Tiger football can't close final chance at Carson

For Douglas High football, Friday night's 12-11 loss to the Senators will sting.

Yes, losing to their rivals will hurt, but the Tigers had a chance in the game's final moments to potentially steal The Rivalry Trophy to take back to Minden. 

The Tigers put together 229 total yards of offense, unofficially, and 52 yards in the final 2:30 before setting up with a first-and-10 at Carson's 47 with just over a minute to play.

Up one, Carson was able to get in front of a wayward pass and seal a second straight victory over Douglas in as many years

Ending without the trophy

Carson and Douglas only had two scores in the second half Friday night.

Carson trailed, 8-6, coming out of the halftime intermission, but put together a 61-yard drive on its first possession.

Chris Guerrero found Story for a 16-yard completion on a screen pass to put the Senators in Tiger territory.

Guerrero connected with Lucas Gonzalez twice on the Senators’ next two third down plays, noth of which went 14 yards for first downs.

Gonzalez’s second reception brought Carson down to the one before JT Heaton bulldozed his way into the end zone.

The score gave the Senators a 12-8 lead with 5:26 to go in the third quarter after Douglas’ Cole Smalley stuffed Carson’s 2-point try behind the line of scrimmage.

Guerrero ended the night 8-for-16 through the air for 115 yards while Gonzalez hauled in four catches for 37 yards.

Douglas punted to conclude its next offensive series, but Nathan Stevens forced a fumble on the Senators’ ensuing possession.

Jacob Brady hopped on the loose ball, giving Douglas the ball at Carson’s 40-yard line.

Trace Estes battled his way for 29 yards on a reception on the Tigers’ first play of the series.

Carson’s defense didn’t break at the goal line, forcing Douglas to settle for a 22-yard field goal off the foot of Kaleb Valdez.

Valdez’s field goal brought Douglas within one, 12-11, with 11:56 remaining in regulation.

Douglas head coach Kyle Mays said his decision to kick the field goal came from confidence in his offense.

“We thought about it, but we were moving the ball,” said Mays. “We thought let’s get within one so that way in the fourth quarter we could push it into field goal range and hit the game winner. We were moving the ball at the end, it just didn’t work out in our favor.”

Douglas went three-and-out on its next possession, giving Carson a short field.

After the Senators went 30 yards on four plays, a deflected Senator pass ended up in the hands of Douglas’ Connor Jackson for an interception.

Starting from its own 1, Douglas moved the ball to Carson’s 47-yard line on six plays.

The Tigers first snap from Carson territory ended up in the hands of the Senators as junior defensive back, Kincain Gill, stepped in front of a wayward pass for an interception.

“I dropped back into my zone and the ball came right to me. I just did my job,” said Gill postgame. “Another year, another Douglas win. I’m looking for the next one next year.”

After Gill’s interception the Senator sideline celebration had begun. 

Avina’s long boot

Senior Isaac Avina booted through the game-winning field goal as time expired last season.

He wasn’t asked to win it Friday night for the Senators, but his two field goals went a long way toward Carson’s one-point win.

Douglas went 64 yards on its second drive of the game to go up 8-0, finished off with a three-yard Jackson touchdown run.

Offensively, Jackson had 22 carries for 89 yards and the touchdown run. 

The Senators next drive went right back the other way as Avina netted the Senators’ first points on a 38-yard field goal.

With 4:10 left in the second quarter, Avina was called on again for three points.

This time the senior kicker nailed a 51-yard field goal with distance to spare.

“I knew that kicking and special teams was going to be a big part in (the game),” said Avina. “It’s still the same routine. I just have to add a little more power.”

The senior said he knew the field goal from 50-plus was good as soon as it left his foot.

Ultimately, Carson finished the contest with 202 yards of offense. Douglas put together 229 yards of offense for the contest.

Carson’s second win in a row over Douglas is the first winning streak against the Tigers since 2015 when the Senators won three in a row from 2013-15.