Junior Midgets win 23rd in a row

The Carson City Junior Midget Senators opened the 2007 season by defeating the North Tahoe Rams 38-6.

The Rams kept it close in the first half holding the Senators to only 6 points on a play that saw Dylan Sawyers score from 35 yards out.

"They did a good job to keep us in check the first half," head coach and offensive coordinator Leonard Lee said. "We made some adjustments at halftime and it proved to be the right thing to do."

The Senators offensive line consisting of Keegan Aiazzi, John Borges, Levi Carter, Bryce Collings, Alex Crathers, Nick Garcia, Rafe King, Jacob Myers, Logan Peternell and Joe Zinda took over in teh second half.

Austin Pacheco opened the scoring in the second half after he took the handoff from quarterback Chance Quilling and galloped 33 yards to score Carson's second touchdown. Quilling would later connect with Colby Blueberg, Crathers, Gabriel Pongasi and eventually Sawyers, who had a 32-yard reception to score Carson's third touchdown. Pacheco was 4-for- 4 on PATs.

Carson's defense, not to be out done by the offense also scored two touchdowns. Quilling would have two interceptions in the game, returning both for touchdowns. Helping Quilling defensively were Blueberg, Borges, Patrick Craugh, Garcia, Devon Harrill, Patrick Hesse, King, Myers, Carter Nuckles, Pacheco, Peternell, Pongasi, Sawyers, and Zinda.

Carson's defense would also have three more takeaways. Myers and Peternell each had a fumble recovery while Pacheco had an interception.

"I'm pretty proud of the way our defense played," said Steve Sawyers, Carson's defensive coordinator. "We really only had one big mistake which allowed the Rams to score. Other than that, we played pretty solid defense for the first game."

Over the last three years on different levels, this is the Senators' 23rd straight win in Nevada without a loss for this nucleus of players. Carson will next host the Reno Ravens at noon, Saturday at Governor's Field No. 6.