Special teams deliver for Senators in win over Galena

When Carson High's Colby Blueberg is old and gray, he'll be telling his grandkids about his Senior Night football game.

Blueberg, who probably has benefited the most by Dylan Sawyers' hip injury, ran for 106 yards and a score, and also intercepted a pass to set up another score in the Senators' 34-12 win over Galena Friday night.

Carson improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in league. The Senators go after a perfect regular season at 7 p.m. Thursday at Reno High. Galena drops to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in league.

"It will be a good memory," said Blueberg after recording the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. "We all miss Dylan, and now I'm learning what he goes throw carrying the ball and getting dinged up. The coaches put me in there, so I get to run the ball more."

"At the start of the year, I knew we had depth at running back and Colby wasn't playing a whole lot," said coach Blair Roman. "He's taken advantage of his chances."

Blueberg had a 30-yard scoring run wiped out in the first quarter, but his 32-yard scoring run wiped out a 9-7 Galena lead and gave the Senators the lead for good.

Overall though, it wasn't a great night for the Carson offense. The Senators did rack up 335 yards of total offense, but twice started drives inside the Galena 20 and had to kick field goals which is never a good thing. Carson also was penalized 73 yards thanks to five holding penalties.

"I guess (it was Senior Night blahs),'' Roman said. "I'm still proud of the win. We did not play with the same intensity that we have. Some of the credit goes to Galena because they came to play tonight. As coaches we strive for perfection, but we left points on the field tonight. We have to clean things up a bit before next week."

One area that Carson doesn't have to clean up is its special teams. Carson blocked two punts and Austin Pacheco kicked two more field goals. Pacheco is 9-for-11 in field goals this year. He also had four touchbacks on kickoffs thanks to a nice breeze. Carson also capitalized on a bad punt snap which caused the Grizzlies to lose 17 yards.

"Special teams was the big difference," Roman said.

Carson's first score was set up by the aforementioned bad snap. By the time the Grizzlies fell on the ball it was on their 30.

Blueberg scored on the first play, but it was wiped out by a holding penalty which put the ball at the Grizzlies' 22. Parker gained 10 yards down to the 12, and after an incomplete pass, Parker carried two straight times. The last carry was a 3-yard scoring run. Pacheco's PAT made it 7-0 with 6:58 remaining in the first.

Galena bounced right back with its best drive of the night, going from its own 35 to the Carson 10. Eric Johnson, who caught two passes for 33 yards on the drive, kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 7-3.

The Grizzlies scored early in the second quarter when Trey Jensen's pass was tipped by a Galena defensive lineman and grabbed by Christian Perez at the 10 and returned for a score to give the Grizzlies their only lead of the game at 9-7 with 9:29 left in the half.

The Grizzlies tried a squib kick which Carson covered at its own 42. The Senators went to a quick-hitting attack with Connor Beattie and quickly moved the ball down to the Grizzlies' 32. Blueberg then scored on a sweep as Carson went ahead for good.

"It was the same play as the one I scored on earlier that got called back," Blueberg said. "One guy tried to dive at me and I just jumped over him."

Galena failed to get a first down on its next drive, and Carson's Parker roared through and blocked the kick. A Galena player picked it up, but was unable to advance it far enough for a first down.

"They were in a rugby formation," Parker said. "That's where they roll out a little bit and kick the ball. I got through the crease and just stuck my arm up."

Carson took over at the Galena 18, and actually lost nine yards thanks to a 10-yard holding penalty and a 5-yard loss on a screen pass. Pacheco came on to kick a 45-yard field goal to make it 17-9 with 4:22 to play in the half.

Galena failed to get a first down on the ensuing drive, and the Senators had another short field to work with, starting at their own 47.

Blueberg gained 21 yards for a first down at tBy Darrell Moody

dmoody@nevadaappeal.com

When Carson High's Colby Blueberg is old and gray, he'll be telling his grandkids about his Senior Night football game.

Blueberg, who probably has benefited the most by Dylan Sawyers' hip injury, ran for 106 yards and a score, and also intercepted a pass to set up another score in the Senators' 34-12 win over Galena Friday night.

Carson improved to 8-0 overall and 7-0 in league. The Senators go after a perfect regular season at 7 p.m. Thursday at Reno High. Galena drops to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in league.

"It will be a good memory," said Blueberg after recording the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. "We all miss Dylan, and now I'm learning what he goes throw carrying the ball and getting dinged up. The coaches put me in there, so I get to run the ball more."

"At the start of the year, I knew we had depth at running back and Colby wasn't playing a whole lot," said coach Blair Roman. "He's taken advantage of his chances."

Blueberg had a 30-yard scoring run wiped out in the first quarter, but his 32-yard scoring run wiped out a 9-7 Galena lead and gave the Senators the lead for good.

Overall though, it wasn't a great night for the Carson offense. The Senators did rack up 335 yards of total offense, but twice started drives inside the Galena 20 and had to kick field goals which is never a good thing. Carson also was penalized 73 yards thanks to five holding penalties.

"I guess (it was Senior Night blahs),'' Roman said. "I'm still proud of the win. We did not play with the same intensity that we have. Some of the credit goes to Galena because they came to play tonight. As coaches we strive for perfection, but we left points on the field tonight. We have to clean things up a bit before next week."

One area that Carson doesn't have to clean up is its special teams. Carson blocked two punts and Austin Pacheco kicked two more field goals. Pacheco is 9-for-11 in field goals this year. He also had four touchbacks on kickoffs thanks to a nice breeze. Carson also capitalized on a bad punt snap which caused the Grizzlies to lose 17 yards.

"Special teams was the big difference," Roman said.

Carson's first score was set up by the aforementioned bad snap. By the time the Grizzlies fell on the ball it was on their 30.

Blueberg scored on the first play, but it was wiped out by a holding penalty which put the ball at the Grizzlies' 22. Parker gained 10 yards down to the 12, and after an incomplete pass, Parker carried two straight times. The last carry was a 3-yard scoring run. Pacheco's PAT made it 7-0 with 6:58 remaining in the first.

Galena bounced right back with its best drive of the night, going from its own 35 to the Carson 10. Eric Johnson, who caught two passes for 33 yards on the drive, kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 7-3.

The Grizzlies scored early in the second quarter when Trey Jensen's pass was tipped by a Galena defensive lineman and grabbed by Christian Perez at the 10 and returned for a score to give the Grizzlies their only lead of the game at 9-7 with 9:29 left in the half.

The Grizzlies tried a squib kick which Carson covered at its own 42. The Senators went to a quick-hitting attack with Connor Beattie and quickly moved the ball down to the Grizzlies' 32. Blueberg then scored on a sweep as Carson went ahead for good.

"It was the same play as the one I scored on earlier that got called back," Blueberg said. "One guy tried to dive at me and I just jumped over him."

Galena failed to get a first down on its next drive, and Carson's Parker roared through and blocked the kick. A Galena player picked it up, but was unable to advance it far enough for a first down.

"They were in a rugby formation," Parker said. "That's where they roll out a little bit and kick the ball. I got through the crease and just stuck my arm up."

Carson took over at the Galena 18, and actually lost nine yards thanks to a 10-yard holding penalty and a 5-yard loss on a screen pass. Pacheco came on to kick a 45-yard field goal to make it 17-9 with 4:22 to play in the half.

Galena failed to get a first down on the ensuing drive, and the Senators had another short field to work with, starting at their own 47.

Blueberg gained 21 yards for a first down at the Galena 34, and then Beattie ripped off a 14-yarder to the 20. Two plays after a holding penalty pushed the ball to the 32, Jensen found Gabe Pongasi on a post pattern for a TD. Pacheco's PAT made it 24-9 with 1:03 left in the half.

Carson's defense, led by Parker, Bryce Altus, Tyler Collins, Chance Quilling, Blueberg, Mike Bolanos and Pacheco allowed only another field goal in the second half.

"We started off sluggish before we picked it up," Parker said. "Our defensive line dominated their offensive front."

Unofficially, Galena ran for just 91 yards on 32 carries.

"We've been struggling offensively," Galena coach Steve Struzyk said. "It's tough with the youth that we have. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. We missed a couple of wide-open passes early in the second half.

"We're taking baby steps, but we're getting better."

he Galena 34, and then Beattie ripped off a 14-yarder to the 20. Two plays after a holding penalty pushed the ball to the 32, Jensen found Gabe Pongasi on a post pattern for a TD. Pacheco's PAT made it 24-9 with 1:03 left in the half.

Carson's defense, led by Parker, Bryce Altus, Tyler Collins, Chance Quilling, Blueberg, Mike Bolanos and Pacheco allowed only another field goal in the second half.

"We started off sluggish before we picked it up," Parker said. "Our defensive line dominated their offensive front."

Unofficially, Galena ran for just 91 yards on 32 carries.

"We've been struggling offensively," Galena coach Steve Struzyk said. "It's tough with the youth that we have. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. We missed a couple of wide-open passes early in the second half.

"We're taking baby steps, but we're getting better."