Published Oct. 30, 2008
By Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Latin football coach Larry McNulty has been pleasantly surprised by the play of his new quarterback, senior David Pearson.
“Nobody knows who he is,” McNulty said. “He's not much of a household name. But he's a 5-foot-9, 145-pound guy who was a state wrestling champ last year. He's also one of the better lacrosse players at Latin.”
And this football season, Pearson has led Latin to the verge of a rather unlikely Charlotte Independent Schools title. Latin needs to win at Country Day on Friday to get it.
After winning its third straight N.C. Independent Schools' state title last year, Latin graduated all but one offensive starter, and Duke-bound defensive back Ross Cockrell hasn't played much in the past month with a nagging hamstring injury.
Pearson, starting for the first time, has thrown for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns. He rushed for more than 350 yards. Sophomore Jalen Ross has turned into Latin's go-to tailback. He's got 92 carries for 967 yards and 14 touchdowns, mostly in the past six games, when he's become the featured back.
“If you'd told me in August camp that we'd be 7 and 2 going into the Country Day (game), I'd have taken that, taken the season off and not practiced,” McNulty said. “Our kids have battled their tails off and been pretty good on defense.”
Country Day coach Bob Witman said the difference this year for Latin has been team speed.
“This team is obviously different than last year's,” he said. “They lost a lot of key players but have exceptional speed in the skill positions. They're probably faster than (Boiling Springs) Crest (a 4A power that Country Day beat earlier this season). Not quite as big and physical but faster.”
Witman said Pearson is a major part of that speed attack.
“He does a great job,” Witman said. “He doesn't have the experience that Hanson had but he's picked up the system well. We've definitely got to game-plan to stop him.”
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