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Southlake Carroll was knocked out of the playoffs before Thanksgiving, Euless Trinity threw for more than 300 yards and Rockwall-Heath had two players rush for more than 200 yards in a game. Yes, it was a playoff weekend that featured a lot of things you won't see often.

But the weekend also featured something we've come to expect:

Carter using its size and strength to overwhelm an opponent.

But there was a difference in Carter's 62-28 victory over Richardson Pearce on Friday at Texas Stadium. This wasn't one of the Dallas ISD opponents Carter has feasted on for years, and this was two rounds deep in the playoffs, where Carter had lost three of the four previous seasons.

"This season, we feel like we can make a long run," quarterback Jarvis Phillips said.

A long run is a possibility for Carter. What's certain is there will be lots of running.

Carter rushed 72 times for 573 yards and attempted only five passes in the Class 4A Division I area-round win over Pearce. It gave Carter 4,209 yards rushing for the season, more than any other area 4A or 5A team.

Carter (12-0) has done that behind the foundation of its team every year: a big offensive line. The Cowboys then rotate a half dozen or more runners behind them each game, led by running back Anthony Miller (115 carries for 932 yards) and quarterback Jarvis Phillips (122 for 868).

With coach Allen Wilson's team, it's never a question of what's coming at you. It's whether you can stop it, and nobody has this season. But eight of Carter's wins were against DISD teams, which Carter beat by an average of 37 points.

"We feel like it doesn't matter who we play, we've just got to step up," Phillips said. "We can't choose who's in our district."

That's why, as Carter reeled off win after win, it was hard to know how the Cowboys would stack up in the playoffs. So far, they stack up well. But on Saturday, Carter will step on the field against the best team it has faced this season: Longview.

Longview, which is 10-2 and was ranked No. 5 in the final 4A state poll, is in its first season in 4A. In 2002, Longview defeated an 11-0 Carter team in the area round of the 5A Division II playoffs.

Carter also dropped to 4A this season after years of choosing to compete in 5A despite having a 4A enrollment. That's added to the expectations for Carter, which was ranked No. 4 in the final state poll and last season advanced to a 5A Division II Region II semifinal.

"Last year's team, we weren't expected to do much, but we came together and made a nice little run," Phillips said. "This year, we know what we've got to do."

And the Cowboys know how they'll do it. Opponents just have to find a way to stop it.