Pacheco wears many hats for Carson

If students at Carson High didn't know Austin Pacheco before last Friday night, they certainly know who he is now.

That's what a game-winning field goal against your arch-rival will do for you. Not only did his game-winner beat Douglas, 16-13, but it also kept Carson's undefeated season intact

"A few more people came up to me and said 'Wow I'm shocked,'" said Pacheco, who leads the Senators (5-0, 4-0) into their homecoming match-up against Damonte Ranch (0-5, 0-4) at 7:30 p.m. today. "It felt pretty good, but I've found that if you're nice to people they will be nice to you. One guy came up to me and asked who the kicker was, and when I told him it was me, we started talking randomly."

Pacheco is wearing many hats for the Senators these days - kick-off man, punter, place-kicker plus wingback, and just last week he played well enough at middle linebacker in the relief role against Douglas to earn the starting job tonight.

His biggest value to the team thus far has probably been in the multi-faceted kicking role. He's kicked five field goals, is averaging 55 yards on kick-offs and has seven touchbacks, and he's averaging 40.8 yards on 22 punts, with eight punts being downed inside the 20.

Pacheco has been a weapon on both sides of the ball, according to head coach Blair Roman.

"He's both (an offensive player and defensive player when he kicks)," Roman said. "When he's kicking field goals he's scoring points. He's a defensive player when he's kicking off or punting he's trying to get a touchback or pin the other team deep so we can play the field position game.

"He's a weapon. He's got such a strong leg. What some people overlook is how much time he's put in on his kicking over the summer with coach (Jim) deArrieta. Everyday after practice he would work with him. And then you throw in baseball, and you can see he's spent a lot of time being a good athlete."

One of Pacheco's three field goals last week against Douglas was from 45 yards out, and it would have been good from 50 without question. He has arguably the strongest leg in Northern Nevada.

"I've kicked a 62-yarder in practice (with no rush)," Pacheco said. "With a rush I've kicked a 60-yarder. Right off the bat I saw the direction it (the 45-yarder) was going and knew it was going to be good.

"There has been a tremendous difference in kickoffs. I used to hate them. Now I'm doing a pretty consistent and putting them into the end zone a lot. I moved my plant foot out and that's helped. Last year I was too close to the ball."

Pacheco said he's been punting his whole life. His brother, Chris Barredo (former Nevada player) taught him everything about kicking a ball. And now, deArrieta, a former player at Notre Dame, mentors him.

Pacheco gets excited about kicking, but he may be excited as much about starting at weak inside middle linebacker in front of Bryce Altus. Pacheco, who was a reserve outside linebacker in summer practices, got his first taste at the inside spot last week against Douglas. Roman said he's been working there ever since the Del Campo game.

"I think I got 25 plays," Pacheco said of last week's defensive effort against Douglas. "Coach (Shane) Quilling said I had between 15 and 20 good plays. I'm really excited. I've been wanting to play defense. I like defense more than offense because you get to go out and hit people."

"I think he feels more comfortable inside," Roman said. "He's very athletic."

Pacheco is Carson's second-leading receiver with 12 catches for 131 yards. He has been spelling Jon Parker at wingback, and Roman said he's still in the mix on offense, but may not play as much there because he's playing linebacker.

"Coach told me that I needed to be more physical; to put people on their backs," Pacheco said. "Jon is much more physical."

Roman agreed only partially with Pacheco's assessment.

"He has to be more consistent," Roman said. "I've seen some plays where he dominates his guy."