Shutout victory puts Carver near title

By: By Marc Pruitt | SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Published: October 30, 2009

HIGH POINT --

New conference. Familiar opponent. Similar result.

Carver drew closer to a PAC 6 2-A championship last night with a 21-0 win over High Point Andrews at Simeon Stadium. The victory extended the Yellowjackets' winning streak to four games.

Carver (6-4, 4-0) will play at home next week against Trinity. A victory would give the Yellowjackets the title and the No. 1 seed from the conference for the state playoffs.

Carver had a balanced offensive attack and a punishing defense that forced four turnovers and sacked quarterback Marquez Swinton of Andrews five times for minus-32 yards.

B.J Lowery ran for 109 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, Michael Lawrence completed 5 of 6 passes for 116 yards and one TD, and Richard Daniels and Denzel Rice hooked up on an 88-yard touchdown pass on Carver's first series.

Coach Brent David of Carver, who was a standout player at Andrews, didn't call the victory bittersweet.

"I think it's more sweet-sweet," David said. "This was just an all-around team victory. The defense, to get the shutout against a high-powered Andrews offense -- I can't say enough about their performance. Offensively, we just tried to control the football, keep it on the ground and limit our mistakes. I think we executed very well tonight in all areas."

A high snap on Carver's first series forced a third-and-18 from its 12-yard line, but a direct snap to Daniels in the backfield quickly led to six points.

Rice ran a quick slant toward the left hash mark and caught Daniels' pass at the 16. With his momentum carrying him toward the right side of the field, Rice had no one in his way and a slew of blockers opening up a lane on the right sideline, which he followed all the way to the end zone.

"We put that in last week because we know that Andrews likes to bring a lot of pressure," David said. "A lot of people know (Daniels) can catch it and can run, but a lot of people don't know how good of a passer he is. He found the open guy and made something happen."

Carver stopped Andrews with a goal-line stand in the second quarter, stuffing two runs from the 1. The Yellowjackets scored later in the quarter when Maurice Lawrence scored on a 26-yard pass from Lawrence, and Lowery gave Carver a 21-0 lead with a 53-yard run in the third quarter. Lawrence also made two interceptions in the end zone.

Carver 7 7 7 0 -- 21

HP Andrews 0 0 0 0 -- 0

C--Rice 88 pass from Daniels (Eder Banos kick)

C--Harris 26 pass from Lawrence (Banos kick)

C--Lowery 53 run (Banos kick)

Records: Carver 6-4 (4-0 PAC 6 2A), High Point Andrews 6-4 (3-1)