POCATELLO, Idaho - With the Highland High School student section celebrating their team's impending victory, the Carson High School offense was still playing just as when the game started.
Unfortunately for the Senators they were down 34-0.
A fourth-and-2 scramble by quarterback Chance Quilling was stopped short of the end zone ending what turned into a long day for the Senators.
The Highland offense carved up the Carson defense finishing off an Idaho sweep in the Rocky Mountain Rumble in Holt Arena Friday with a 34-0 victory.
Rams junior quarterback Neil Jewell went 20-for-29 for 353 yards and three touchdowns, two to tight end Cole Ashby to give his team a 20-0 halftime lead.
For Carson the first half was filled with mistakes. An interception and fumble led to Highland touchdowns, and a handful of penalties made the Senators' offense have to dig themselves out of big holes.
The Rams' defense let Carson into scoring position just once in the half, and that came after Chance Quilling intercepted a Jewell pass deep in Highland territory. After three consecutive running plays that lost yardage a 31-yard field goal attempt by was no good.
Highland scored just 15 seconds into the second half after Kai Campbell took the opening kick-off 58 yards down to the Carson 36 yard line.
The very next play Jewell connected with Tanner Tingey on a 36-yard touchdown pass giving Highland a 27-0 lead.
Jewell had a chance for a fourth touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter but was intercepted at the goalline.
Carson's quarterback duo of Matt Nolan and Quilling struggled with the speed of the Rams' defense. The two combined to go 5-15 for 39 yards and an interception. The running game was able to get yards early, but as the game went on the holes were not there and the option plays in Carson coach Blair Roman's playbook became tougher and tougher to run.
"I told the kids we could come up with a lot of excuses tonight, but we are not a program of excuses," Roman said. "The bottom line is Highland out executed us on offense and defense."
Nolan led the Senators in rushing with 56 yards on 10 carries.
Ashby finished the night with six catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns for Highland. Ean Filiaga added 4 catches for 89 and a touchdown. He also had 35 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Traveling 12 hours to come and play one of the toughest teams in the 5A division is not an easy thing to do, but Roman was pleased with his team's effort, adding if Carson makes it to the second round of the Nevada playoffs it will face a team like Highland.
