Youth football players descend on Carson Saturday

Preseason football begins in earnest today for thousands of youth football players as the Carson Senators Youth Football program will host its Sierra Youth Football League Carson Experience today at Carson High.

The event will feature a jamboree in which SYFL players from across Northern Nevada and Northern California will receive their first taste of tackle football against other opponents. SYFL teams will face each other in scrimmages throughout the day.

Eight fields have been set up for teams to participate in scrimmages throughout the day. Along with two 50-yard fields that have been set up at Carson High’s football stadium, the soccer field, the practice field behind the stadium and the junior varsity baseball field will be used for the scrimmages.

In all, about 15,000 people, including players, cheerleaders, coaches and parents are expected to descend on CHS today. Eighty-one football teams and 36 cheerleading squads from all of the SYFL’s seven divisions representing ages 5-14 are scheduled to participate today.

There are divisions in bandits (ages 5-7), mavericks (ages 7-8), renegades (ages 8-9), freshmen (ages 9-10), junior varsity (ages 10-11), varsity (ages 11-12) and collegiate (ages 12-14). The other 15 programs along with Carson to be represented are: Damonte Ranch Mustangs; Dayton Dust Devils; Fallon Greenwave; Fernley Vaqueros; Galena Grizzlies; Hug Hawks; Lassen (Calif.) Grizzlies; McQueen Lancers; North Valley Panthers; Reed Raiders; Reno Huskies; Spanish Springs Cougars; Sparks Railroaders; Wooster Colts; and Yerington.

The Carson High Football Boosters will benefit from snack bar proceeds from the event.

The event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Carson Senators program.

The program receives all proceeds from the gate. Admission for adult spectators is $2.

Other vendors will include The Pizza Factory, Grandma Hatties, Jamba Juice and Carson Cupcakes and fees paid by vendors go to the Carson High athletic department.

Weigh-ins begin at 7 a.m. Scrimmages to begin at 9 a.m., with the last scrimmage of the day being held at 4:30 p.m. There’s no weight limit, but players who exceed a certain weight for each division are only allowed to play interior line positions.