Carson controls its own destiny

Carson High's football team is right where it wants to be - in control of its own destiny.

The Senators, 3-5 overall and 1-3 in league play, have two Sierra League games left on their schedule, and if they beat Wooster (tonight at 7:30 p.m.) and Reno (away next Thursday) they will make the postseason.

"This is the playoffs, one loss and we're done," Carson coach Shane Quilling said. "If we win the last two we finish fourth."

But that doesn't mean that the Senators won't have an eye on other games around the area tonight, especially the Douglas-Reno battle. Both teams are 2-2 in Sierra League play.

"Oh we'll be a Douglas fan," admitted Quilling. "If Douglas wins it helps our cause. It could come down to points. There could be a four-way tie for the third and fourth spots (Wooster, Douglas, Reno and Carson)."

No doubt Quilling will caution his team not to look too far ahead.

"They are solid," Quilling said of the Colts. "He (Wooster coach Chris Wells) wants to play smashmouth football. They are big and physical along the front line. Most of the time they will have two tight ends. Their tailback (Jason McNeil) runs real hard. They just come out after you. We've done a pretty good job against the run the last two weeks.

"They have looked good and terrible. They beat South Tahoe and Reno and got beat by North Valleys and Hug. You wonder what team will show up."

Junior Chris Green quarterbacks the Colts, and they have a bevy of running backs including McNeil, Lene Iosua, Dexter Guerra and Junior Tatuolo. Iosua scored three times in a game earlier this year.

The Senators held South Tahoe to 40 yards total offense (24 rushing) and 147 rushing and 156 total against North Valleys.

Quilling has praised the play of his front eight - linemen Jonas Schenzel, Josh Mynear, Eric Walther and Zach Taylor and linebackers Chris Ames, Jason Dittenber, Travis Lamborn and Kyle Banko. They have pretty much stayed away from giving up big plays the past couple of weeks.

Offensively, the Senators had a big day against South Tahoe, but the Vikings' have been everybody's patsy this year.

Bryan Maffei, who has gained 1,167 yards this year, will be the focal part of the Colts' defense. He gained 96 yards last week and was inches away from making several big gains.

"The yards are getting tougher," Quilling said. "He had a chance at a big game against South Tahoe. He got tripped up six or seven times the other night. As a team, we still rushed for almost 250 yards."

The Senators have been getting improved play from Lamborn and Banko. Lamborn had 78 yards last week, including a 49-yard TD run. Banko has scored a touchdown in each of the last two games.

Sophomore quarterback Mitch Hammond has completed 49 percent of his passes for 287 yards and three scores. Wide receiver Scott Witter is coming off a 66-yard game against South Tahoe.

Notes: Lamborn was the team's top offensive player last week, Schenzel was the top defensive player and Steve Sawyers was the special teams honoree ... Reserve lineman Jason Sebring, who broke his hand earlier this year has returned to the team, giving the Senators 27 healthy players against the Colts.

Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281

WOOSTER (2-2, 2-5) AT CARSON (1-3, 3-5)

When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Carson High School

Last week: Wooster had a bye and Carson shut out South Tahoe 41-0