Carson wraps up with spring training game

Carson High's football team wrapped up its six-day spring football session with its annual spring intrasquad game.

Coach Blair Roman practiced three days a week each of the last two weeks. Under NIAA rules, the practices are non-padded.

"We had good numbers every day," said Roman, who guided the Senators to their third straight league title last year. "We set a good foundation. The thing I've enjoyed most was the enthusiasm. I think the success (three championships) the last three years had a lot to do with that."

The biggest question mark for the Senators on the offensive side of the ball is trying to replace Dylan Sawyers, who was the most dominant offensive player in Northern Nevada the last three years with his ability to score from anywhere on the field.

Jacob McClelland, who suffered an injury last year early in the season, returns at fullback. Joey Thurman, Sean Roble and Andrew Gutierrez return for another season. Thurman has the most experience of the trio. Casey Wolfe and Logan Krupp will be trying to fill the shoes of he talented two-sport star Brock Pradere.

"We're going to have to see who is going to step up to be playmakers," Roman said. "We had a lot of seniors starting at the skill positions."

It will be interesting to see who Roman starts at quarterback. Matt Nolan started all but one game last year, while strong-armed Garrett Schafer come up from the JV team. Both, along with Nolan Shine, saw action at quarterback during the 7-on-7 varsity matchups. Schafer complete 12 of 26 unofficially for 131 yards, while Nolan was 8-for-15 passing for 99 yards. Shine went 3-for-5 for 31 yards.

Roman admitted that he would prefer to enter the season with just one guy under center. He's not a fan of the two-platoon system.

The veteran coach said having just one guy helps in terms of leadership.

"We know what Matt can do," Roman said. "The second thing is that if Garrett continues to improve we know we have the ability to move Matt and feature him in other positions like we did with Chance (Quilling) last year."

Nolan is the more athletic of the two quarterbacks because of his ability to make plays with his feet. Schafer may have the stronger arm. Nolan could play wide receiver or wingback in Carson's offense.

Roman has sieven layers up front who made some starts on the offensive line last year - linemen Aaron Cowee, Levi Carter, Jose Victor, Joe Zinda and Jordan Woodward plus tight end Luke Maher.

"That's the strength of our team," Roman said. "Five of our six guys back. All have good size and they are strong in the weightroom."

The defense is another story. Quilling and Logan Peternell, two of the team's top defenders, are both graduating. The only players with any starting experience are Maher, Sage Smith, Logan Krupp and Cody Cunningham, a late-season JV call-up, who started in the regional finals against Reed.

It means that there will be a lot of competition for jobs when summer camp gets under way in August, and it also means that more players than ever before could be playing both ways.

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Roman said that he will again take his team to the camp at South Lake Tahoe July 13-15.

"It's the fourth year we've gone," Roman said. "It's a super camp for us. The price is good and it's close. You get to do some hitting, but it's controlled. It's not like some of the camps that you'll see on college campuses."

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The annual Carson High football dinner is scheduled for Aug. 11 in Arlington Square, located across the street from the Nugget at 3rd and Curry streets. The Carson Nugget is hosting the event this year.