Nevada Appeal: 2026 Carson football outlook

Carson football outlook: ‘The foundation is built'
By Carter Eckl
Photo by Carter Eckl.
https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2026/aug/06/carson-football-outlook-the-foundation-is-built/

Carson High School football put up a winning season last fall (6-5) in its first year with Steven Nelms in charge of the Senators.

And with their 4-1 clip in 4A league play, the royal blue and white showed they could play like a different team by the end of the season.

That’s the plan once again for Nelms and company as the second year gets into full swing.

“We are ahead of the point we were last year, scheme-wise. The foundation is built, it is not so brand new this year,” Nelms said this week. “It’s going to sound cliché to last year, but (comparing) August and October, hopefully we don’t look the same.”




FINDING THE PIECES ON OFFENSE

It might be the second year for the head coach, but there are plenty of new pieces in place for Carson this fall.

That begins at quarterback where junior Dylan Loff is the presumptive starter after coming up from the JV ranks for a few reps last season.

“Loff’s had a really good offseason. It’s pretty impressive the amount of growth a kid can have, playing varsity, even if they don’t get a lot of playing time,” Nelms said.

Loff was voted as one of the team’s captains, a distinction chosen by his teammates. Matthew Manley, Elijah Larry and Eli Gonzalez will accompany Loff as the Senators’ captains this season.

Larry will be the backup for Carson at quarterback, but Richie Gonzalez and Logan Tierney are also getting reps under center.

While quarterback is always everyone’s biggest question in the offseason, the Senators will have a whole new look at running back this year.

Carson ran for 1,889 yards last year, but 95 percent of that production came from a senior.

With the Senators’ historical reliance on the running game, Nelms is figuring out exactly which ways he can stack his backfield.

Eli Gonzalez carried the ball seven times for 58 yards last season and has been a part of a four-person committee that also includes Robert Newton, Andre DeLeon and Jack Hindman.

“We are having a really competitive camp,” said Nelms. “Each of them has strengths and weaknesses. … We’ve got some talent; we’ve just got to see what clicks.”
It’ll be a similar story out wide.

Through the first days of August, Nelms was still assessing the tight end position. Aiden Montes and Alejandro Garcia have both been getting looks on the end of the line. Dylan Alizaga has been getting reps at tight end and on the offensive line, too.

Nicolas Alvarado has been featured at tight end at times in camp, as has Landon Gafford.

The wide receiver spots will also offer opportunities to earn playing time.



ON THE LINE

Johnny Avina will return to the Carson offensive line at the center position. He picked up an honorable mention all-region selection last year.

Seniors Canyon Frantz and Joseph Martinez will be at opposing guard positions. Frantz was a second-team all-region pick, while Martinez was named honorable mention.

Cesar Pacheco will be a new face at tackle, as will Carlos Harris.

“We have a lot of if-this, then-that, and we move and flop and adjust,” said Nelms. “Sometimes a guy’s playing left tackle and then he’s going to right guard.”
FAMILIAR NAMES ON DEFENSE

The defensive side returns several key pieces from a year ago.

Nicholas Alvarado, who led the Senators in tackles with 95, is back off a first-team all-region season as a junior.

Alvarado will anchor the linebacking core from an outside spot, with Gafford and Logan McKenna both returning to the group. Kamden Borini and Montes also could get looks.

First team all-region defensive back Manley will be a staple; he was second on the team in tackles with 89.

Cruz Gonzales will be back in the secondary after registering four interceptions and a second-team all-region selection as a junior. Newton, Hindman and Milo Haney are a few other names to watch for.

Rudy Sheeketski will play nose for Carson with Larry at the end position on the defensive line. Alizaga is another name that will be in the mix at end.

“A lot of plug and play. A lot of who is playing well with each other and who is not,” said Nelms. “As the kids start to learn how each other play, that’s always a big factor.”

On special teams, Larry was a first team all-region punter last year and will start the season with the punting responsibility. Pacheco will double as Carson’s kicker after earning a second-team all-region nod at the position.



REGION OUTLOOK

Carson’s schedule will feature its earliest meeting with Douglas in more than 30 years as the state’s oldest continuous rivalry is set for Sept. 11 in Carson. It is one of four consecutive home games for the Senators to begin the season.

The 4A North is mostly the same as it was a year ago, but Galena drops down from 5A in place of McQueen. Outside of the Grizzlies, Carson will tangle with Hug, North Valleys, Reno and Wooster in league play this fall.

If Carson can get going in its intended direction in October, the Senators could be looking at a potential regional title chase.



SENATORS' SCHEDULE

Aug. 14: vs. Dayton, 7 p.m.

Aug. 22: vs. Spanish Springs, 7 p.m.

Aug. 28: vs. Damonte Ranch, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11: vs. Douglas, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18: at Reed, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25: vs. North Valleys, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 2: at Hug, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 16: vs. Galena, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 23: at Reno, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 29: at Wooster, 7 p.m.*

* — 4A North game