, they're athletic, and the way they spread you out creates a lot of natural running lanes and creates cutbacks, so you need discipline. And defensively, they can run, and they get off blocks and things can close up on you in a hurry

"I saw them on film last year, so I had a good idea of what they would look like before I went down and saw them play Trinity (in the first round). I knew they would be big and fast, but I hope we have some area where we have some advantages, too."

mlinker@wsjournal.com.

727-7324

Friday: Area 4-AA and 4-A teams