MINDEN -It was a chance to raise the bar for the Douglas High School football team. Instead, the Tigers were shown how far they still have to go.
The effort of Douglas couldn't be questioned against McQueen, Northern Nevada's premiere program, Friday night at Keith Roman Field. But the Tigers still have a long way to progress to step up into the class of McQueen as was demonstrated in their 38-0 loss to the Lancers.
"We've been wanting to raise the level of the program," said Douglas Coach Mike Rippee, commenting on how he would like to take his program to the level of McQueen some day. "You're never happy after a loss. But there's a difference between being disappointed and feeling sorry for yourself."
Douglas couldn't stop the explosive Charles Carr, who gained 199 yards on 15 carries and scored four touchdowns, running his season total to 18.
"Not that we didn't work on that all week long," said Rippee about stopping Carr. "I guess the great backs are still going to hurt you."
The game began promising with Douglas as it appeared to be on the verge of a time consuming drive to keep the ball away from McQueen. Jared Kennison eluded McQueen's rush to complete a 9-yard pass to John Hillenbrand for a first down and connected with Jordan Ovard for a 7-yard pass that gave Douglas third-and-one at its own 44-yard line.
But the Tigers couldn't pick up the first down and then disaster struck. Douglas had its punt blocked and McQueen's Mohu Otuafi returned it 40 yards for a 6-0 lead.
"Blocked punt, touchdown. They're known to do that," Rippee said. "That was a critical time.
"They seem to raise the level of their game. They're like sharks. They smell blood."
A long punt return gave McQueen the ball at the Douglas 34 on its first possession. The Tiger defense stiffened, holding McQueen to minus-three yards, but McQueen's quarterback, Graham Siderius, showed he also has a strong foot by booming a 53-yard field goal for a 9-0 lead.
McQueen tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Tommy Hoyle of Douglas recovered the ball at the Lancers 48. Douglas, though, couldn't mount a drive and McQueen methodically drove 70 yards, with Carr capping the drive on a 4-yard touchdown run. Siderius ran it in for the two-point conversion to give McQueen a 17-0 lead after one quarter.
Carr scored on runs of 49 and 48 yards to give McQueen a 31-0 lead. Douglas mounted a drive down to the McQueen 37 behind Kolt Clore's 14-yard run, Kennison's 8-yard scramble and Dusty Cornwall's 4- and 5-yard gains, but the threat stalled.
Carr's 38-yard run in the third quarter finished the scoring. Gabe Hatchett and David Baker recovered fumbles to stop McQueen threats in the second half and Trevor Johnson had a sack for Douglas.