DAYTON - Dayton High's football team has its collective back to the wall for the last five weeks of the season.
The Dust Devils are 1-3, and have to win out or win four of the next five to have a shot at the post-season. Three of the teams currently above Dayton in the standings - Lowry, Truckee and Fallon - have all beaten the Dust Devils.
That's the situation facing the Dust Devils when they host South Tahoe tonight at 7 in the annual homecoming game.
"We pretty much have to win out," second-year head coach Rob Turner said. "The firt four games were pretty tough on us, and we ended up 1-3. I expected to be 2-2."
After South Tahoe, Carson has Wooster, Elko, Sparks and Fernley. Turner believes the rest of the games, including South Tahoe, are winnable.
"I thought the first four were all winnable," said Turner, whose team has been hurt by fumbles and penalties. "You just can't turn the ball over like we have."
Turner said that the Vikings present a different challenge to his defense. In a run-first league, South Tahoe will throw it, and throw it often. He said that it's imperative his secondary keeps the receivers in front of them, limit yards after catch.
"They have twin sets with one back," Turner said. "It's going to be tough on our defense because of the passing situations. Their quarterback (John Cefalu) can throw it, and their receivers can haul them in.
"We have to disguise what we're doing defensively. We have to pressure the quarterback, and makle the pre-snap read as tough as possible. We have to force him into bad decisions."
Brandon Cramer and Kyle Moreno are Cefalu's top targets, and Kyante Wilson is a dangerous kick returner.
Turner said the Vikings have been playing a 4-4 defense, which gave Dayton problems in the first half of last year's game.
"We made some adjustments and opened it up in the second half," Turner said.
jake Turner is expected to start at quarterback. Turner missed one game because of a concussion, and ws slated to play at Lowry. However, in the latter stages of last Thursday's practice, a teammate stepped on his ankle forcing him to miss his second straight game.
VOLLEYBALL
Yerington sweeps Dayton
DAYTON - Yerington swept the Dust Devils 25-23, 25-20 and 25-17 Thursday night, dropping Dayton to 18-5 overall and 4-2 in Division IA play.
Madison Foley led Dayton with 16 kills and 12 digs, while Alyse Fletcher had six digs and 11 assists with Pach Coon dishing out 13 assists, serving four aces and registering four digs. Ashley Vickers finished with eight kills and three digs, while Taryn Schriner had four digs.
Kassidy Lommor had seven kills and 10 digs for the Lions.
CROSS COUNTRY
Elissa, Breithaupt shine
FERNLEY - Dayton placed three runners in the top 11 en rute to a fourth-place fish at the IA race Thursday afternoon.
North Tahoe took the top three slots followed by Aaron Elissa (18:27), Skyler Rose 10th in 19:29 and Joe Law 11th in 19:42. Nick Langstaff was 30th in 21:15 and Philip Hevener was 38th in 21:41.
"I was impressed with the guys," coach Shawn Anderson said. "I couldn't ask for anything more from them. They are consistently beating last year's times."
Katrina Breithaupt won the girls' race in 21:29. Hanna Eliaa was under the weather and was 35th in 29:20.
TENNIS
Carson boys win 13-5
The Senators swept the first round en route to a 13-5 win over visiting Fallon Thursday afternoon.
Josh Breen went 3-0 in singles, loing just six games. Aaron Woodbury and Jake Jones each went 2-1.
Nick Forbes and Spenser Pringle went 3-0. losing just eight games in the process. Jace Zampirro and Trevor Sollbrger and Casey Reid and Mathew Boggs ech went 2-1.
Carson will send two sngles players and two doubles players to the upcoming regional event Oct. 10 at Galena.
Carson girls close with loss
FALLON - Katy Breeding (17-7 on the year) was the bright spot by winning all three of her singles sets without dropping a game.
Lizzie Flansberg won 6-2,6-0, while Krista Stocke and Ellise McGowan win their last 2 matches 6-0 and 6-4. Greta Sturm and Amanda Breen pulled out a third-round win 6-3.
Carson finished 2-8.