Carson quarterback Drake Hardcastle turns to throw a screen pass against North Valleys two weeks ago. Carson and North Valleys will meet to open the Class 5A Division III postseason Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
Of course, Carson High School football was always going to start the postseason with a rematch against another league opponent from Class 5A Division. III.
The Senators host Thursday’s night game and will welcome the North Valleys Panthers back into town for their second meeting in three weeks.
The first meeting went down to the wire as the Senators mounted a comeback from an 18-3 deficit to beat the Panthers, 25-24, in overtime.
Carson opens the postseason as the No. 4 seed while North Valleys takes the No. 5 slot.
Thursday’s kickoff time has been changed from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m.
The winner will travel to No. 1 Douglas to take on the Tigers in the regional semifinals Friday, Nov. 3.
Thursday’s game will be the Senators’ first home playoff game since 2015.
NEW WRINKLES
Both sides will have implemented new wrinkles to keep the other off balance.
Carson turned to its passing attack last week against Douglas for a season-high 121 yards after only throwing for six total yards against North Valleys.
Senior tight end Justin Moore reeled in three catches for 53 yards against Douglas, while Ethan Hendee caught four passes for 56 yards.
Last week’s nine pass completions set a team-high for the season, showing that the Senators can turn to the air in a pinch.
However, the Panthers have shown to be more susceptible to the ground attack. In their first meeting, as Carson ran for 159 yards on the back of Christian Rey’s 121-yard, one-touchdown performance.
In recent games, the Senators have used Jake Weninger to help stretch the field from side to side, capitalizing on his speed.
Weninger did not get a carry in the first meeting against North Valleys, but did record a game-saving, chase-down tackle that allowed the Senators to get the ball back and force OT.
However, last week Carson gave the junior four carries that worked out for 14 yards against a tough Douglas defense.
SLOWING THE PANTHERS
On the other side of the ball, North Valleys out together its best offensive output of the season against Carson in their first meeting, totaling 339 yards.
Carson will have to prioritize stopping the run after the Panthers mustered 211 yards on the ground in their first meeting. Last Friday, Douglas rushed for 377 yards.
Getting a push up front will be critical to slowing the Panther rushing attack.
However, the Senators won’t be able to totally stack the box as Panther quarterback Mikole Almond was 9-for-14 with 128 yards and two scores through the air in their first meeting.
His one turnover went to Isaiah Hurlbert, who intercepted Almond on a deep pass play after dropping into zone coverage.
Special teams become even more pivotal in the postseason.
Carson has shown confidence in its field goal kickers to trot them out on some deeper kicks this season.
Drake Hardcastle has shown his ability to flip the field with his leg, averaging 36.3 yards per boot as Carson’s punter.