Nevada Appeal: Cardiac Carson football bests Reno in overtime

Cardiac Carson football bests Reno in overtime

The Carson High School football team is developing a flair for the dramatic.

For the second time in three weeks, the Senators went to overtime in search of a win.

Both times, they’ve found that ‘W’ as Cesar Pacheco hit a 27-yard field goal in overtime to clinch a 30-27 win over Reno Friday night on the home turf.

It marks Carson’s first win over the Huskies in the last decade. The last time the Senators downed the Huskies was 2015.

“We’ve been playing so much good ball,” said Pacheco. “This is the best team and I love it. I would never pick another team over this one. These guys are my family and my friends. This means everything to me.”

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

Pacheco allowed the Senators to go home happy after hitting the game-winner in overtime, but the junior also forced the extra period after hitting a 35-yard field goal as time expired in regulation.

Reno took the lead, 27-24, with 2:32 to play in the fourth quarter, having scored 14 unanswered points.

Carson got possession back with 2:18 remaining and in need of at least three points to keep the game alive.

The Senators committed two false starts on their final drive of the fourth quarter, but took advantage of two 15-yard Reno penalties in the process.

A roughing the passer call gave the Senators a fresh set of downs at their own 36.

Carson quarterback Tyler Silsby hit Riley Loff for a 10-yard completion on 2nd-and-14 to give the Senators a third-and-manageable.

On the next play, Zack Eaton fought through a double team and hauled in a first-down reception and earned Carson an extra 15 yards, battling through a horse collar tackle.

“I was just thinking we got to win this game and I needed to hang onto it. Silsby put a great ball in the perfect spot and (I) held onto it,” said Eaton. “I think the whole team worked really hard to get here.”

The catch and the penalty gave Carson the ball just outside of the red zone and the Senators used a pair of runs to line up the 35-yard field goal try to get to the extra period.

“I was just worried about the wind in the beginning. Toward the end there was no wind and I know I had to get the dub for us,” said Pacheco.

Reno got the ball first in overtime, but turned it over on downs after Senator defensive back Cruz Gonzalez broke up a fourth down pass in the end zone.

With the ball, the Senators took another false start and fumbled a snap on third down, but all they needed was Pacheco to come through one more time.

He did just that.

The junior kicker had hit from 43 yards out in the first half, but also had a miss, too.

However, Nelms said he didn’t sense any anxiety from his kicker in the latter stages of the game.

“He didn’t seem all that nervous. I think he gets more nervous at practice when I stand on the back side of him and I'm watching him,” said Nelms. “He missed one earlier, said he forgot to check the wind, but said he’d get it fixed and he followed through.”

OTHER BIG PLAYS

There were several big plays outside of the overtime period that led to the Senators’ win.

In the first quarter, Carson defensive back Matthew Manley broke up a fourth down play in the end zone to force a Reno turnover on downs.

Justin Gonzalez and Johnathan Alvarado both had a rushing touchdown each for Carson in the win.

Eaton also made a nice catch on a fade route in the far corner of the end zone late in the first half for six, giving Carson a 17-7 that the Senators took into halftime.

Reno’s quick strike offense knotted the game back up in the fourth quarter, adding just a little extra stress on the Senators’ first-year head coach.

“It’s kind of becoming a theme this year. You know, I’m getting more gray hairs,” joked Nelms. “Adversity struck today hard in a lot of spots. … It comes down to players making plays and I think this was big for us moving forward.”

The Senators also won the turnover battle, which has continued to be a key for them this season.

“We took care of the ball and we moved it. Some big third down conversions. … A lot of little things,” said Nelms.

UP NEXT: Carson (5-4, 3-1 in Class 4A North league play) will be back at home Thursday to take on Wooster (1-8, 1-3) at 7 p.m. It will mark the Senators’ Senior Night.

Article: Carter Eckl
Image: Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.