New offense results in first points of season
By TERRY WILLIS
Sun Advocate sports reporter
After two shut-out losses, Carbon Football Coach Leo Paur made a big change to his team's offensive look.
The Dinos finally put their first points of the season up on the board, but went on to a 49-9 loss to Grand in the homecoming game on Friday night.
Carbon came out running a new spread offense. It resulted in three interceptions and 21 points before Grand even had time to blink.
Paur knew it might take them time to put this into action and he decided he would stick with the new offense even if it meant 10 interceptions in the game. Even with the lopsided score and seven interceptions on the night, the Dino offense improved from a minus 70 yards offense against Uintah to plus 160 yards against the Red Devils.
They actually had over 200 passing yards on the night if the lost yards due to the interceptions were taken out.
The Dino offense also went with two quarterbacks through the game.
Dusty Blackham was key in the passing game and Cameron Watcher headed up the run options. Paur is planning to stick with the two QB approach as he feels like both of them add strengths to the still struggling offense.
Late in the first quarter Carbon got on the board as they drove down the field and Damian Olsen kicked a field goal.
As the clocked ticked down, sideline official Bill Bates turned into a player and collided with a helmet. The crowd held its breath as Bates lie motionless on the field.
He was carried off on a backboard for precaution and taken to Castleview Hospital.
It was reported that he suffered a concussion and would have a full recovery. Carbon did not score in the second quarter, but held Grand to only a pair of scores.
After the homecoming half time festivities, including the presentation of the homecoming queen and her attendants, the second half play resumed.
The Carbon defense stepped it up and held Grand to only one more score for the game.
The Dinos made a touchdown late in the fourth on a four yard run by Sammy Manarite. The extra point was not good.
Paur was pleased with the performance of Chris Rummel in the game.
He is also looking forward to having injured player Andrew Salazar back next week although he will use him sparingly in the first games back.
For Paur, the next area of focus for this week is going to be the defense. He assures the crowd that there will be as big of changes in the look of the Dino defense as there was in the offense this week.
He is also a bit critical of the feedback he has been getting about comparing the varsity team to the sophomore team: "We are a complete program that is building up from the bottom. I knew that the sophomores had talent and this might happen. I just hate the mentality of boneheads that can't get that this is a team and quit pitting us against us. This is a program in the process of being good.
I am positive about the kids and if parents would keep their noses out and let things happen it would be a better program. You can quote me on that."
Paur went on to say that he sees sophomore Coach Jeff Blanc's role in the team continuing to grow over the next few seasons, "He has great skills as a coach that I don't have and can only continue to improve the program as a whole."
The Carbon sophomore team improved to 2-0, defeating Grand's JV 42-7. The sophomore offensive attack was led by Jordan Blanc who ran for 167 yards and four touchdowns, including a 80 yard kickoff return. Dakota Cisneros hooked up with Kayden Feichko on a 33 yard scoring strike and Kris Murdock scampered into the end zone on a five yard run.
Coach Blanc said, "Our offensive line did a great job opening up the running lanes. Dillon Manzanares and Daulton Nelson played solid on the defensive line shutting down the Grand offense. J.J. Morley stepped up from the linebacker position to once again lead the team in tackles. I am pleased with our work ethic and team work."
The Dinos are at home against Emery this Friday night. Kick-off at 7 p.m.
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