The Carson Junior Pee Wee Blue football team started the playoffs in fashionable style by shutting out the Fallon White team 33-0.
Dylan Sawyers opened up the scoring for the Senators on a 17Ðyard gallop into the end zone. Colin McCulloch found Chance Quilling in the end zone to score the extra point and put Carson up by seven.
Patrick Craugh would score the next touchdown for the Senators pounding the ball up the middle and putting Carson up 13-0. The next offensive possession saw McCulloch passing to Gabriel Pongasi for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Then McCulloch called upon Austin Pacheco for a soft pass converting the extra point.
Craugh would get the call again, scoring Carson's fourth touchdown. Carson would go into the fourth quarter leading 26-0. Contributing to the ground game were backs Brandon Akers, Daniel Okimura, Pongasi, Quilling and Joseph Zinda.
Continuing to get better every week and providing the great pass protection and making gigantic holes were Keegan Aiazzi, John Borges, Keith Collier, Alex Crathers, Conner Fallon, Nick Garcia, Jacob Myers, Pacheco, Clinton Page, Pongasi, Cody Reno and Andrew Toland.
Carson's defense played outstanding throughout the night. This was exemplified when Quilling picked off Fallon's pass and returned it for a touchdown. Zach White and Alex Eddy had a sack apiece, Zinda would recover a fumble and Logan Peternell would block a punt, which added to the prowess the Senators defense showed. This was the Senators seventh shutout in eight games.
Carson's defense was led by Sam Blei, Austin Brown, Rodney Calhoun, Levi Carter, Cole Dufresne, Alex Eddy, Tony Fondi, Cody Hammond, Patrick Hesse, Willy McDonald, Pacheco, Logan Peternell, Pongasi, Quilling, Sawyers, Kurtis Scull, Zach White and Zinda. "I am really proud of the way all these kids played tonight," coach Leonard Lee said. "They know it's the playoffs and it was time to turn it up a notch."
Carson will put its unbeaten record on the line when it hosts the Sparks Wolf Pack in a semifinal game at 6 p.m. Friday at Governor's Field, with the winner advancing to the Snow Bowl. This will be the second time the Senators and Wolf Pack have met this season, with Carson winning the previous game 19-0.
MIDGETS 30, TRUCKEE 0
The Carson Midgets are one step closer to winning the section title, beating Truckee 30-0 last Friday at Governor's Field. Carson is now 6-1 for the year.
Carson's offense deviated from its usual tough running game and successfully went to the air. Pat Riggs completed 8 of 14 passes for 114 yards, including a 60 yard touchdown strike to Matt Rutledge. Tight end Tyler Smith had 3 catches for 32 yards with Robbie Bozin and Chris Bradley also having receptions.
The ground game wasn't totally absent with Bozin, Rutledge, Jeff Butler, and Riggs rushing for 124 yards. Bozin also scored two touchdowns.
Assistant Coach Kelly Werth was pleased with the effort of his offensive lineman stating, "I thought our offensive line played well tonight, particularly Cody Barr, Tanner Wood, Eric McDaniel and Justin Gragg. They made some nice holes and gave Riggs time to throw."
Carson's shutout was jeopardized when the Truckee fullback rambled for 65 yards. But a hustling Smith made a touchdown saving tackle at the 5-yard line. The Senator defense then proceeded to stuff the Truckee offense on four consecutive plays.
"Our goal line stand was one of the season's highlights," Head Coach Mark Rutledge said. "All eleven kids - Blake Davidson, Ryan Cruse, Tanner Wood, Tyler Brown, Steven Carranza, Tyler Smith, Jeff Butler, Nate Reno, Matt Parmenter, Robbie Bozin, and Matt Rutledge - contributed to this effort."
The greedy Carson secondary came up with four interceptions, including one for a 50 yard return for a touchdown by strong safety Rutledge. It was Rutledge's second touchdown of the night. Spud Jacobsen, Bozin, and Reno also had interceptions. Owen Craugh, Blake Davidson, and Matt McDaniel made several outstanding defensive plays.
Carson meets the Reno Titans at 6 p.m. at Governor's Field this Friday in a semifinal game. The winner of this game will play for the section championship in Reno a week from Saturday.