RENO - Josh Carter scored three touchdowns, including an 8-yard pass from Carson quarterback Marques Giron as the Senators went on to beat Reno 37-6 on Friday at Foster Field.
With the win, Carson (4-2, 1-1) picked up their first Sierra League win after losing its league opener 14-6 to Wooster last Saturday. More importantly, the Senators kept themselves in playoff contention.
"We couldn't afford to lose tonight," coach Bob Bateman said. "From our side, there has never been a team that's made it to the playoffs without at least three wins."
After losing 35-8 to Hug last Friday, Reno (2-4, 0-2) has now been outscored 72-14 in their two Sierra League games. And their 182 points given up this season is highest among Sierra League teams.
After being held to only 69 yards rushing last week against the Colts, Carson's running game racked up 333 yards on the ground against an overmatched Husky defense.
"We literally wore them down," Bateman said. "We were more physical than them and were in better shape at the end of the game."
That proved to be the difference because at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Carson only led 16-6. But in the fourth quarter, Carson scored on all three possessions as Carter, Tom Evans, and Nick Samaras all scored rushing touchdowns to put the game of out of reach.
Carter finished with 110 yards on the ground and now has 533 on the year. Brooks, who didn't score in a game for the first time all season, ran for 126 yards, upping his season total to 577 yards.
"We did a great job of moving the ball but continued to let them back in the game," Bateman. "Just like with the defense, we just overpowered them on the line."
However, the Senators didn't get on the scoreboard until late in the first half when Giron's 8-yard-pass found Carter, who charged into the end zone. Then seconds before half-time, Tom Evans 23-yard-FG put the Senators up 9-0.
Then in the third quarter, both teams traded touchdowns. Carter's 1-yard run gave Carson a 16-0 lead. But Reno came right back after senior quarterback Sean Davis found receiver Brandon Bishop-Parise, who made an acrobatic catch from four yards out to make it 16-6.
Carson's defense held Reno to negative 26 yards rushing but the Huskies seemed to always get good field position on special teams. Reno's Mike Anderson had two punt returns for over 40 yards and Carson's return team bobbled two punts, including one fumble that Reno recovered.
"I mean, we work on special teams all week in practice and never drop a punt," Bateman said. "Before the game, I could tell that the team was a little too tight. But you can't do that in big games. We were lucky tonight."