Butch Carter is in his seventh season as head coach at Alexander Central, where the Cougars are off to a 2-1 start. When Lake Norman visits on Friday night (7:30 p.m.), the Cougars need a win to give Carter his 150th career victory — 45 of those have come since Carter, previously head coach at South Caldwell, came to Taylorsville./FILE PHOTO HOBBSDAILYREPORT.COM
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDaily Report.com
SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 p.m.)
Aug. 19 – at Hickory, W 33-15
Aug. 26 – N. Gaston, W 17-8
Sept. 2—A.C. Reynolds, L 7-49
Sept. 9 – Lake Norman
Sept. 16 – at Marvin Ridge, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 – at ASHE COUNTY
Oct. 7 – WATAUGA (HC)
Oct. 14 – at S. CALDWELL
Oct. 21 – HIBRITEN
Oct. 28 – at FREEDOM
ALEXANDER CENTRAL COUGARS
Conference: Northwestern 3A-4A
Head coach: Butch Carter (147-102, 21 years; 43-23 at Alexander Central, 6 years)
Assistant coaches: Matt Williams, QB-WR-OC; Marcus Bowen, DB-DC; Larry Robinson, B-Backs; Chris Marshall, TE-OL-Strength Coach; Jerry Ratchford, DL; Cody Bowers, OLB; Jeremy Honeycutt, ILB; Patrick Smith, WB-Special teams; Jonathan Watts, SID/Stats; Caroline Sawyer, athletic trainer.
Last season’s records: 4-6 overall, 1-4 Northwestern 3A-4A, fifth place
SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY
Last season in state playoffs: 20221 spring, 3AA
Last state playoff victory: 2009, d. Porter Ridge 38-21, first round
All-time state playoff bids: 20
Conference titles (or shares) since 1980, last: 4, 2017 Northwestern 3A-4A
BY THE NUMBERS
OVERALL
Returning starters: 11
Returning lettermen: 24
OFFENSE
Set: Wing-T
Returning starters: 6
Leading returning rushers: Logan Shoemaker, 5-10, 225, Jr. (61-376, 5 TDs); Luke Hammer, 6-1, 70, Sr. (76-268, 2 TDs)
Leading returning passers: Tanner Moore, 6-1, 170, Jr. (36-70-na, 302, 1 TD); Hammer (23-45-4, 268, 5 TDs)
Leading returning receivers: None
Other key returnees: Nate Dahlstrom, 6-0, 215, OL; Wesley McAlpin, 6-3, 265, Jr., OL; Thomas Cline, 6-1, 200, Sr., OL; Robert Young, 5-9, 170, Sr., RB; Riley Fortner, 5-9, 175, Sr., RB; Kolt Ward, 5-10, 200, Sr., OL; Garrett Clark, 5-10, 250, Sr., OL
Top newcomers: Mason Chapman-Mays, 6-3, 175, Sr., Ath.; Landon Barker, 6-0, 275, Sr., OL
DEFENSE
Set: 3-4
Returning starters: 5
Players to watch: Kellun Triplett, 5-10, 145, SR., DB; Shoemaker, 5-10, 225, Jr., LB; Hammer, 6-3, 170, Sr., DB; McAlpin, 6-3, 265, Jr., DL; Jonathan Specht, 5-11, 175, Sr., LB
