Carson running back Colby Brown (21) runs one up the gut in a win over Reno Friday night at CHS.
Bring on Reed.
To a player, the Senators are happy to be playing the Raiders in next Saturday’s regional final at Bishop Manogue. It’s the second time in four years the teams will meet in a regional final/state semifinal contest. The winner of the game advances to the state title game on Dec. 6 at noon at Damonte Ranch.
Not since 1960 has Carson won a regional title, and the Senators won a 2A state title in 1964. They want that pennant to hang in Morse Burley Gymnasium again.
“We’re happy to be playing Reed,” said running back/defensive back Asa Carter.
“We want to get revenge for last year when they beat us in the regional finals (47-39). We’ve been targeting them all year.”
Captain Nolan Shine believes Carson is in great shape to upend the Raiders.
“At every running back spot we have guys that can score,” he said. “We have Joe (Nelson) who can sling it around the field. Our offense has played well.”
So has the defense, and it will take another great effort to contain Reed’s multi-faceted attack.
A thin unit
Carson’s defensive line is shrinking in numbers.
Both Cameron Radtke and Jonathan Davalos missed Friday’s game with injuries. Radtke could return, but Davalos said he was out for the season.
Davalos was injured during practice this week.
Jesse Medina tweaked his ankle in the second half, and with a 35-0 lead, he wasn’t allowed to play the rest of the game.
That left sophomores Will Lee and Sheldon Miller to do a lot of the heavy lifting. Miller did a half-sack, his second tackle for loss in as many games.
Trick play
Every week coach Blair Roman brings out a gadget or trick play, and Friday was no exception.
He called a fake punt on a fourth-and-2 situation, and Colby Brown got the first down.
As the teams lined up, assistant coach Vic Castro could tell the play would work by the way Reno was lined up.
Early arrival
Reno was on the field at 5 p.m. going through some walkthroughs. Unfortunately for the Huskies it didn’t seem to help, because except for their scoring drive, their offense didn’t do a whole lot.
Forcing turnovers
Ikela Lewis has a nose for the ball, and his first-period caused fumble set the tone for the game and led to Carson’s first score.