Carson High senior Jacob Drahos rushes the passer during Friday's game against North Valleys.
After coming off the bench all of last season, Jacob Drahos is making the most of his time at defensive end.
From the outset of Friday’s 45-7 win over North Valleys, Drahos was a force. He made the first two tackles of the game, and unofficially ended with a season-best six stops.
“I’m just working hard and doing the best I can,” Drahos said after the Senators’ second straight blowout win. “My game is definitely better than it was last year. I feel like I’ve learned a lot in terms of the mental and physical aspect of the game. I worked hard (in the off-season).”
“He played a very good game,” said defensive line coach Vic Castro. “He did exactly what we wanted him to. He held the edge very well. He showed a Brady Rivera-like toughness out there tonight.”
Castro pointed out in Carson’s defensive scheme Drahos was playing on the same side as the tight end and wingback, and on certain plays he has to take on both players, and he did that successfully.
Drahos’ efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by his teammates and head coach Blair Roman. “He’s worked hard; even gone to personal trainers,” linebacker Ikela Lewis said. “He is trying to have the best senior year he can have. He played well tonight.”
“I’m happy with the way he has stepped up,” Roman said. “Every year we have a guy step up that maybe has been a program guy (before that) and works real hard to have a great senior season. Jacob epitomizes that.”
MASH UNIT
Eight players — Elijah Fajayan, Bryceton Schilling, Ian Schulz, Carlos Pacheco, Eddie Duarte, Austin Lawrence, Caulin Bartley and Nick Andreas — were held out of the game because of injuries.
Fajayan said he expects to return against Spanish Springs next week, and Schulz actually suited up but didn’t play, so he’s maybe close to coming back.
And, to make matters worse, Tyler Huling left the game in the first quarter. Long snapper Adam Domitrovich didn’t play in the second half because of a shoulder injury.
MILLER, WILLIAMS RETURN
Defensive tackle Sheldon Miller and defensive back Mathias Williams returned to action after serving two-game suspensions, and both made some nice contributions.
Miller was part of a defensive front that limited North Valleys to 111 yards on 39 rushing attempts, and Williams saved a potential TD when he punched the ball out of the grasp of Anthony Friend, who was inside the Carson 5 when the ball came loose and was recovered by a CHS player in the end zone for a touchback.
POTPOURRI
Johnny Barahona kicked a field goal for the second straight game, hitting from 32 yards in the second half ... Sophomore Abel Carter cracked the century mark in rushing yardage (108) for the second consecutive week... Five Carson rushers (Asa Carter, Abel Carter, Greg Wallace, Joe Nelson and Vic Castro) all averaged more than 10 yards per carry on Friday ... The starting defense was tough for the second straight week ... Tyler Lethcoe had his first varsity sack in the fourth quarter.