Reno - McQueen running back Chris Carr isn't one to brag, even though he has every right to. Instead of talking about himself, he'd rather talk about his Lancer teammates. But prior to Saturday's Nevada 4A state championship between McQueen and Wooster at the University of Nevada's Mackay Stadium, Carr made a statement.
"We knew that we would win this game, "Carr said. "Earlier this week, I was guaranteeing a win and I normally don't talk like that.
"But as a senior, you're always going to be remembered for your last season, your last game. I just wanted to make it memorable."
And he did.
Carr ran for 246 yards and three touchdowns as McQueen beat Wooster 35-0 and were crowned Nevada 4A state champions for the fourth time in 11 years. And for the third time this season, the Lancers (14-0) beat the Colts (10-4), a feat some thought would be a difficult to do.
"We knew they were a tough team but we came out and showed today who the best team in the state was," said McQueen quarterback Graham Siderius.
It's been eight games and four years since Wooster has beaten McQueen, who beat the Colts 28-3 in this year's zone championship game. The Lancers also won state championships in 1990, '92, '97. In last year's state championship game, Cimarron-Memorial beat the Lancers 21-7. So McQueen coach Ken Dalton didn't want another state title chance to slip away.
"We didn't finish it last year but this win enhanced our winning tradition," Dalton said. "This is a heck of a way to go out. The kids were well prepared and came out with a lot of intensity."
In the first half, the Lancers scored on four of their five possessions, including runs of 1, 14, and 36 by Carr. Carr finished with 175 yards rushing in the first half. At the end of the first half, Siderius nearly put McQueen up 35-0 but his pass was intercepted in the end zone by the Colts' Derek McNeil
Wooster's best chance to score was early in the second quarter. Down 14-0, the Colts had first and 10 at the McQueen 13. Robby Stallings ran for two yards, then quarterback John James threw two straight incomplete passes, as Wooster had to settle for a field goal. But Jesse Phillips 28-yard field goal attempt missed wide right.
The McQueen defense held Stallings to 51 yards rushing and Ben Confer, the Colts' other top back, to only 46 yards on the ground. James completed 9 of 20 passes for 69 yards, 46 of them coming in the first half. In the second half, Wooster never got any closer than the McQueen 42.
"I'm really proud of these kids," Dalton said. "We worked exceptionally hard all season and it showed tonight. All the kids played a great game."
The Lancers final touchdown came with 3:22 left in the third quarter, when Siderius scrambled for a 19-yard touchdown. Siderius threw for 84 yards on 6 of 11 passing. He also caught a 39-yard pass from Jeff Rowe. McQueen fullback Javier Berumen, who rushed for 38 yards, scored the Lancers other touchdown, a 12-yard run in the second quarter.
"We couldn't have drawn it up any better, couldn't ask for anything more," Carr said. "You always need to live for the moment, now we can cherish it.
"We played our best game of the season today."
McQueen's 14 wins are the most ever by a Nevada high school football team.
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