The Carson Senator Mitey Mites Pop Warner football team improved to 6-1 with its second straight shutout win, a 19-0 victory over the Lassen Grizzlies.
It was Carson's third shutout of the season. The defense was led by Austin Brown, Austin Buyak, Levi Carter, Ian Friesall, Josh Garcia, Andrew Gutierrez, Colin McCulloch, Austin Pacheco, Anthony Peek, Kyle Richard, Steven Rivera, Dylan Sawyers and Sage Smith.
"After traveling two hours to get to Susanville, the kids were a little restless and ready to play some football," coach Dave McCulloch said.
Carson's special teams also played well. After Carson's defense held early in the game, Pacheco received the punt and behind a block from McCulloch was able to return it 43 yards for a touchdown. Sawyers scored the extra point to make it 7-0.
Carson scored on the opening kickoff of the second half when Sawyers scored on a 62-yard return. Pacheco took out two defenders with a block on the play.
Also leading the way on Pacheco's and Sawyers' scores were Keegan Aiazzi, Brown, Buyak, Carter, Josh Garcia, Nick Garcia, Gutierrez, Ty Keefer, McCulloch, Willie McDonald, Jacob Myers, Zach Puzey, Cody Reno, Riveria and Mike Walters.
Sawyers ran for the other touchdown. Quarterback Brandon Akers led the attack. Blocking well for Carson were Aiazzi, John Borges, Nick Garcia, David Kelly, Myers, Clinton Page, Puzey, Reno, Nolan Tuesdell and Michael Walters. Carson was without defensive standout Corwin McIntosh.
Carson travels to the Don Mello Sports Complex to play the Sparks Cardinals at 8 p.m. Friday.
CARSON BLUE 25, SPARKS RAIDERS 14
A week after beating the Sparks Wolf Pack 21-6 in Sparks, the Carson Junior Midget Blues returned home to beat the Sparks Raiders. Carson won its sixth straight game and has a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
Carson (6-1) will close the regular season by hostings the Reno Raiders (7-0) on Friday at Governor's Field. Carson would clinch a playoff berth for the chance to play for the Snow Bowl Championship with a win. Even if Carson loses, it would still clinch a playoff berth if the Sparks Cardinals beat the Reno Razorbacks.
Sparks scored on a long touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. Carson responded by moving the ball behind the running of Robbie Bozin, Phillip Maier and Hunter Santillo. Sparks stiffened and stopped Carson at the Sparks' 1-yard line.
But the Carson defense held and Bozin returned the punt to the Sparks 7. That set up Maier's 4-yard scoring run, making the halftime score 7-6.
Bozin opened the second half by returning the second half kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown. Carson scored on two of its next three possessions.
Santillo scored on a 22-yard run and Ryan Eichenberger ran for the extra point to make it 19-7. Matt Kiser caused fumbles on Sparks' next two possessions which were recovered by Eichenberger and Adam Carmazzi.
Carson then needed just three plays to go 74 yards, with Bozin scoring on a 30-yard run to make it 25-7.
Nick Cutunilli, Brandon Letizia, Isaac Holt, Carmazzi, Dylan Hills, Daniel Feagan, Brian Halverson and Christian Cattell paved the way for Carson's running attack. Rusty Rogers, Matt Barnes, Levi Taylor, Carmazzi, Bozin, Maier, Trae Tuttle, Eichenberger, Tyler, Devall, J.J. Demuth, Kiser and Feagan all played well defensively.