Carson's Seamus Burns gets taken down by Galena'sTravis Bohall and Jered Spotted Bear in the first half Friday night at Galena High School.
RENO — Carson football coach Blair Roman likes his football team these days.
“The team is getting better,” he said after Friday’s 34-0 whitewashing of Galena, which spoiled the Grizzlies’ Homecoming. “At this point of the season, you’re either getting worse or better, and I think we’re getting better. We’re headed in the right direction.”
Carson has won four straight since a 28-27 loss to Spanish Springs, the defense has posted back-to-back shutouts for just the second time in Roman’s tenure as head coach, and the offense has posted back-to-back 400-yard efforts.
It was certainly a nice way to go into the bye week, and Carson is one win away or one Douglas loss away from an outright Sierra League title and up to two home playoff games.
Carson will host a first-round playoff game on Nov. 14 against either the third or fourth-place team from the High Desert League.
Nelson goes to 2-0
Quarterback Joe Nelson improved to 2-0 as a starter.
The junior signal-caller completed 10 of 17 passes for 102 yards. His longest completion was a 32-yarder to Dilyn Rooker, which set up Carson’s second score, a 3-yard run by Colby Brown.
Nelson didn’t have an interception, but he did throw behind or miss receivers badly on a couple of attempts.
Burns in, out, in, out
It was an up and down game for fullback Seamus Burns.
Burns, who missed several games to start the season with a lacerated liver, injured his knee early in the second period after a 2-yard gain. Just moments before he’d delivered a crushing pancake block to spring Asa Carter for a 9-yard gain.
Burns did return and gained 28 yards on five carries. He did have to be helped off the field late in the game with what looked like a knee injury.
“I think it’s the meniscus,” Burns said. “I’ll be OK.”
The first time he came off the field it was from a twisted knee.
Snap issues
Kicker Johnny Barahona had to kick what was essentially a 30-yard PAT after the Senators were whistled for two penalties.
Coach Blair Roman was so upset he pulled normal long snapper Jake Guthrie and went with back-up Adam Domitrovich on the second attempt, and that’s when Carson was penalized again.
Spreading it around
Nelson used four different receivers — Rooker, Connor Pradere, Colby Brown and Ian Schulz — on his 10 completions.
Rooker had a season-best four receptions for 59 yards.
Pradere had three grabs for 14 yards, but had a costly turnover in the second half when he tried to lateral the bal to a teammate despite being wrapped up by Galena defenders.