Carson High quarterback Jace Keema scored three touchdowns against Spanish Springs Friday night. He also returned kicks and played a majority of the game on defense.
Carson High showed off its 1-2 punch at quarterback Friday night.
Joe Nelson went 8-for-14 passing for 136 yards and two scores, and Jace Keema scored three rushing touchdowns in the Senators’ 49-34 first-round playoff win at the Jim Frank Track & Field Complex.
Nelson missed six of his first nine attempts, but finished strong with five straight completions, including a 61-yarder to Asa Carter.
“I thought Joe threw the ball very well,” Carson coach Blair Roman said. “I thought there were a couple of plays that could have been defensive holding, but that’s the way it goes.
“The 1-2 punch Jace and Joe worked well. We’ll use that the rest of the season. We were going to use it last week against Douglas, but we broke so many long runs off. Jace is tough inside the red zone.”
Nelson had scoring passes of 61 yards to Carter and 22 to Connor Pradere.
“I like playing in the cold,” Nelson said. “I had a good warm-up. I have good receivers, I was just trying to get them the ball.
“He (Keema) is just a beast. He’s a good runner.”
Keema is kind of a relief pitcher; a change-of-pace guy. “It’s always been in their mindset (to play me in short-yardage situations),” Keema said. “I have a little more bulk than Joe.”
EXPECTED MATCH-UP
Next week’s game against Reno is what most experts predicted. The Huskies knocked off Damonte, 41-26.
“Ever since Reno lost to Reed, everybody anticipated this game,” Roman said. “It’s going to be a great battle.”
Reno and Carson represent two of the best running attacks in Northern Nevada.
POTPOURRI
Connor Chech (hip) and Mathias Williams (concussion) missed the contest. Both are expected back for the Reno game next Friday... Abel Carter finished with 124 yards on 14 carries, his fifth game of 100 yards or more ... Asa Carter and Ikela Lewis had fumble recoveries ... Spanish Springs’ first two scores both came on fourth-down plays, and both from the slippery Travis Vargas...Carson’s secondary had some breakdowns, one of which led to a second half touchdown...Tyler Huling, who has been hampered by injuries, carried four times for 15 yards.