Carson High quarterback Drake Hardcastle (4) hands off to running back Shane Robinson (2) while Ean Thomas (27) looks to lead the blocking. The Senators open their season Saturday at home against Canyon Springs.
Photo by Thomas Ranson.
Carson High School football has its work cut out again this fall, looking to find a rhythm in non-league play to carry the Senators into the league season with some confidence.
Once again, the Senators have scheduled a tough non-league slate in hopes of being fully prepared to succeed in the Northern Region’s 5A-Division III this fall.
The Senators’ roster will be heavy in upperclassmen, with 29 juniors and 20-plus seniors.
Ryan Boshard returns as head coach for his third year in charge of the Senators after posting records of 3-8 (2023) and 2-9 in his first two seasons.
“It’s a lot of adjustment being a head coach for the first time and having a philosophy you want to run,” Boshard said on the Behind the Bench podcast last week. “As a third-year head coach, I would say my philosophy hasn’t changed, but has been restructured.”
Six home games will be a benefit for Carson this season, including three in a row at home in September against McQueen, Douglas and then the first divisional contest against Hug.
“It’s definitely an advantage to get these kids playing on the home turf,” Boshard said. “This team is hungry. They are so coachable, they want to learn and they want to succeed.”
OFFENSIVE STRENGTHS
Boshard says Senator fans shouldn’t expect to see any surprises when it comes to offensive style this fall.
Carson will be run-dependent first and foremost with hopes of capitalizing on some speed on the edges to break off big plays through the air when necessary.
The Senators have a plethora of options in the backfield, several of whom return from a year ago.
Christian Rey led the team in rushing with 520 yards and four touchdowns as a junior and was a second team All-Region selection. Alongside Rey will be Angelo Macias, who had 354 yards and a score, as well as Justin Gonzalez, Johnathan Alvarado and potentially a few others.
Returning at quarterback will be Drake Hardcastle, who threw for 215 yards with a touchdown.
It’s not a job that is set in stone, however.
“Right now, Drake Hardcastle has the slight edge followed by Nicholas Heald,” Boshard said.
Out at wide receiver, the Senators will feature Ethan Hendee, Jake Weninger and Angel Ruelas Lepe.
Weninger was a second-team All-Region player at defensive back and return specialist after taking three kickoffs back for touchdowns.
Starting in the trenches will be Joseph Madera at left tackle, Sergio Villaneuva at left guard, Ayden Krueger at center, Adam Avina at right guard and Aaron Linehan at right tackle.
DEFENSIVE APPROACH
Carson will welcome back defensive coordinator Justin Barlow and will feature a similar 3-3 stack look that the Senators have run the last two seasons.
Bob Bateman will be back on the sideline as a defensive backs coach.
On the defensive line, Boshard says the Senator fans might see a bit of rotation.
Darron Rey will be one name Carson expects to see consistently on the D-line while Christian Rey, Julian Tibbitts, Brody Eck, Heald, Madera and Daniel Rivera are other names that will be mixed in.
At linebacker, Johnathan Alvarado, Ean Thomas, Charles Orr, Gonzalez and Hendee will be some of the players Senator fans can expect to see.
Aaron Witt and Weninger will be the Senators’ two staples at corner along with Kekoa Mitchell.
In the secondary, Shane Robinson will see time at safety along with Tyler Silsby and Cruz Gonzales, who is the only sophomore on the squad to start the season.
SEASON KICKOFF
Carson will need to be ready for Canyon Springs to open the season Saturday.
The Pioneers, who will travel up from Las Vegas, went 9-2 last season and made it to the Class 4A Mountain League final before falling one game short of a state-title berth.
Canyon Springs’ quarterback and leading rusher were both juniors last season and only two of the Pioneers’ top six leading tacklers were seniors last fall.
“It’s going to be interesting having the first game on a Saturday, in the afternoon before school starts,” said Boshard. “Canyon Springs is definitely a good team. They are going to have speed. … Hope we do well enough and limit our mistakes and hope we come out on top.”
SCHEDULE
Aug. 17: vs. Canyon Springs, 1 p.m.
Aug. 23: at Spring Creek, 7 p.m.
Aug. 31: at Highland (Idaho), 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 6: vs. McQueen, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13: vs. Douglas, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20: vs. Hug, 7 p.m.*
Sept. 27: at Wooster, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 4: vs. Galena, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 18: at North Valleys, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 24: vs. Damonte Ranch, 7 p.m.*
* —5A-Division III game
(Jake Weninger breaks loose on a return against Hug last fall. Weninger returned three kicks for scores last season and the explosive playmaker will be a big part of any Senator success this fall. Carter Eckl / Nevada Appeal)