Carson High’s JT Heaton (24) wraps up a Douglas ball carrier during The Rivalry Game last season. Heaton and the Senators are looking to reclaim the game’s huge trophy after losing last year in Minden.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
Carson High’s School’s 3-1 start has quickly shifted the attitude around the program.
It’s the best start to a season since 2012 for the royal blue and white, which hosts a Douglas High School team this Friday night that is boasting an identical record.
It’s the first time in 15 years that the two squads are set to tangle when both sides are above .500.
Even with two programs trending upward, the stakes aren’t raised from years past.
This rivalry runs deeper than win-loss record.
“I don’t think there is going to be any more hype than there has ever been,” said Carson High School head coach Ryan Boshard. “It’s just The Rivalry and it’s always going to be a lively one.”
This Friday will be the 101st anniversary of the first time the two programs played each other. I won’t, however, count in any league standings — Douglas plays one division up from Carson in the Northern Region’s 5A class.
TIGER TAKEAWAYS
Douglas brings a lot of similarities to the table.
Both programs have become known for their power running games and this meeting will be no different.
Fans should expect both teams to try to establish the running gaps with hopes of getting the other defense to over-commit, leading to the occasional strike over the top.
“They’re not a whole lot different than we are. They are a gap power scheme, so we are both going to be angling to stop the same thing,” said Boshard.
Defensively, the Tigers feature several of the same players that spectators will see on the offensive side of the ball, including Zack Jackson (No. 22), Brenton Weston (No. 13), Evan Youmans (17) and Nathan Priou (No. 3).
Braden Lenz (No. 80) and Ayden Orr (No. 44) lead the Tigers in tackles through three games.
“Their two middle backers are always good. … They seem to always have two good guys right in the middle of their defense,” said Boshard.
Of course, Jackson has been a force on the ground at times, too, this season.
“Another running back, brother from last year, he’s good,” Boshard said. “Then 13 (Weston), he is a player at that receiver, slot position.
Weston has roughly half of Douglas’ receiving yards through its first four games.
RUN THE ROCK
While Douglas’ offense exploded for 56 points in a win over North Valleys last Friday, Carson was running all over McQueen to the tune of 361 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
It marks the most rushing yards in a single game for the Senators since Nov. 3, 2017, when they ran for 519 against Douglas in a 59-28 win.
Christian Rey and Angelo Macias have been the two-headed monster in the backfield for Carson, running for 227 and 219 yards, respectively.
Of course, after last Friday’s win over McQueen, Boshard was quick to point out that Carson hasn’t had an opportunity yet to truly showcase its passing attack.
If the Senators can convince the Tiger defense to creep up Friday, Carson might look to utilize an air attack for quick strikes.