Carson High senior Parker Story tries to work his way out of an arm tackle during special teams’ drills at practice last week. Story is expected to be the Senators’ Swiss Army knife this season, according to head coach Ryan Boshard.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Carson High football may have a new head coach on the sideline, but that doesn’t necessarily mean fans should expect a whole new brand of football.
Head coach Ryan Boshard doesn’t mind spreading the ball out on offense, but Carson’s identity will remain similar as a run first team.
Offensive looks will be based out of 10 personnel and a heavy-set package with changes to a more wide look should the opportunities arise throughout the season.
Boshard isn’t pulling punches with his expectations in his first season, either.
“My expectations are to have an over .500 record. It’s going to be a tough league season, but I firmly believe if we get our boys over that .500 mark and get ourselves into the playoffs and … into the middle, we have a great chance of coming in there and making a decent run in the playoffs,” Boshard said.
The team’s makeup has the newest Senator varsity head coach encourage for kickoff come Friday against Sutter High School (CA).
“I feel very fortunate to get what I got as a head coach and the talent I have coming back,” said Boshard. “The young group that is stepping up, I feel very fortunate and very excited about this season.”
Carson opens the campaign with three out of league contests against Sutter, Calaveras (CA) and Basic High School.
As rearing to go as the Senators may be, there are still some positional battles getting worked out.
That starts nowhere else but quarterback as both Chris Guerrero and DC Quintana have both shown the ability to be the guy behind center for Carson.
The decision on who will start Friday in the season opener has yet to be determined, but Boshard says the decision should come by the end of Wednesday’s practice.
“They both bring so many things to the table cause they are different,” said Boshard. “DC is so relatively new to the QB spot, that his learning curve and watching him progress in such a short time window has been humbling to a head coach. Chris has never started a varsity game, but he has been our scout team quarterback.”
Both contenders for the position will have options to play both ways as Quintana was an honorable mention all-region player last season at defensive back.
Though the quarterback depth chart is still shaking out, the rest of the offense will feature weapons that either play-caller can use.
In the backfield will be two horses in Parker Story and Marcus Montes.
Story returns after an honorable mention selection at wideout as a junior and Montes comes off a first-team Class 3A selection after transferring in from Lowry High School.
“He (Montes) is a dynamic type runner. We’re really excited about what he brings to our table,” said Boshard. “That allows Parker to be our Taysom Hill, … or our Swiss Army knife.”
Getting those two the ball as much as possible will be crucial to the Senators’ success this season.
Story will lineup at wideout as well alongside seniors Lucas Gonzalez and Isaac Avina. Quintana could also be an impactful piece at wide receiver if Guerrero takes over as the starting quarterback.
From left to right, the offensive line will be made up of 6-foot-4 junior Dawson Herbert, Nate McKee, Franco Munoz, Logan Harvey and Sam Richetta.
Munoz will be the center for Carson, but Boshard isn’t sure just yet if he will be able to play in the season opener this Friday.
The senior was an honorable mention lineman in Class 5A last year while Richetta returns after a similar honor on the defensive side of the ball at tackle.
“It’s a learning curve for those guys, but this is probably one of the more athletic lines I’ve seen,” said Boshard.
Defensive alignment
Carson’s base defense this season will be a 4-2-5, giving the Senators five defensive backs to match opponent’s offensive formations.
Looking at the starting 11 from the inside out, the defensive line will be anchored by Herbert and Richetta in the middle.
At the defensive end position, Boshard said the Senators will feature a rotation of players, including Sean Finn, who the Senators’ anticipate to be a starter after holding down the position last season.
The linebackers will have some shoes to fill after the departure of Class 5A North Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Heaton.
Alex Myrehn will be the middle linebacker for the Senators after Boshard called him, ‘a great surprise for us in the scrimmage.’
Avina, who was a first-team all region defensive back last season, will drop back to free safety to show off his athletic abilities.
Story will be in the defensive secondary as well, but is expected to be both a drop down safety into the box as well as a ball hawk in the secondary.
(Carson High kicker Isaac Avina returns this season after being named a first-team all-region player at both kicker and defensive back last season / Carter Eckl)
Boshard didn’t consider moving his first team all-region kicker out of that role, especially after nailing a game-winning field goal against Douglas last season as the clock expired.
Avina is also penciled in as the team’s punter, making him the feature player on special teams for the Senators when it comes to changing field position.
Boshard said he’s excited with the number of players who want to be back on kick return, including the likes of Story, Montes and sophomore Ethan Hendee.
Looking around the coaching ranks
Boshard, much like his predecessor Blair Roman, will serve as the offensive coordinator.
Scott Witter will serve as the receivers’ coach and co-pass game coordinator alongside JP Albert, who will also serve as the quarterbacks’ coach.
Rod Estrada will be the Senators’ offensive line coach and offensive run coordinator.
On the defensive side of the ball, Bob Batemen will serve on another Senator regime as the defensive coordinator.
Justin Barlow, who has been the defensive line coach in previous years’, has moved back to the team’s linebacker coach.
Jake Myers comes up from the junior varsity coaching staff to run the defensive line.
Schedule
8/19 – v. Sutter
8/26 – at Calaveras (CA)
9/2 – v. Basic
9/9 – at Galena
9/16 – v. Reed
9/23 – at McQueen
9/30 – v. Spanish Springs
10/6 – at Bishop Manogue
10/14 – v. Douglas
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