The Carson Mitey Mite Blue Senators youth football team improved to 7-1 with a dramatic 33-26 win over the Reno Patriots.
Carson scored on the first play from scrimmage with a David Moniz-Lewis 42 yard TD run to take a 6-0 lead. Reno answered right back with a 40 yard TD run and with the extra point went ahead 7-6. Gage Gunzburg gave Carson the lead back by running the kickoff back for a touchdown.
The Patriots put together a nice drive to again take the lead 13-12. Moniz-Lewis answered back again with a 40 yard TD to give Carson a 19-13. Reno again drove the ball down the field to tie the game at 19-19. Just before half Gunzburg scored again on a reverse to give the Senators a 26-19 halftime lead.
Carson's defense led by Tristen Martel, Anthony Miguel, Hunter Wheeler, Jarod Butler, Luke Myers, Brandon Basa, Conner Larkin, Spencer Berger, Jesse Knorzer, Nick Andreas and Kyle Gagnon were then finally able to force a turnover. But Carson was unable to capitalize when its drive stalled.
The Patriots again drove the ball down the field and scored on fourth and 1 to tie the game at 26. The Senators went ahead again on Gunzburg's third touchdown of the night. Carson's offensive line led by Alec Fletcher, Sam Wilson, Nick Tibma, Bodee Brennan and Noah Tomasco paved the way.
In the closing moments of the game, Carson held the Patriot offense on fourth down and gave the ball back to the offense to run out the clock but Carson was forced to punt with under two minutes left to play. Reno was driving for the tying score when linebacker Nick Andreas forced and recovered a fumble to give Carson the chance to run out the clock and take the win.
"That was a very good Patriot team we played tonight," coach Bret Andreas said. "We just couldn't stop that offense until we absolutely had to."
Carson plays again next weekend in a to be announced time and location.