Sheldon Miller (55) tries to get by Douglas offensive lineman Tahomah Smokey Thursday night at the Jim Frank Track and Field Complex.
Injuries essentially killed Carson High’s hopes of getting back to the regional championship game for a fourth straight year.
The first was before the season when wingback Greg Wallace suffered a torn meniscus. Strictly an offensive player as a junior, Wallace had been penciled in as a starting cornerback this season.
Next came perhaps the most devastating injury. Quarterback Jace Keema suffered a season-ending lisfranc injury to his foot in the win over Bishop Manogue. It was the second straight season Carson had its quarterback injured at Manogue. Joe Nelson injured his knee there in the 2015 season, though he did come back and play despite ligament damage.
Carson lost perhaps its best offensive lineman when Bryceton Schilling suffered a dislocated kneecap, sidelining him from further action this season.
Next man up is a term many coaches, especially in the pro and college ranks use. It really doesn’t often apply in the high school ranks because many teams don’t have a lot of depth at certain positions.
“Bryceton was a big part of our offense,” Sheldon Miller said of Schilling’s injury.
MILLER ON DEFENSE: Sheldon Miller played nearly the entire game on defense, as coach Blair Roman felt it would help the Senators curtail Douglas’ inside running game.
“I felt I had a good game,” Miller said. “It was just like last year (playing defense).”
Because of the injury to Schilling, coach Blair Roman said Miller would have to start both ways against Reno next week in the first round of the playoffs.
TIERNEY STARTS: Sophomore Chandler Tierney started in Miller’s spot on the offensive line and did pretty well considering it was his first start. It’s unsure of whether he will start at tackle or guard next week with Schilling sidelined.
“I thought he did a good job,” line coach Vic Castro said. “He’s a sophomore, and while there was more bad than good, he was willing to compete. It was a little trial by error.”
“I felt confident,” Tierney said. “I just have to fix some little things. I thought I did pretty well.”
Tierney, who started at guard, said he was more comfortable at tackle.
STREAK ALIVE: Abel Carter’s streak of 100-yard games has now hit nine. The 203-yard effort was his second of the season. He had 295 in the season-opening win over Desert Mountain. He took some hard hits, as the Tigers focused on stopping him.
Douglas coach Ernie Monfiletto said stopping Carter was containing Carter.
The Tigers didn’t really succeed on that one, but they didn’t turn the ball over and controlled the football.
Both of Carter’s scores gave Carson leads. His 25-yarder in the first quarter gave the Senators a 7-6 lead, and his 28-yarder to start the second half made it 17-13.
GAMBLES WORKED: Douglas went 3-for-3 on fourth-down attempts. The first led to its first TD on the opening drive of the game, and two came on the Tigers’ first possession of the second half and led to a field goal, which started the comeback.