Alexander Central (Taylorsville, NC)       previews home GENERAL Nickname: Cougars Colors: Blue/Vegas Gold Coach: Tom Harper League: 4A/3A Northwestern Playoff Division: 4A Playoff Division Rank: #54 RETURNERS Returning Offensive Starters: 4 Returning Defensive Starters: 3 Starting Quarterback Returning: yes Top Running Back Returning: yes Top Receiver Returning: yes Top OL Returning: no Top Defender Returning: no TOP PLAYERS Lucas Hayes 6'1" 260 Senior DL 5.16 Nick Salyer 6'1" 180 Senior QB 4.68 Nathan Birkedal 5'8" 160 Senior DB 4.67 STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES Team Strengths: Depth On Lines, Team Strength Team Weaknesses: Inexperience, Team Speed RATINGS 2010 Final Power Rating: 21.2 2010 National Rank: #3013 2010 State Rank: #80 Personnel (Back/Lost) Rating Adjustment: -2.5 Reg Season Schedule Strength Downward Rating Adjustment: -1.3 2011 Starting Power Rating: 17.4 2011 National Rank: #3404 2011 State Rank: #98 Dynasty Rating (Average 2003-2010 Rating): 15.4 Dynasty National Rank: #3619 2011 Rating vs. Dynasty Rating Comparison: better by 3.3 Dynasty Record: 37-24 (19-11 in league) HISTORICAL 2010 Overall Record: 9-3 2010 League Record/Finish: 6-0 (1st) 2010 Points For Average: 27.3 2010 Points Against Average: 16.4 2010 Differential: +10.9 2010 Wins: #908 Davie (Mocksville) (10-7), #971 Hibriten (Lenoir) (21-20), #3767 South Caldwell (Hudson) (19-14), #4062 West Iredell (Statesville) (28-10), #7014 Hickory (27-17), #7817 Watauga (Boone) (20-0), #9200 North Iredell (Olin) (54-23), #10527 St. Stephens (Hickory) (55-25), #12633 Foard [Fred T.] (Newton) (53-14) 2010 Losses: #1764 Mooresville (33-21), #2570 West Charlotte (Charlotte) (20-7), #6382 Patton [Robert L.] (Morganton) (14-13) 2010 Opponents W-L: 70-78 Recent League Championships: 2010 Winning Streak Entering 2011 Season: 1 Streak List: 9/16/11 St. Stephens (Hickory) (40-7) SCHEDULE 2011 Schedule: 8/19 vs North Iredell (Olin), 8/26 Freedom (Morganton), 9/2 at Davie (Mocksville), 9/9 Kings Mountain, 9/16 St. Stephens (Hickory), 9/23 vs Foard [Fred T.] (Newton), 9/30 vs Hickory, 10/7 at Watauga (Boone), 10/14 at Statesville, 10/21 South Caldwell (Hudson), 10/28 vs Hibriten (Lenoir) Highest-Rated 2011 Regular Season Opponents: Statesville (28.9), Davie (Mocksville) (28.9), Freedom (Morganton) (27.9) Lowest-Rated 2011 Regular Season Opponents: Foard [Fred T.] (Newton) (-15.8), St. Stephens (Hickory) (-10.6), North Iredell (Olin) (-4.9) 2010 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 7.4 (12.1 overall) 2011 Regular Season Schedule Strength: 9.9 2011 vs. 2010 Schedule Strength Comparison: +2.5 2011 Regular Season Schedule Strength State Rank: #138 2011 Regular Season Schedule Strength National Rank: #4513 2011 Projected Regular Season Record: 7-4 2011 Projected League Finish: 3rd 2011 Undefeated Regular Season Probability: less than 1% Opener: 8/19 vs North Iredell (Olin) [projection: 35-13 win]