CHS hosts Calaveras for football home opener

Carson High football opened its season with one of the toughest foes on its docket this fall, losing to Sutter, 54-7, last Friday.

This Friday, the Senators will welcome Calaveras High School to town. The Senators took down the Redhawks, 14-0, last season.

“They’re going to be kind of like just what we saw a lot of in Sutter,” said Carson High coach Ryan Boshard. “They are a wing, fly team … dive. We are going to have to be prepared to step it up.”

Boshard wasn’t shy about his expectations for Friday.

“It’s a huge game for us. We have to get the winning mentality back in this program,” said Boshard. “This team is a little different. They never once got down on themselves or turned on each other. That is a major positive.”

Tailback tandem

Angelo Macias and Christian Rey may not have truly been able to flex their talent in the opener, but Boshard raved about those two members of his backfield group.

Rey, who put together 14 yards on six carries, is in a unique position this fall.

“He’s a defensive lineman,” said Boshard. “For him to flip over and pick up running back as well and as fast as he did, that’s a surprise. It’s kind of unprecedented really for his stature and what he is on the d-line.”

With the physicality already wrapped into line play, Rey, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, isn’t afraid to stick his shoulder into anyone.

What maybe impresses his head coach the most is his ability to be called upon in multiple offensive sets, not just heavy packages.

The same goes for Macias.

“They really put their head down and gained some tough yards in a crazy game for us,” Boshard said. “To me, he (Macias) was the biggest surprise offensively (Saturday).”

Macias didn’t get a full spring or summer camp with the team due to having to work.

“He was really down on our depth chart and now he’s up there in our 1A spot,” Boshard said. “The nice thing is, he is so novice at running back, whatever we give him to do, he just does.”

Macias muscled his way to 21 yards on six carries Saturday.

The Senators will rely on other backs, including Johnathan Alvarado, JT Heaton and Ethan Hendee, this fall.

On defense, Heaton led the Senators in tackles Saturday and was credited with half a tackle for loss.

Other notes

Kincaid Gill, who left the game in the middle of the second quarter due to injury, is considered “hopeful” for Friday.

He was the only injury from the opener that may carry over into week two.

Jake Weninger, who returned a kickoff 90 yards for Carson’s lone score Saturday, will continue to have a big role in the Senators’ special teams.

“We are looking for a lot from Jake and Ethan back there at the returner spot,” said Boshard. “They have some explosiveness and nice vision to find holes.”