FALLON — Carson High football coach Blair Roman got his first look at his team Friday, and he came away with favorable impressions.
Unofficially, Carson scored six times and gave up five scores. Three of the CHS touchdowns came from Abel Carter, who looks ready to pick up where he left off last year when he gained 1,887 yards on the ground. Unofficially, he gained 109 yards rushing Friday.
“Overall, I’m pleased,” Roman said after scrimmaging against Spanish Springs, Fallon and Reno. “The offense moved the ball consistently well, and there were some bright spots at running back (Tucker Nichols and Zach Glanzmann).
“Defensively, I thought we flew to the ball well. Our linebackers and defensive backs have good speed. We need to find more depth to back up Jon Acosta and Chandler Tierney.”
Roman said the bright spot was the first offensive line’s ability to recognize and execute against two totally different fronts put up by Spanish Springs and then Fallon.
“The ability to recognize and attack is big, especially when you have a new line,” Roman said. The Senators have new faces in Carl Cavner and Clayton Greene, joining Brandon Macias, Blaise Bonomo and Dallin Shaffer.
Carson’s first-team offense only went against Spanish Springs and Fallon. Because Reno and Carson play each other Sept. 1 at Carson, both coaches agreed to play second or third-teamers on each side of the ball.
Against Spanish Springs, Carson scored on its first two possessions. Carter scored on a 20-yard run, and Nichols showed great speed in turning the corner and scoring from the 28.
The Cougars also put up two scores against Carson, the first coming on a fourth-down play when a Carson defender took a bad angle to the ball carrier and paid the price. The second score was a 32-yard run.
Carter dominated against Fallon with TD runs of 13 and 40 yards, respectively.
Chance Smith scored on a 4-yard run against the Greenwave, and Bryson Keller reached the end zone against Reno on a 5-yard run, one of his two carries in the two-hour scrimmage.
Daniel Morrison played the bulk of the scrimmage because Blake Menzel was ill and didn’t make the trip. Terin Keller played the two possessions against Reno. Menzel is expected to play against Lewiston next week in the season-opener at Idaho State. Unofficially, Morrison completed three passes in five attempts.
“We didn’t throw the ball a ton, but I’m happy with what Daniel did,” Roman said. “On that interception, he needed to put more air in the ball.”
Dawson Lamb had a fumble recovery, while Vinnie Hershman and Jesse Case had sacks. Darryll Heyward almost had an interception. Heyward and Sherman Smith were impressive in coming up from the secondary on running plays.