Carson-Douglas staff predictions

Nevada Appeal's Darrell Moody:

QUARTERBACKS: Carson quarterback Blake Plattsmier has done a good job managing the game. He's run with success when needed and has thrown the ball at a 68 percen clip. Douglas will use both Zack Williams, who is dangerous passing the ball, and Lucas Peterson, who is more of a runner. Edge: Carson

RUNNING BACKS: Both teams rely on mnore than one back, though Douglas' Johnny Pollack is a horse and has 1,015 yards and 11 scores. Speedy Jordan Cruz, he of track and field fame and Ryen Ake are good complimentary backs. Luke Carter and Dylan Sawyers average 9 yards a carry, and Mark Sinnott isn't far behind at 6.38. Manogue has been the only team to stop Carson's running attack. Edge: Carson

WIDE RECEIVERS: Carson's Ean Witter has carried the load with 22 catches which doesn't sound like much until people understand that he didn't play hardly at all in the second half of games against Wooster, South Tahoe, Damonte Ranch and Fallon. Carson has a deeper group with Austin Neddenriep, Danny King and Luis Pina-Duarte. EDGE: Douglas (slight)

OFF/DEF LINES: Carson has an outstanding offensive line which is a main reason why the team is averaging 41 points a game. That's an impressive stat when you consider the Senators only scored 11 against Manogue. It's been tough to run against the Senators. Carson has put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but haven't had a lot of sacks to show for it. Carson needs to make Williams' life miserable. EDGE: Carson

LINEBACKERS: Pollack is a monster in the middle, but Luke Carter, Levi Bloxton, Junior Valladares and Connor Beattie have been impressive, allowing 13 points a game. Carson has shut down teams that Douglas has struggled against (Damonte Ranch, Galena). EDGE: Carson

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Carson has intercepted 18 balls this season, 17 of those by the defensive backs and one by Carter. Part of the reason is that Carson has forged ahead early in games, forcing teams to throw more than they may want. Josh Peacock has seven picks and returned one for a score against Fallon. EDGE: Carson

SPECIAL TEAMS: Both Carson's Ean Witter and Douglas' Nikolai Vasquez excel in kickoffs, so expect both teams to start inside their own 30. It will be interesting to see if Douglas kicks to Dylan Sawyers, who has averaged 61 yards a return on five attempts, two of those going for scores. Teams that have kicked it to Sawyers have paid a heavy price.

INTANGIBLES: As my colleague from the Record-Courier has pointed out, both Carson losses have been in close games. Nobody has challenged the Senators in the other seven games. Douglas has been a god second-half team, but you have to wonder why the Tigers have found themsleves in those predicaments. Their win over Manogue was especially impressive, considering that was Carson's worst offensive game by far. Quite honestly, I expect this to be a physical game, and most rivalry games are exactly like that. PREDICTION: Carson 29, Douglas 19.

Record-Courier's Joey Crandall:

QUARTERBACKS

As with just about every area of the game tonight, you aren't going to find much difference between the two teams. Senior Blake Plattsmeier has done exactly what Carson needed him to do this year, which was direct a deep and potent running attack and protect the ball in the passing game. Douglas counters with a two-headed monster of sorts. Junior Zack Williams is the playmaker and Lucas Peterson is the game-manager. Carson will likely see both and need to have a plan for both. The duo gave Manogue fits early on. Of the three, Plattsmeier has been starting the longest and has the most big-game experience. Edge: Carson.

RUNNING BACKS

There are few at the game tonight who aren't going to walk away impressed with Douglas' Regional Player of the Year candidate Johnny Pollack. The senior leads the region in rushing with 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns, despite also starting at middle linebacker and also missing a week with an injury. Ryen Ake and Jordan Cruz are nice compliment backs who have shown potential as pass catchers as well. Carson, though, can hurt you with a lot of different guys coming from a lot of different directions. Sophomore Dylan Sawyers has been the standout, averaging almost nine yards a carry, and is a threat to run or to catch, as are many of the Senator ball carriers. The depth would point the edge to Carson, but until you've seen Pollack run, you can't understand the effect he has on an opposing defense (Think Nevada's Chance Kretschmer, circa 2001). Slight edge: Douglas.

RECEIVERS

Carson's receiving corps is capable, but they have largely been untested due to the team's ability to put up a bunch of points in the first half. Only one guy, Ean Witter, has more than 10 catches on the year. Douglas on the other hand, has four guys (Austin Neddenriep, Danny King, Luis Pina-Duarte and Nikolai Vasquez) who have shared the load fairly equally for an efficient passing game. Neddenriep and King have both come up with a number of clutch catches a crucial moments in big games this year. Edge: Douglas

OFFENSIVE LINE/DEFENSIVE LINE

Both teams have elite groups on either side of the ball that will take care of business. The Senators defensive front will likely get some penetration, but the Tiger offensive line will open up some nice holes. The key to the whole game, may be when Carson has the ball. There's no question that the Senators' line will be able to move people around. Douglas has had issues early on in games stepping up and plugging holes against the run this season. That's the wrong kind of problem to have against a team like Carson. If Douglas can plug those holes early and force the Senators to the air, the Tiger pass rush will be too much. If not, it could be a long night for the Tiger defense. Edge: Carson.

LINEBACKERS

Douglas has a group, led by Pollack, that gets the job done and is opportunistic when the ball comes loose, but Carson's linebacking corps, led by Junior Valladares, Luke Carter and Levi Bloxton, has earned a true ball-hawking reputation. There will be some big hits on both sides, but the Senators have shown repeatedly that they can create turnovers. In a game like this, that could be huge. Slight edge: Carson.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Carson's Josh Peacock and Colby Blueberg lead the team in interceptions with seven and three respectively. Douglas' core group, however, is among the most underrated units in the Northern 4A. If the pressure is there up front, the Senators are going to have a tough time moving the ball through the air. Douglas has a healthy rotation of guys to move in and out as game wears on, so don't be surprised to see a big play or two coming out of the backfield. Edge: Douglas

SPECIAL TEAMS

While both schools are capable of the big play in the kick return game, it may not matter much. Witter and Vasquez make a regular habit of booting the ball through the end zone. That's just what you get with the region's best two kickers on opposite sides of the ball. With a 9 mph wind from the south forecast for Thursday night, the coin toss (and resultant choosing of goals to defend) gets a little more interesting than usual. The biggest difference on special teams tonight will be whoever does the best job of minimizing the mistakes and/or capitalizing on the miscues from the other team. Edge: Even.

INTANGIBLES

Carson has trailed in the first half only twice this season -- against McQueen and against Manogue -- both games were eventual losses. Only three teams have held the Senators under 40 points this year -- Spanish Springs, McQueen and Manogue. Again, two of those three, were losses. Douglas, on the other hand, has trailed in the first half five times this year and won three of those.

They've come back to tie, lead or win the game in each of the five, from deficits as far back as 25, 16, 14 and 13 points with McQueen winning in the closing seconds and Las Vegas pulling away in the second half.

The only surprise Thursday will be if the game is a blowout for either side. Based on the plethora of close-game experience, Douglas gets the final edge. Final score: Tigers 35, Senators 31.