ORANGE AND GREEN

Carver donned new all-black uniforms for its matchup against McMain on Thursday night. The new threads signaled all business, helping set the tone for a purpose far greater than football.

Former longtime offensive coordinator Jessie Bibbins II was honored at halftime with a jersey dedication, after his death late this summer.

“We went out with the purpose of winning, but we wanted to do it for coach Jessie,” Carver coach Byron Addison said. “We put on our all black to pay respects and honor a great guy. Our kids felt it and executed that plan.”

Carver (3-0) ended up defeating McMain 50-3 at Joe Brown Stadium.

Izea Hurst propelled the Rams early, accounting for two passing touchdowns and one rushing. He concluded his night early in the third quarter, after accounting for 178 total yards.

Hurst scampered in for a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:59 to go in the first quarter to help make it 8-0.

McMain put together a six-play 45-yard drive, capped by Derio Alveres' 27-yard field goal, to cut the lead to 8-3 with 59 seconds left in first quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Hurst connected with Gary Young on a 7-yard touchdown pass, his first of two, making it 15-3.

Randolph Armstead provided one of the more exciting plays of the night, weaving his way through the defense for a 21-yard touchdown to widen the gap to 21-3.

Midway through the second quarter, the Mustangs decided to go for it on a fourth-and-1 but were denied by the stingy Rams defense.

“I felt that my decision to go for it on fourth down may have been the turning point in the game,” McMain coach Kevin Roussell said. “It took a lot of momentum out of us and opened their game up to scoring at will. We must get better at stopping opponents. It just that simple.”

The Rams defense also did their part, forcing a safety to extend their lead to 23-3.

Hurst found Keyon Clark on a 7-yard slant route to cap the first-half scoring at 29-3 with 3:05 remaining in the second quarter. 

In the second half, Quincy Curry hooked up with Clark for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 43 seconds left in the third quarter to make it 37-3. 

The onslaught continued as Curry threw to a wide-open Young for a 4-yard touchdown with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter, ballooning the score to 44-3.

Curry outraced the Mustangs defense 51 yards up the sideline for the final touchdown.