Nevada Appeal: Senator football stuns Douglas

Article by: Carter Eckl
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.

Carson High School football went into Friday’s rivalry contest with Douglas as the underdogs.

It wasn’t a slight against the Senators, but rather a hat tip to the results the Tigers had put up in the last few weeks.

The Senators didn’t let that change anything, battling to a 21-14 win in overtime thanks to some late-game heroics.

In overtime, quarterback Tyler Silsby found Zack Eaton for a 6-yard touchdown to take the lead, 21-14, but Douglas got the ball last.

However, the Senator defense – which had limited the Tigers all evening – stripped the ball at the goal line, courtesy of Cruz Gonzalez, and Ean Thomas jumped on the loose ball to seal the win.

Gonzalez has been a turnover machine for Carson on defense. The senior had three interceptions in the Senators’ first four games before tacking on a game-winning forced fumble Friday night.

THE STRIDES TO VICTORY

The Silsby-to-Eaton connection didn’t only link up in overtime.

On the first Senator offensive possession of the third quarter, trailing 7-0, Carson got great field position after a long kickoff return from Justin Gonzalez.

With first-and-10 on Douglas’ 25, Carson went backward, but a pair of Tiger penalties gave the Senators a fresh set of downs.

Silsby made the Tigers pay, finding Zack Eaton in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

The Senator defense forced a turnover on downs and allowed the offense to go back to work.

Carson’s next possession spanned 73 yards and five-and-a-half minutes of clock as the Senators methodically worked their way down the field.

Again, Douglas penalties gave Carson new chances after some negative plays, but the drive ended with an 11-yard run for six from Johnathan Alvarado.

Alvarado broke through a handful of tackles on his way to pay dirt.

Douglas answered the score to tie the contest at 14-all with 10:19 to go in the fourth quarter.

Nobody scored in the final 10 minutes of regulation before overtime saw the Senators get the upper hand.

It was an impressive performance from Silsby, who says he’s been grinding at the position since summer ball.

Carson has tried a few different options at quarterback this season, but Silsby managed the game well Friday night and played every rep.

“We’ve been working together for four years since we were freshmen,” said Silsby of Eaton. “Ever since I got the chance to play quarterback, he’s been open. He gets every 50-50 ball.”

On the other side of the ball, the Senator defense limited Douglas running back Zack Jackson to two touchdowns just seven days after he scored five times against Bishop Manogue.

“I am so proud of how the kids played. … They’re a great team (Douglas),” said Nelms. “Zack Jackson is an animal. Our kids trusted that process, we bought in and we can play. I think we showed that tonight.”

Nelms felt the week of preparation – and maybe some of the insight gained after serving on the Tiger staff – was a large part of the win.

“We have to have the buy-in. We have to trust the process and the scheme for the week. I thought you saw the kids do that to a tee today. We didn’t have any turnovers. We ran the ball hard,” said Nelms. “Some of the same scheme helps. Kids did a great job of watching film. Coach H (Darin Heredia) did an excellent job with the game plan and the scheme.”

With 3:15 to play in the fourth quarter, Douglas got the ball and had a chance to score the go-ahead points in the contest.

A tipped pass turned into a Carson interception as Nick Alvarado made a diving pick around midfield.

The turnover allowed Carson to force overtime and down Douglas for the first time since 2022.