MINDEN - On paper, nothing separated the undefeated Douglas and Carson
freshmen football teams. Not much separated them on the field before the
Tigers pulled out a 36-28 victory in a season-ending showdown that came right down to the wire before an estimated crowd of 800 at Keith Roman Field.
Andy McIntosh caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Rippee with 2:46 remaining to break a 28-28 tie and then McIntosh came up with an interception to preserve a win that capped off the Tigers' perfect 9-0 season. The Senators, who finished at 8-1, fought back from a 22-7 deficit in the second half to make it close at the end.
Michael Handley caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Dittenber as Carson cut the gap to 22-13 with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.
After Curtis Tsuyosh's interception, Dittenber threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Nick Shine to make it 22-20.
Douglas only needed three plays to extend its lead. Dusty Cooper ran 24
yards, then Patrick Hughes caught a pass and powered through three defenders for a 27-yard touchdown. Shine, who was a force from his inside linebacker position all night, blocked the PAT attempt to keep the Douglas lead at 28-20.
Carson came right back as Ryan Sarkissian returned the kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Dittenber's pass to Shine for the two-point conversion tied
the score 28-28 with 7:46 left to play.
Douglas answered with its nine-play, 64-yard drive. Rippee completed a
15-yard pass to Jake Peterson to the 20, then on third-and-5 from the 15,
Rippee found McIntosh open over the middle for the touchdown. The Tigers
faked the PAT kick and Brandon Huff's pass was caught by McIntosh for two
points.
Handley returned the kickoff 37 yards for Carson, but the last-ditch drive
ended when McIntosh picked off a deflected pass over the middle.
