Caron Elijah Fajayan runs against McQueen in the Senators win Friday night.
RENO — Elijah Fajayan got Carson High started in the right direction when he returned the opening kick-off 64 yards, leading to a quick score.
He also gained 66 yards and scored twice on the ground to help spark the Senators to an easy 59-14 win over McQueen Friday night at Ken Dalton Field.
Fajayan took the kick on his own 14 and brought it all the way back to the McQueen 22. Two plays later, Joe Nelson threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Asa Carter, and the Senators were on their way.
“That was huge,” said assistant coach Vic Castro, who is Carson’s special teams coordinator. “It was a great way to start the game.”
“We have put in a new kick return,” Fajayan said. “It worked pretty good last week against Reed. Tonight, I just took it up the middle and got great blocking. “
Head coach Blair Roman said the return “jacked the sidelines up.”
Castro hits paydirt
Vic Castro V, son of assistant coach Vic Castro, scored his first varsity touchdowns against the Lancers.
Castro scored on runs of 22 and 4 yards, respectively. He finished the game with 38 yards on five carries.
It was the second straight week a son of a coach scored a TD. Against Reed, Jake Roman caught a fourth-quarter scoring pass.
“I had like a 40-yarder against Manogue taken away last year because of a blocking in the back penalty,” said the CHS senior. “I knew I wasn’t going to get a lot of touches, so I had to take advantage of the ones I got.”
His dad was a happy camper after the game.
“I didn’t see either one,” the elder Castro said. “I was busy on the sidelines doing something.
“I’m happy he got the opportunity to play (carry the ball) and do something with it.”
No Tschetter
Carson played without inside linebacker Justin Tschetter.
Earlier in the week, Roman indicated he thought the situation had been ironed out, but apparently it hasn’t.
Max DeMar filled in for Tschetter, and he was part of a stingy defense that held the Lancers to just 168 yards total offense unofficially.
Injury update
Bryceton Schilling injured an ankle on the second snap from scrimmage and never returned.
Defensive back Caulin Bartley had a Charley horse that hampered his play in the first half.
He came out for the second half in street clothes.
Ian Schulz missed the game with an ankle sprain and he said he wasn’t sure when he would be back.