Regardless of a classification drop to Class 4A, Carter is still the same old Carter.

Despite a heavy dose of opening-game mistakes, Carter played its typical stifling defense and found a running game when needed in a 21-6 win over Lancaster on Friday night at Kincaide Stadium.

"We've got a lot of things to work on," Carter coach Allen Wilson said afterward. "But it is stuff we can correct. We've got to play better, a whole lot better."

Carter, No. 3 in SportsDay's Class 4A area poll, took control in the second quarter and held No. 14 Lancaster scoreless until three minutes into the fourth quarter.

Senior quarterback Jarvis Phillips was Carter's main weapon, rushing for 73 yards on 16 carries and passing for 37 more.

Anthony Miller, a 220-pound senior, scored all three Carter touchdowns.

Amid nine first-half penalties (for 85 yards), Carter managed to punch in short touchdown drives late in the half for a 14-0 lead at the break.

Thanks to Lancaster's punting problems (13-yard average on four punts in the first half), Carter had to go 33 and 47 yards for its scores.

Phillip Harvey, who took over at quarterback for starter Thedford Rhodes in the second half, accounted for Lancaster's touchdown with a 33-yard pass to Freeman Kelley.

Lancaster also had a 12-yard touchdown pass from Harvey to John Simpson wiped out by an offensive pass interference penalty.