Carthage Can Exorcise Old Demons By Sending Defending Champ Chapel Hill to 0-3 Start

No. 7 CARTHAGE BULLDOGS (1-1)
AT
CHAPEL HILL BULLDOGS (0-2)

7:30 p.m. Friday
Bulldog Stadium, New Chapel Hill

Coaches
Carthage: Scott Surratt
Chapel Hill: Thomas Sitton

Last week
Carthage: def. Lindale 38-21
Chapel Hill: lost to Whitehouse 38-14

Next week
Carthage: at Nacogdoches
Chapel Hill: at Palestine

Playmakers
Carthage

• QB Blake Bogenschutz, Jr., 6-0, 182 (29 of 56, 416 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs)
• RB Tevin Pipkin, Jr., 5-10, 170 (34 carries, 252 yards, 3 TDs)
• WR Tee Goree, Jr., 6-2, 170 (15 catches, 248 yards, 2 TDs)
• DT Isaiah Golden, Sr., 6-2, 315 (2 sacks; committed to Texas A&M)
• OT/DE Mario McCain, Jr., 6-0, 240 (3 forced fumbles)
• RB Bryian Bolton, Soph., 5-10, 175 (2 interceptions)
• OG Adrian Goodacre, Jr., 6-4, 325

Chapel Hill

• RB/S Joseph Clark, Jr., 5-9, 175 (17 carries, 178 yards, 1 TD; 20 tackles, 1 INT)
• LB Wesley Thompson, Jr., 6-2, 190 (22 tackles, 1 INT)
• RB/WR Jamarcus McCowin, Sr. (13 carries, 116 yards; 1 catch, 39 yards, 1 TD)
• DB Deeshiuwn Mumphrey, Jr. (36 tackles, 1 pass break-up)
• WR/DB Gabriel Robinson, Jr., 5-9, 150 (5 catches, 69 yards; 7 tackles, 1 pass break-up)
• QB Andrew Black, Jr., 6-0, 180 (7 of 26, 153 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs; 16 carries, 79 yards)
• QB Lex Heckel, Jr. (5 of 13, 25 yards, 1 INT)

Just the facts

• Carthage got back on track last week against Lindale following its stunning, season-opening loss to Jacksonville. The Bulldogs avenged their 2011 loss to Lindale in the process.
• Quarterback Blake Bogenschutz completed 16 of 25 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Tevin Pipkin went for 117 yards and a TD on just 13 attempts.
• Carthage turned it over six times against Jacksonville, but not once against Lindale. The Bulldogs' first four drives of the night resulted in points.
• Chapel Hill, which lost two games total from 2010-11, has begun the year 0-2. An erratic offense has been the primary culprit. Chapel Hill had five turnovers in its season opener against Lindale, and had three more last week against Whitehouse.
• The passing game was been a problematic area thus far for Chapel Hill. Through two games, quarterbacks Andrew Black and Lex Heckel have combined to complete just 12 of 39 passes for 178 yards.
• Not many teams have figured out Carthage over the last couple of seasons, but Chapel Hill is one of them. Chapel Hill snapped Carthage's 31-game winning streak with a 46-14 win 2010, and broke Carthage's 22-game home winning streak last season with a 21-20 victory. Overall, Carthage holds the all-time series edge, 22-8.

Key matchup: Chapel Hill's offensive line vs. Carthage's defensive front. With Chapel Hill's struggles in the passing game, it is in imperative that Chapel Hill have success on the ground. Chapel Hill is averaging more than 230 yards on the ground through the first two games, and will need to have another big day against Carthage. That's easier said than done against Carthage's ferocious front line featuring Isaiah Golden and Mario McCain. If Chapel Hill is unable to run the ball effectively, it will put even more pressure on Chapel Hill's young quarterbacks who are still trying to find their way.