Douglas football dispatches Carson

For the fifth time in the last seven meetings, Douglas High School football rolled The Rivalry Trophy to its sideline.

Douglas was on Carson from nearly the jump, dominating the Senators en route to a 47-13 win.

The game started with a blocked field goal courtesy of Brenton Weston on the Senators’ opening drive.

The blocked ball bounced right into the hands of Zack Jackson, who ran it to the opposite end zone to put Douglas up 7-0 early in the first quarter.

The Tigers scored the next 30 points of the game, going up 37-0 on their first drive out of halftime.

“Extremely proud of my kids. They did a great job preparing all week,” said Douglas head coach Kyle Mays. “Anytime you get a special teams touchdown it’s going to ignite the energy one way. Getting those turnovers in the first quarter, too.”

8:11 1Q | Douglas 7, Carson 0

Tigers block a Senator 46-yard field goal try and Zack Jackson returns it for a touchdown. I believe Brenton Weston was in on the block for Douglas. pic.twitter.com/TJxc6K3b8R

— Carter Eckl (@CarterEckl) September 14, 2024

DEFENSIVE STALWARTS

Two plays after Douglas returned a block field goal for a touchdown, the Tigers defense produced a big play.

Braden Lenz recorded a strip sack on the Senator quarterback, allowing Douglas to get possession back only moments after opening the scoring.

Douglas needed two plays to go up 14-0 after Jackson Ovard hit Brenton Weston for a 26-yard touchdown pass.

“I spun in and I saw his arm out with the ball,” said Lenz. “I knew instantly I was going to strip sack it. Just like we do at practice.”

Carson’s next offensive play had the same result as the Tigers popped the ball loose on a completed pass over the middle to secure a second turnover.

Douglas’ offense took advantage, going 45 yards on four plays as Ovard found Weston for their second touchdown connection on an 18-yard bubble screen, making it 21-0.

4:42 1Q | Douglas 21, Carson 0

Douglas forces another quick fumble on defense and goes right down to score again.

Jackson Ovard finds Brenton Weston on an 18-yard screen pass for a TD.

All Tigers early. pic.twitter.com/lv895RNBKc

— Carter Eckl (@CarterEckl) September 14, 2024

The Tiger defense didn’t get a turnover on Carson’s third series, but forced a punt and the offense went back to work, getting into field goal range.

That setup Weston for a 38-yard field goal – his first of four made field goals – to give Douglas a 24-0 lead with 10:43 to play in the second quarter.

Lenz recorded his second strip sack on the ensuing play after the Senators started with the ball at their own 38.

“I knew it was coming, too. He was holding me and I knew he was going to spin out and I was going to go inside,” said Lenz. “I just hit it out again.”

Michael Sinclair jumped on the loose ball to give the Tigers possession.

“They were carrying it pretty loosely and we took advantage of that,” said Mays. “That kid (Lenz) has a motor. He’s made to chase down quarterbacks. If a quarterback isn’t taking care of the ball, he’s going to eat him up every time.”

Carson was able to get a defensive stand in its own territory, but Douglas’ defense continued to keep the Senator offense stagnant.

Weston booted through a 50-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining in the opening half to make it 27-0, but Douglas wasn’t done scoring just yet.

Carson opted to throw with 39 seconds left in the half and Zack Jackson snagged an interception, which setup another Weston field goal – this time from 34 yards out.

Douglas led 30-0 at the half.

“He does anything and everything we ask of him,” said Mays of Weston. “He’s all over the place. I love him. He is such a joy to have around.”

The Tiger offense did have to drive the length of the field to open the second half, but it didn’t keep them off the scoreboard.

The orange and white went 80 yards on 12 plays, handing it off to Jackson from four yards out to make it 37-0 with 6:42 left in the third quarter and starting the running clock.

The final scores came on another Weston touchdown reception (44 yards) from backup quarterback Joseph Michel and one final Weston field goal from 26 yards away, making it 47-7.

Carson used the final moments of the game to add on a touchdown as time expired.

The finish caused a bit of a stir with the fourth-year head coach.

“Our kids kept their composure when Carson was acting very, very strange toward the end of the game. Our kids were getting their helmets ripped off, getting blocked way beyond the whistle, all sorts of silly stuff and our kids kept their composure. I was really proud of them,” said Mays.

UP NEXT: Douglas (4-1) will jump into Class 5A Div. II league play next week, traveling to Reno High School (2-1). 

(Douglas High's Braden Lenz knocks the ball loose Friday night against Carson as Michael Cahill (55) comes in on the play. Lenz had two strip sacks in the Tigers' 47-13 win over Carson. Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage)

AREA SCORES

Spanish Springs 42, Pleasant Valley 20

McQueen 31, North Valleys 8

Truckee 42, Spring Creek 6 

Lowry 55, Sparks 7

Elko 54, Fernley 34