By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — The future looks bright for Carson football, although the standings in the paper will show 0-1.

“Lots of new faces, but we’re going to mesh in the weeks ahead, and I’m excited about what we can become,” Carson head coach Jonathan Lowe said.

The Cougars opened the season on Friday with a 31-14 loss to Mount Pleasant, the fifth straight defeat for the program against the tenacious Tigers. All of those games were competitive, but Carson last beat Mount Pleasant in 2013 when Joe Pinyan was the head coach of the Cougars. The last three setbacks to MP have featured match-ups between Lowe and former Cougar boss Daniel Crosby.

“Daniel has a good program,’ Lowe said. “He knows his stuff and he’s got good football players.”

Crosby’s best player on Friday was Ethan Dempsey, who reminded Lowe of 2024 Carson graduate Carson Aman, who could run and jump with the best. Dempsey made an interception, caught two touchdown passes and wrecked the Cougars with a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown that was one of the game’s key moments. Carson had momentum and then lost it 12 seconds later.

Collin Black, MP’s quarterback, threw three touchdown passes.

The offensive standout for Carson was sophomore Rosean Perkins. He had 13 carries for 107 yards and caught four passes for 34. He had also had a nice kickoff return. He drew rave reviews from coaches and fans.

Freshman Damo’n Broussard had 11 carries for 32 yards and had the distinction of scoring the Cougars’ first TD of the season. Broussard may be a quarterback in the future, but for now he’s a running back.

Junior quarterback Griffin Barber was accurate — 13-for-23 — for 111 yards. Junior Xavier Phillips led the receivers with six catches for 48 yards. Carson is really young at the skill positions.

The young Cougars got off to an ideal start, stopping Mount Pleasant’s first possession, and then putting together a long, time-eating drive for a 7-0 lead.

“We were controlling the clock and controlling the game in the first half,” Lowe said.

But Mount Pleasant executed on a hurry-up drive and scored a momentum-swinging touchdown with just a handful of seconds left in the half. It was 7-all at the break.

Then Mount Pleasant took charge in the third quarter, executing better on offense, hitting key pass plays. The Tigers surged ahead 21-7.

Carson fought back to 21-14 early in the fourth quarter on Perkins’ touchdown run, but the ensuing kickoff sailed it to Dempsey. He took it to the house, it was 28-14, and the Tigers were headed for a road victory.

Carson went for it on fourth down a lot. The Cougars turned it over on downs at their 29 late in the game, and Mount Pleasant tacked on a field goal for the final margin.

“We went for it on fourth down a lot,” Lowe said. “Our defense played a lot better than the score looks. I put them in bad spots a few times, but I felt like it was worth the gamble. Whenever they got the ball, they were going to hard to stop.”

Carson defensive standouts included junior nickel back Jase Overcash, sophomore inside linebacker Jamarion Brown and senior free safety Tanner Simpson.

“Overcash and Brown really showed up tonight,” Lowe said. “Simpson had an incredible interception.”

Next for Carson is a matchup with West Stanly, which was upset by South Stanly on opening night.

Mount Pleasant takes on a a Concord team that steamrolled Piedmont in its opener.