What a difference just over two months can make.
On Friday at 7 p.m., it'll be exactly nine weeks since the Carson High football team opened its season with a 52-7 loss to McQueen, 63 days since the Lancers scored on their first five possessions of the game, and 1,512 hours since McQueen took a 45-0 lead after Chris Carr danced for his third touchdown of the game with 10:06 left in the third quarter.
"That game with McQueen wasn't a real reflection of the kind of football team we are," Carson coach Bob Bateman said. "We're a much improved football team and I'm sure they are too."
The Senators get to show McQueen just how much they've improved when the two teams meet in tonight's first round 4A playoff game.
Carson (5-4, 2-3) responded to that Lancer loss with a 21-0 win over Galena the following week. In a roller coaster of a season, the Senators have shown flashes of brilliance on offense and have struggled at times. In a 21-18 loss to South Tahoe, Carson hung with the high powered Viking offense. Then on Homecoming the following week, the Senators got manhandled by Hug 3-0 as Carson was shut out for the first time all season. With a win against the Hawks, the Senators would've dodged McQueen and traveled to Elko in the first round.
"But I've always told the kids that if you want to be where you want at the end of the season, you eventually have to play McQueen at some point," Bateman said.
The Lancers (9-0, 5-0) have only given up three touchdowns since the Carson game and two of those came the following week in the Lancers 31-14 win over Wooster. This season, they've outscored their opponents 403-28, a ridiculous number.
"Would we have to play a perfect game to beat them?"Bateman asked. "I don't know but we'd have to play awfully well, without a doubt."
Playing well against McQueen entails several variables. No turnovers. Contain Carr, as he's impossible to stop. And score points.
In that first game, turnovers weren't an issue but special teams were. Two first quarter Senator punts went 7- and 9-yards, giving the Lancers first and 10 from inside the Carson 20. They scored on both possessions and also on their next two as the Senators were down 31-0 before they even got a first down.
"We just have to take it quarter by quarter and hope to have an opportunity in the second half," Bateman said.
Carr has rushed for 1,173 yards this season and on average, scores a touchdown about once every five times he touches the ball, another ridiculous number.
"A lot of people are saying that Chris Carr is one of the best backs to ever come out of Northern Nevada," Bateman said. "And I wouldn't argue with that."
"Carr is so quick and he makes guys miss," said Josh Carter, who also plays linebacker. 'We're going to try and keep him between the ends and inside the tackles."
"We're going to have to contain him," said Doug Brooks, who also plays cornerback. "We're a lot more concerned about the run than the pass."
The last thing is that Carson must score points, a daunting task considering the Lancers have only given up one touchdown in their last seven games.
"Our goal is to score three touchdowns in any game," Carter said. "It's not going to be easy against McQueen but we've had good practices this week, so we'll see."
