CARROLLTON — Roger Gordon's first game as head football coach at Carroll Academy was almost over as soon as it began.
An overflow crowd was still filing into Carroll Academy's stadium on Friday night when Winona Christian's Jon Morgan Carpenter took the opening kickoff and ran it back 80 yards for a touchdown.
Then on Carroll's first play on offense, the ball was snapped over quarterback Breland Marett's head, resulting in a safety. Just 30 seconds into the game, Winona Christian led 10-0.
The Stars went on to beat the Rebels 26-7 in the season opener for both teams.
Gordon admitted afterward that it had been a frustrating night for him.
"We gave up 10 points right at the start," he said.
As for the mistake that resulted in the safety, Gordon said, "We've never done that in practice."
But what happened - and didn't happen - up front bothered Carroll's new coach the most.
"We got whipped on the interior of the line on both sides of the ball," Gordon said.
Because of poor blocking, "we couldn't run our offense," he said. "We didn't even have time to throw a quick out."
Marett completed just 2 of 7 passes for 2 yards and was sacked twice. He also ran for 44 yards.
Tyler Bingham was the Rebels' leading rusher with 65 yards.
Stars quarterback C.J. Hodges, a starter for Carroll in 2009, was 0-for-2 passing with an interception. Winona Christian was content to stick to the running game, eating up time and yards.
Carroll's only touchdown came on an 84-yard kickoff return by Hayden Harrell with 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Trailing 10-0 at halftime, Carroll began the third quarter with its best drive of the game. The Rebels drove to the Stars' 18-yard line, only to fumble the ball away.
Winona Christian put the game away with two touchdowns in the second half on runs by Cameron Lepard (33 yards) and Walker Jackson (7 yards).
Gordon was hired to replace John David Higginbotham, whose contract was not renewed after last season. Higginbotham was 3-18 in two seasons as the Rebels coach.
As a result of Higginbotham's departure, some players either left Carroll or didn't come out for football this year. Several former Carroll players were on the field for Winona Christian Friday night.
Gordon has only 23 players on his roster. With just four seniors, he admits, "We're young."
Friday's game was played in oppressively hot, humid weather. Players on both sides suffered leg cramps, particularly in the second half.
"I hope we get in better shape," Gordon said. But, he said the Rebels' cramping problems were "understandable" considering that just 12 or 13 players play most of the snaps, seldom getting a break.
Gordon said he hopes his players will stay positive.
"I just hope we see some improvement," he said. "I hope we don't get a bad attitude and a loser attitude.
"This game is over. We have to get ready for next week."
Carroll visits Sharkey-Issaquena Academy on Friday night.
•Contact Charles Corder at ccorder@gwcommonwealth.com.
