Game Preview - Franklin High @  Carver High 

The game:

Anytime that two 11-1 teams meet up in a must win situation it is usually a good game.  Franklin takes a trip to Winston Salem to meet up with the Carver Yellow Jackets in the second round of the NCSHAA 3A playoffs in a game that is being described as "one to watch" in the playoffs.  In the last AP poll of 2006 Franklin was ranked at # 9 while Carver was ranked at #7.  Carver suffered a loss in their first game of the season and had since reeled off 11 wins.  Franklin has one loss to Asheville two games ago and had since put the loss behind them as the Panthers have reeled off two wins in an impressive fashion averaging 36 ppg offensively and giving up just 14.5pp in those two wins.  

Streaks -  

Carver lost the first game of the season and has not lost since.  

Franklin(11-1, 5-1) is on a two game winning streak and averages 30.73 points per game offensively and gives up 9.73 points per game defensively.  

Franklin beat Morehead last week 38-14 in first round playoff action

Carver beat North Iredell 40-0 in first round playoff action 

Losses - 

Franklin had one loss to 3A Asheville (7-3, 5-1)

Carver had one loss to 3A Dudley (10-2) 

Past games - Carver beat Franklin in the 2004 second round playoff game played in Winston - Salem.        

Players to watch for:

Carver - RB Rasaun Brown, RB Bryce Sherman 

Franklin - OL Josh Stewart, OL Jared Gates, WR Kyle Ward, RB Chris Lequire, RB Michael Carson, FB Josh Young, The Panther Defense

Keys to the game

For Carver to win - 

• The Carver offense must not have many 3 and out situations. 
• The Carver defense needs to be able to stop the multifaceted Franklin offense
• Carver likes the big plays.

For Franklin to win - 

• The Panther defense must eliminate the big plays.  
• Defense needs to stop Carver and create as many 3 and outs as possible 
• look for the play of the special teams to play a part for a Franklin win.
• Franklin needs to keep the crowd out of the game to eliminate the Carver home field advantage
• Franklin needs to control the clock and keep possession of the ball for as long as possible.

The winner plays: #11 North Gaston (9-3) vs. # 3 Hunter Huss (9-3) - (A Franklin win and a North Gaston win puts the Panthers back at home next Friday night )

Links

About Carver         School Website       History of Carver vs. Franklin 

Current Winston Salem Weather Forecast 

Picks

Citizen Times – Carver by 7

Massey – Carver 24.99  - Franklin 13.31

Pasteur – Carver by 7

Prep Alert – Franklin 17 - Carver 24