Kevin Clifford/Nevada Appeal
SPARKS - Two plays from scrimmage and two touchdowns. You couldn't ask for a better way to open the season.
Mark Sinnott scored on a 67-yard touchdown run on the opening play, and Jeremy Cannon turned a Robert Figueroa interception into a 3-yard scoring run two minutes later.
Those quick scores paved the way for the Carson Senators' 24-7 win over Spanish Springs in the season-opener for both schools Friday night.
"Being up 14-0 is definitely a good way to start the game," Carson coach Blair Roman said. "The credit goes to the kids. I didn't say much before the game. They were focused and ready.
"This is a big shot in the arm for our program. Last year we were improved, but didn't have a lot to show for it."
On the other side of the field, Spanish Springs coach Scott Hare lamented his team's lack of physicalness more than the four interceptions quarterback Nick Lemons threw.
"Yeah we turned the ball over, but you aren't going to win many games when you get outplayed physically," Hare said. "We didn't sustain anything. Every time we got one or two first downs, then we had a breakdown. I have to look at film, but it felt like there was stuff we didn't take advantage of. Then again, when somebody outplays you physically, it's hard to drive the ball 70 or 80 yards."
Roman thought that first score probably stunned the Cougars. It probably stunned Sinnott to see so much open field.
"Give it to the line," Sinnott said. "It was just wide open."
Three plays after Sinnott's opening score, Figueroa stepped in front of a Lemons pass and at the 36-yard line and returned it 33 yards down to the 3-yard line. Cannon found the end zone on the next play. Ean Witter's point-after made it 14-0 with 9 minutes, 30 seconds left in the opening quarter.
"We were in a cover 3," Figueroa said. "I just did what I was supposed to do."
Spanish Springs bounced back with its best drive of the first half, going 76 yards in 10 plays with Lemons finding Thai Ivory on a 17-yard fade route with 3:33 remaining. Brandon Pelfrey added the point-after to make it 14-7.
That was the extent of the Cougars' offense. Lemons threw two more interceptions in the first half, the second theft by Trey Jensen came at the Carson 5 and he brought it back 42 yards to the Carson 47.
Carson scored nine plays later when Blake Plattsmier threw a shovel pass to Luke Carter, who scampered into the end zone to complete the 23-yard play. Witter's third point-after made it 21-7 with 4:07 left in the half.
Spanish Springs managed just two first downs after its only score of the game
The Cougars showed a little life at the start of the second half, holding the ball for 9:17. Lemons was the key, as he carried four times for 28 yards, including a key 12-yard gain down to the Carson 28.
After Carter stopped Lemons for no gain on a third-and-5 play, the Cougars were forced to try a 28-yard field goal, which was wide left.
Carson went three and out on its next drive, but got the ball back again when Lemons' pass intended for Ivory was picked off by Figueroa, who got good inside position on the Cougars' receiver.
"I did have the inside," Figueroa. "After that, it was like a fight for the ball."
The Senators drove 65 yards before their drive stalled at the Cougars' 24. Witter came on and drilled a 41-yard field goal to make it 24-7.
While it was nice to get the win, Roman admitted he was a little concerned that his defense wasn't able to get off the field at times in the second half. Besides the nine-minute drive to open the second half, the Cougars also put together a four-minute drive midway through the final quarter.
"I think both teams started getting tired," said Carson defensive tackle Justin Barlow, who unoffically finished with eight tackles. "We let up a little bit, but we didn't let them score the second half so it wasn't that bad."
The Senators won't get to celebrate this win for very long. Carson hosts McQueen and then visits Reed in what is its toughest two-game stretch of the season.
"We'll definitely be ready for league with the schedule we're playing," Roman said.
NOTES: Colby Blueberg had Carson's other interception ... Sinnott finished with 111 yards, as the Cougars' defense tightened up in the middle after that first TD ... Carter finished with seven tackles unofficially ... Connor Beattie knocked down a pass late in the fourth quarter ... Carson also got a strong effort from Logan Peternell, who teamed with Barlow up front.