Carson puts in Wildcat with Sawyers at quarterback

RENO - Dylan Sawyers has lined up in a lot of different positions this year, and he added another one to the list on Saturday.

Sawyers lined up at quarterback several times and ran the ball out of that formation during the game as Carson went to the "Wildcat" for the first time this season.

"That was brand new," said Sawyers, who finished with 88 yards on 30 carries in the 49-0 state semifinal loss to Reed Saturday at Mackay Stadium. "We just put it in this week. It worked well at times then they started shutting it down."

When asked about it, Carson coach Blair Roman just shrugged.

"We didn't score," Roman said. "It didn't work."

SNAPPING AN ISSUE

For the second straight week, Carson had problems executing the snap from center. There were a total of five bad snaps in the first half, including one that resulted in a 14-yard loss and landed back at the Carson 6-yard line.

Sophomore Aaron Cowee came on again in the second half and did a better job of getting the ball back to quarterback Matt Nolan.

Carson did manage one positive play on a low snap and that came when Dylan Sawyers gained 10 yards on a first-and-15 play.

PUNT COVERAGE

Carson had issues with punt coverage, as David Hibler had three good returns. He had a 20-yarder which went for naught, an 18-yard return that set up Reed's sixth score and a 37-yard return that set up the Raiders' last score.

Hibler did cough up the ball once when he ran into a teammate, but Carson was unable to capitalize on the ensuing drive.

INJURY BOTHERS QUILLING

Chance Quilling, one of Carson's top defenders and the second-best running back behind Sawyers played despite a painful thigh/hip injury suffered last week. Quilling carried just two times for seven yards and had one catch for 19 yards.

What would a healthy Quilling have meant to the Carson defense?

BY THE NUMBERS

It's no secret that Carson thrives on its running game, but Reed was effective against it, allowing just 2.4 yards a carry... Carson racked up a 10-2 record for the second time in three seasons under Roman ... Matt Nolan was pressured throughout the game and threw two interceptions, bringing his season total to five, four of which came in the playoffs. One of the interceptions appeared to go off the foot of either Sawyers or defender Spencer Stockton. Nolan went 11 for 24 and still finished the season with a very respectable 66 percent completion percentage.

SO LONG SENIORS

Roman bid farewell to 24 seniors - Sawyers, Cole Dufresne, Brock Pradere, Austin Pacheco, Chance Quilling, Clint Page, Kyle Hendee, Cory Zacha, Patrick Hesse, Logan Krupp, Skyler Guimont, Mike Walters, Jordan Siembida, Patrick Cooke, Tommy Carasella, Brayan Burgos, Nico Garcia, Jacob Myers, Keith Collier, Logan Peternell, Aaron Spurlock, Justin Stevens, Jeremy Vernon and Cayze Velez - after Saturday's defeat.