Carson High's Javier Arellano Barrios (2) and Salvador Mora-Rodriguez (10) tackles Bishop Manogue's Michael Schneider Friday night in a football contest at Carson High.
Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage
The chill in the air could have easily sucked the life out of a Carson High football team that knew what kind of test stood on the other side of the field.
The Senators, despite falling 42-0 Friday night against the defending regional champions in Northern Nevada in Bishop Manogue, stayed loud throughout the evening and had a few flashes of brilliance.
“I could not be prouder with how this team responded this week,” said Carson head coach Blair Roman. “We played a hell of a team. We went toe-to-toe in a lot of ways. We had some huge positive steps forward tonight. I could not be happier with where we are going into next week.”
For Carson High football, it was their first chance at playing at home in 16 months.
It was also the first game Roman got to coach under the light after losing his son, Jake, last year.
The energy of the sideline never dulled Friday evening, even as the sun dropped behind the Sierras.
‘We will see you guys next year,’ shouted Roman after he and Miner head coach Ernie Howren parted ways at midfield postgame before meeting his players at the Senators' south end zone.
Coming together
After falling behind 14-0, the Senators went three-and-out, but got a quality roll on the ensuing punt leaving Bishop Manogue on its own 14.
After a first down run by the Miners, Ben Heaton popped a Bishop Manogue runner trying to go up the middle.
Carson pushed the Miners to fourth-and-5 and sniffed out a fake punt, resulting in the Senators getting possession in Bishop Manogue territory.
Quarterback Vinnie Ferretti and the Carson offense got the ball down to the 24, but a screen pass on fourth down that didn't get to the sticks stalled the drive.
Ferretti had several rollout completions on the night, finishing the contest 8-of-11 with 83 yards through the air. Ferretti’s favorite target, DeCarlo Quintana, pulled down seven of those eight completions.
Though the Senator offense couldn’t find pay dirt against a stout Miner defense, Carson was able to move the ball, adding 80 more yards on the ground.
Out of the halftime intermission, Carson put together a nine-play drive that covered nearly half the field.
Even trailing 42-0 the Senators resorted to some trickery, but a dropped pass kept Carson from potentially putting together its biggest play of the night.
Along with the emotions of a tumultuous offseason, Roman also confirmed that coordinators Steve Dilley and Steven Nelms resigned at the start of the week.
It left Carson in a difficult situation, but as practice went on throughout the week, the head coach felt better heading into Friday’s kickoff.
A brisk night back on the football field was a cap to it all.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a senior class like this, that is so selfless and motivated to help us build something for next year,” Roman said. “The score was 42-0 and rarely do you come out of a game like that happy as a head coach, but I am.”
UP NEXT: Carson (0-2) will travel to Galena (0-3) as both programs aim for their first wins of the season.
Other area scores
Spanish Springs 48, Reno 7
McQueen 35, Galena 0
Sparks 53, Hug 0
Douglas at Damonte Ranch (Sat. 4 p.m.)
