BISHOP MANOGUE (6-4) AT CARSON (9-1)
Friday at 7 p.m.
Offense: The Miners have a balanced attack, averaging 345 yards per game. QB T.J. Menning is one of the top three or four throwing quarterbacks in the league. He has thrown for 18 TDs, but has thrown 10 picks. Menning does a nice job of managing the game and spreading the ball around to four or five different receivers. Kenny Rogers leads the team in rushing yards and catches (548 yards rushing, 22 receptions), and he didn't play in the first meeting. Carson averages 379.8. The Senators have relied in recent week on QB Matt Nolan (70 percent passing only 3 picks), RBs Dylan Sawyers, who is coming off back-to-back five-touchdown games, and Chance Quilling, plus wide receiver Brock Pradere. The quartet, along with an improving offensive line, has been tough to stop.
Advantage: Carson
Defense: Manogue enters the game allowing 20 points per contest. The Miners' defense has been tough on Carson in the past, and I would expect the same type of performance on Friday. Dalton Skach, Conor Hargrove and Curtis Bright are the leading tacklers. Carson i a plus-19 in the takeaway-giveaway department and allows 17.7 a contest. Quilling, Logan Peternell, Luke Maher, Patrick Hesse, Austin Pacheco, Pradere and Patrick Cooke are some of the top performers on defense.
Advantage: Carson
Special teams: Carson struggled with extra points because of bad snaps, and no doubt coach Blair Roman has concentrated on that this week. Pacheco's kickoffs have been consistent throughout the year, and the Senators have been so good offensively that he hasn't had to punt very often (25 times in 10 games).
Advantage: Carson
Prediction: The last time these teams met, a 27-24 Carson win on Pacheco's 64-yard field goal, there were gale-force winds and all 51 points scored in the game were scored by the team going with the wind. Hopefully the wind won't be a factor this time but it could be freezing temperatures by game time. If Carson's defense can get get enough stops and contain Rogers and Menning, I think Carson wins the game.
Carson 24, Bishop Manogue 20
