After a week full of injuries and a misadventure by two of its players, the Carson Senators football team put a little sunshine in their lives by knocking off South Tahoe 28-21 on Friday to improve to 1-1 in the Sierra League and1-4 overall.
Carson coach Shane Quilling got another reason to smile on Tuesday, when starting senior running back/cornerback Will Holbert, who was thought to be out the rest of the season, was cleared to return to action as soon as Friday's home game against Wooster.
Holbert was thought to have fractured his ankle in Carson's 28-7 loss to Reno Sept. 14, but subsequent tests proved negative.
"It was just the way his bone was formed," Quilling said of the injury, which caused Holbert's ankle to swell up. "He tore it up pretty good. He was in shoulder pads and helmet (in Tuesday's practice). I don't know, the way it looks now, he might play (against Wooster). We might wait until (today) before deciding."
Before missing Friday's game with South Tahoe, Holbert was Carson's leading rusher and receiver. He gained 267 yards and scored five touchdowns on 56 carries and caught 10 passes for 86 yards.
The multi-talented Holbert had also moved over from his linebacker spot to cornerback and was a big threat on special teams.
In addition to two unnamed players who were suspended for "poor choices," Carson was missing starting noseguard Aaron Jolcover (mononucleosis), starting guard Trent Simpson (ankle), senior iniside linebacker Philip Maier (neck), defensive lineman Robert Higgins (concussion) and second-string quarterback Gabe Ramirez (separated shoulder) against South Tahoe.
Carson's offense broke loose for 333 yards rushing against the Vikings while its defense held them to five yards on the ground and 192 total yards.
"Like I said last week, we're 1-1 in league with five games left," Quilling said. "It's a great opportunity to put things together and put ouselves in position to make the playoffs. We'll take it one game at a time and see what happens."
Wooster, which lost to Damonte Ranch 13-10 last week, is 0-2 in league and 1-4 overall. The Colts opened their season with a 33-8 victory over Class 3A Lowry and followed with losses to Fallon (8-7), 3A Sparks (18-15) and Douglas (42-7).
Gametime is 7:30 p.m. at Carson High School.