Carson High's Jake Weninger crosses into the end zone on one of his two touchdowns Friday night, during the Senators' 16-14 loss to Damonte Ranch. Weninger returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown and scored again on a 47-yard reception.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
It seems more than likely Carson and Damonte Ranch will meet up again in the Class 5A North Div. III regional playoffs, but that didn’t dial back any of the intensity between the two sides Thursday night.
Damonte Ranch edged out the Senators, 16-14, thanks to a 30-yard field goal with 3:15 to go in regulation.
The loss means the Senators will be the No. 3 seed in the Class 5A North Div. III playoffs and open up at home next Friday (Nov. 1) against No. 6 Hug.
Kickoff for that contest is still ‘to be determined’ on the NIAA website.
Trailing 13-0, Carson got a shot in the arm right out of the halftime intermission.
The Senator offense wouldn’t even step on the field as Jake Weninger returned the second half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, marking his second touchdown return on a kickoff in as many weeks.
It is Weninger’s fifth kickoff return for a touchdown in the last two seasons.
Early in the fourth quarter Carson went in front 14-13 after Drake Hardcastle found Weninger over the top of the Mustang defense for a 47-yard passing touchdown.
“When they are stuffing the run like they were doing, we had to turn to something that works,” said Carson High head coach Ryan Boshard of the Senator passing attack.
The difference in Thursday night’s game was the special teams play.
In the third quarter Carson missed a pair of field goals from 38 and 44 yards out.
With 3:15 to go in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs hit a 30-yarder to go in front before a defensive interception for Damonte Ranch allowed the Mustangs to run out the clock.
“The two field goals made a huge difference. That’s the game right there,” said Boshard.
In the moments after the loss, the sting for the Senators’ was obvious.
Boshard said the team voted to turnaround and watch film Friday morning.
Carson closes out the regular season with a 6-4 overall record, marking the program’s first winning season (and winningest season) since 2015.
They’ll be plenty of time to reflect on the Senators’ accomplishments at a later date.
“I really don’t want to put it into perspective right now,” said Boshard. “I want these kids to stew on this a little bit, take the loss and go get hungry.”
(The Class 5A North Div. III regional football playoff bracket. / Courtesy NIAA)
AREA SCORES
Bishop Manogue 48, Douglas 24
Damonte Ranch 16, Carson 14
North Valleys 40, Hug 7
Galena 47, Wooster 0
Reno at McQueen, Friday
Reed at Spanish Springs, Friday