Blair Roman said he’s excited about the prospects for next year’s Carson High football team, and with good reason.
The veteran coach, who’s entering his ninth season, has some nice pieces to build around, especially on the offensive side of the ball where he has his top two runners, Abel Carter and Greg Wallace coming back.
Wallace and Carter combined for more then 20 rushing touchdowns this past season. Jace Keema, who filled in so capably for Joe Nelson at times, returns at quarterback. Keema was a starting outside linebacker this past season, and Roman indicated he would still play some defense.
“I’m excited about having Jace at quarterback,” Roman said. “I know he’ll be working hard on his throwing in the off-season. He is a perfect fit for our offense. He is a strong runner.”
Keema reminds me of Blake Plattsmier, and when I brought that up to Roman, he agreed with my observation.
“Jace is a strong (inside runner),” Roman said. “Blake was really fast. He could take it the distance.”
Keema is a tough customer. He fractured a bone in his left wrist yet still played in the season-ending loss to Reed.
Tyler Huling, a reserve this year, should step into the spot vacated by Asa Carter, the two-time Sierra League Player of the Year. Starting cornerback Spencer Rogers and Jake Roman figure to see some time at wingback, too.
The big question next year, and it’s always a big question on any team, is the line. The only returning starter is Bryceton Schilling, an all-Sierra second team selection this year at tackle. Everybody else is gone.
Tight end Josh Thompson, who missed most of the season due to a knee injury, will be back for his senior year. Thompson is strong enough he could move inside if needed.
Coach Roman indicated Sheldon Miller, the team’s starting defensive tackle and a second-team selection this year, would probably be pressed into service on the offensive side of the ball. Another possibility is Blaise Bonomo, a late-season varsity call-up this year.
The Senators will build their defense around middle linebacker Justin Tschetter, the team’s second-leading tackler behind Ikela Lewis this year.
Jordan Aikins and Sevon Mandoki, both back-ups this year, figure to be the frontrunners to start next season. Both need to get bigger, stronger and faster. Abel Carter could be moved inside, but Roman worries about wear and tear.
“The hybrid spot Abel plays now is easier if somebody is playing both ways,” Roman said.
Miller and Bonomo will be at defensive tackle, and Nick Andreas, if he can stay healthy, can help on either side of the ball. Andreas has been plagued by injuries his sophomore and junior seasons.
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Roman has always insisted he would continue to coach as long as he enjoyed it.
Roman has enjoyed his first eight years at CHS immensely, and success has had a lot to do with that. Carson has won four Sierra League title and won/shared two more conference titles when all 11 D-1 schools were in one division.
It’s not just about winning and losing, though. It’s about making a difference with the kids, both on and off the field, and that’s where Roman has excelled. Over the past six or seven years, former players have dropped in to watch practices and games. He feels he has made a difference, and he’s built some great relationships with past players who have stayed in the area. Make no mistake about it, if kids didn’t enjoy their CHS football career, you would never see them again.
At the end of every year, I always ask Roman whether he’s coming back the following year, and I did the same last week when he discussed the Senators’ all-league selections. Roman indicated he’s coming back, but he also pointed out he always coaches on a year-to-year basis.
Roman saidif he stays past the next couple of years, he wants to have a 5 or 6-year program in place, and he wants to get the youth football programs — Pop Warner and Sierra Youth Football League — working together. Right now, those two groups are like the Hatfields and McCoys.
Feeder systems are key to a program’s development. The ideal situation is to have the youth football programs run the same offense and defense the high school teams run. It makes for an easier transition as the kids move up the ranks. It worked wonders in Grass Valley where Nevada Union coach Dave Humphers had the entire youth program running the Winged-T.
