Staff report
SALISBURY — Griffin Barber directed an efficient offense and Damo’n Broussard and Rosean Perkins scored two touchdowns each as Carson beat Salisbury 41-20 in the South Piedmont Conference opener for both teams.
Carson, which has won its last three games, was the only one of the five Rowan schools to win in the SPC on Friday.
Carson (3-1, 1-0) averaged 6 yards per play on offense, as the elusive Broussard and the powerful Perkins, who broke five Salisbury tackles on a long kickoff return, combined for 157 rushing yards. Carson threw often enough to keep the Hornets off-balance. Barber was 5-for-7 passing for 92 yards, including a TD strike to Xavier Phillips.
The Hornets (1-3, 0-1) benefited from huge statistical games from QB Isaiah Foxx and receiver Jay’lin Johnson and stayed with the Cougars for a long time. It was 20-all in the third quarter, but then Carson pulled away.
Foxx was 18-for-30 for 288 passing yards and one TD and ran for 60 yards and another TD. Johnson had the TD reception and came close to his own school record with 180 receiving yards. Johnson had 197 against West Davidson last season to set the SHS mark.
Carson came out stronger and led the Hornets 13-0 after nine minutes, with Perkins scoring on a 5-yard run and Griffin hitting Phillips for a 15-yard touchdown. Julio Montezuma kicked the PAT after the first TD. The Hornets stopped a 2-point conversion after the second one.
Foxx’s 16-yard TD pass to Johnson put the Hornets on the scoreboard at Ludwig Stadium. Samuel Fatovic added the PAT.
Perkins broke a 45-yard run for 20-7. Salisbury got back to 20-13 at the half on a rugged, 16-yard TD run by Foxx.
Salisbury tied the game at 20-all on a 4-yard run by freshman Xavier Frazier and Fatovic’s conversion.
But Broussard scored the next two touchdowns for 34-20. His second one came with 10 minutes left to play.
Carson’s defense stopped the Hornets two minutes later on a fourth down, and Trip Marcum put the icing on Carson’s victory with the final TD of the night.
Jamarion Brown was in on 14 tackles for the Cougars. Ethan Webb also was in on 14 stops. Will Welch was credited with three sacks. Konnor Karriker made an interception. Jase Overcash caused a fumble. Nolan White had a fumble recovery.
Samarion Collins was in on 12 tackles for the Hornets. Vamara Jabateh recovered a fumble.
Carson will be at home against West Rowan next, while the Hornets play at Robinson, the team to beat in the SPC.
