Douglas' Garet Rice and Carson's Dilyn Rooker.
MINDEN — In a season that has produced a number of highlights, the Douglas defense may have enjoyed its finest game of the season on Friday night.
The effort just wasn’t enough for the Tigers in a 19-13 overtime loss at the hands of rival Carson. After all, the Sierra League champion Senators managed 13 points in regulation, and seven of those came from an interception return in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.
“That whole group, it was just a great defensive effort,” said Steve Wilcox, who coaches the Tigers’ defensive ends. “Without a doubt, that was one of their best efforts ... Carson has a pretty good offensive team with all the stuff they do.”
Even though the Senators moved the ball, the yardage didn’t translate into points. The Tigers also forced two turnovers — both drive-stoppers — as Zach Kinder recovered a fumble at the 31 in the first quarter and Kaleb Foster intercepted a pass at the 25 to stop Carson in its opening drive of the third quarter.
“I thought their defensive effort was great,” Carson coach Blair Roman said. “They’ve been solid all year; I felt we moved the ball well between the 20s, but then they’d stiffen and hold.”
The defensive unit also created an opportunity to win the game at the end of regulation after Rocky Hanson’s punt pinned Carson back at the 10 with 3:06 to go. Kinder stopped Nevin Elliott’s run for a 1-yard loss on first down and Schafer’s two ensuing passes fell incomplete, forcing the Senators to punt.
Douglas got the ball back at the Carson 33 with 2:20 showing on the clock, however, Carson came up with a big stop by forcing the Tigers into a three-and-out situation and another punt.
The Tigers didn’t do anything fancy.
“We just played our base defense,” Wilcox said. “Our front seven is as good as any in the league.”
