Brady Rivera scores against Galena in a scrimmage at Manogue HS Saturday.
RENO — Carson football coach Blair Roman went into Saturday’s scrimmage against Bishop Manogue and Galena looking to see what his team could or couldn’t execute offensively, and he came away happy especially the way his first-team offense performed.
The Senators scored three straight times against Manogue to open the festivities, and added two more later on.
New QB Nolan Shine was impressive, throwing for 109 yards and a score, a 43-yarder to tight end Brady Rivera. Colby Brown, returning after a knee injury that sidelined him his entire junior season, carried seven times for 43 yards and two scores, and he caught two passes for 22 yards. Connor Pradere had two TD catches from reserve QB Joe Nelson for 33 yards. Asa Carter had three carries for 43 yards. Ikela Lewis had an interception on a tipped ball, which was the defensive highlight of the day.
“I wanted to see what we could execute, and I felt like we were able to execute everything,” Roman said. “That was a real positive. The energy level for the first game was pretty good.
“I thought Nolan was outstanding. He threw the ball accurately on time and to the right receiver. Colby looked really good. I’m pleased by what I saw out of the entire backfield. I felt the group (Shine, Brown, Carter and Elijah Fajayan) played pretty darn good.”
Shine engineered two six-play scoring drives against the Miners that ended in Brown TD runs, and then he teamed with Nelson on the third scoring drive which ended with Nelson throwing a 23-yard scoring pass to Pradere.
“I thought I threw the ball well,” said Shine, who threw just one pass last year in a reserve role behind Garrett Schafer. “I missed a couple of passes. Overall, today was a success for us.”
Carson’s defense, which returned just two starters, gave up four scores. Three of those came against Galena and Manogue scored once.
“We have a lot of new faces and a lot to learn,” Roman said. “The effort was there. We have the pieces to be a good defense. It’s a matter of having time to jell.
“The glaring thing that needs to be addressed is the receivers getting behind our defensive backs when the quarterback scrambles or rolls out. That’s something that can’t happen. It’s a discipline issue.”
Turner upbeat after scrimmage
DAYTON — The Dust Devils, who host Lovelock in their opener next Friday at 7 p.m. hosted a three-way scrimmage with Fernley and Yerington Saturday morning.
“I thought we did pretty good,” Dayton coach Rob Turner said. “It was a good scrimmage. The situational stuff I set up worked out really well.”
Turner had teams start at their own 30, the opponent’s 12, the opponent’s 2 and then offense had to start from their own 1. It certainly gave coaches a glimpse of both offenses and defenses in certain situations.
“We got a really good idea where we’re at, and we know what to work on,” Turner said. “I think we’re ahead offensively and defensively. We threw a lot at the kids this summer. The offensive line has to work at finishing their blocks and not stopping at the point of contact. Our goal line offense, we scored on four of the five snaps. That’s power football, and we’re not that big. Jerry Stone has taken over coaching of the offensive line, and he’s done a god job. The offensive line is showing improvement.”
Reserve quarterback Shea Brewer threw a TD pass. Given the situational aspect of the scrimmage, Turner didn’t pay much attention to stats.
An area Turner wants to see improved on before Friday is tackling.
“Tackling wasn’t good,” Turner said. “We were blitzing a lot, and the linebackers would go right through the hole and past the play (runner). They were going helter skelter. We were always there (around the ball). We need to make the plays.”