Carson football falls to Hug

Quick and athletic just wasn't good enough for the Carson Senators Friday night against a physical Hug team. The defending Northern 4A champion Hawks battered Carson in a 30-14 win at the Jim Frank Sports Complex.

"It's been the same with Hug the last four years," said Carson coach Shane Quilling. "They're (Hug) just physically better up front. Their five or six guys in the box beat ours."

Hug used a punishing running attack, wracking up 326 yards on the ground, calling 44 running plays. In contrast, Hug's QB threw just five passes. The Hawks have their own version of thunder and lightning. Thunder is six foot, 200 pound fullback Derick Pierce and lightning is bottled in the 5-9, 145 pound frame of sophomore tailback Tonio Burton. Pierce carried the ball 15 times for 59 yards and two touchdowns, while Burton ran for 124 yards on 13 carries. The reverse was working for Hug as well, as senior wide out Riley Rowe gained 89 yards on just four carries.

The Hawks opened the scoring early, using just five plays on its opening drive to find the end zone. After Carson's opening possession ended in a punt, Hug took over at the Carson 43. On the second play of the drive, Rowe took a reverse 32 yards to the Carson four yard line. Pierce got the touchdown on a one yard run two plays later.

Carson answered with an impressive scoring drive of its own using a balanced attack to march down the field. Junior quarterback Mitch Hammond completed passes to seniors Will Holbert, Ryan Eichenberger and Richie Norgrove. Senior Travis Lamborn carried four times for 34 yards and scored from the three yard line and with Holbert's PAT, the scored was tied.

The tie wouldn't last, however, as the Hawks got the ball back and ate up yardage and clock, using 12 running plays to move 66 yards, with Pierce scoring from the two.

Hug got a break when Holbert fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Hug took over at the Carson 24. After finding itself with a fourth and goal from the two yard line, a delay of game brought out the kicking team and gave the Senators a moral victory, holding the Hawks to a field goal.

Two more Hug field goals in the half and Carson found itself down 23-7 at half-time.

The Senators fought back in the third quarter, forcing two Hug fumbles on the Hawks first two possessions. The first came after the Hawks were driving. Rowe took another reverse 23 yards before the ball came loose and senior safety Tony Roberts came up with the recovery. After change of possession on a Carson punt, the Hug offense took over at the Carson 41. Hug substitute QB Giovanni Bisio pitched to an open backfield and had to scramble to cover the ball. On third and 25, the Carson defensive line knocked Bisio down, the ball came loose and junior Stephen Sawyers recovered for the Senators on the Hug 48. Lamborn carried for 10 yards and Holbert added 11, before Hammond found Holbert alone in the left corner of the end zone from 22 yards out for Carson's final score with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

The Senators couldn't mount any kind of a threat after that as the Hug defensive front line denied Hammond any time to find receivers, sacking him four times in the fourth quarter.

"They (Hug) were so much better up front. We did a terrible job pass blocking," Quilling said. " Hammond was running for his life on 10 or 12 plays. There's not much else to say."

Quilling conceded that the loss of Kyle Banko and Robbie Bozin has had an effect.

"That hurts us everywhere. Not only offensively, but they're also our two outside linebackers and play on special teams."

There was more bad news for the Senators as Ryan Eichenberger had to leave the game in the fourth quarter. Quilling characterized the injury as bruised ribs.

Despite Friday night's setback, Quilling is still felling positive about his team's chances to make the playoffs.

"We have five league games left. Next week we have Damonte. That's a very winnable game. We need to try to get to three or four league wins to have a chance."