KFDM COOP Posted November 28, 2008 Report Posted November 28, 2008 Rockdale ready for explosive Carthage Ryan Schneider | Sports Writer Published: November 28, 2008 Corsicana - Another playoff game, another high-powered offense facing the Rockdale Tigers' defense. The Tigers shut down previously unbeaten Cleveland's power rushing attack en route to a 17-8 area-round win last week. Up next, a balanced Carthage attack that's scored 51 points per game during its nine-game winning streak. Rockdale (9-2) meets Carthage (10-2) at 8 tonight at Tiger Stadium in a Class 3A Division II Region III semifinal. The winner will advance to face one-loss Gilmer or undefeated West Orange-Stark in the Region III title contest next weekend. "They don't have any weaknesses," Rockdale coach Jeff Miller said. "They're the best team we've seen." Carthage hammered Lorena in its area-round win, scoring five touchdowns on seven first-half possessions. Leading 35-0 at halftime, the Bulldogs' first-team offense played just one series in the second half. A big part of what's made the Bulldogs so tough to stop, Miller says, is a strong offensive line. But it's been the guys in the backfield that have done the most damage. The Bulldogs have a dangerous quarterback-running back combination in Si'Darius Blackshire and Dwight Smith. Blackshire (6-2, 220 pounds) has already thrown for more than 2,000 yards and tied his own school record with 33 touchdown passes. Smith (5-11, 220) has rushed for 1,835 yards and 26 scores and totaled 217 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries in last week's win. Though the Tigers held Cleveland's Slot-T offense to 147 yards and forced a pair of fumbles, their best defense this week might be simply playing keep away. Rockdale's primary ball carriers are running backs Cois Walker and Greg Chelf. Walker has a team-best 769 yards, 12 touchdowns and averages more than 6 yards per carry. Chelf has 588 yards and nine scores. Unable to run the ball last week, the Tigers took to the air on the arm of quarterback Mark Drake, who threw for 194 yards and tossed two touchdowns. Even with Drake's success in the passing game, having thrown for more than 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns, running the ball and controlling the clock against the Bulldogs will be key. "We didn't do that much last week, but that's anybody's best defense," Miller said. Going against another high-scoring offense for the second straight week, Miller says his team simply isn't intimidated. After all, the Tigers have given other top teams, such as undefeated Navasota, quite a fight. "We've started to believe that we're good enough to play with some of these high-profile teams," Miller said. "We've gone out and given several teams as good of games as they've seen all year."
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