Dinos beat Broncos in first game of year
By TERRY WILLIS
Sun Advocate sports reporter
The hardest thing to do in sports is to snap a losing streak. The Carbon High football team had a long one going and this year's squad was determined to reverse their fortunes. They did just that in their season opener against Monticello on Friday night with a 13-6 victory.
The Dinos got the ball first and set the tone of the game as they marched the ball down field on their opening drive. Dakota Cisneros was the starting quarterback. The team took seven minutes off the clock and overcame two 3 and 10 situations to set up the four yard run in by Jordan Blanc. Tanner Gagnon kicked the point after and the Dinos had the lead.
Monticello came charging back, but Gagnon intercepted the ball in the end zone to quash the drive. At the end of the second quarter, Monticello was again on the verge of scoring with 2 1/2 minutes left in the half. But the Dinos defense held and they went into the locker room up 7-0.
In the third quarter it was Kris Murdock who stepped up with a huge interception to shut down a Monticello drive. Carbon was unable to score, but clung onto their on TD lead.
Wyatt Martinez forced the third Monticello turnover of the night at a very critical point of the game. Then Carson Tatton recovered a Monticello fumble to set up the Dinos next possession. Carbon put together a 60 yard drive and were sputtering again, when Dustin Norried broke loose and ran the ball 35 yards, untouched, into the end zone for Carbon's second score of the night. The point after attempt failed.
Monticello put together one last drive and scored on a 30 yard pass to put the score at 13-6. They went for two on the extra point and were unsuccessful. The Dinos took possession and came up with a critical third and 10 play to keep their final drive alive and run out the clock for the win.
Coach Jeff Blanc was ecstatic for the team to finally get "the monkey off their back." He praised the entire team and their effort. He said they had refocused after the blue/white game to correct a few things and the play of the lines improved and really came through when they needed them.
"We bent, but did not break on our defense," said Blanc. "Kris Murdock and Dalton Nelson really stepped up on defense. Dakota Cisneros had a good game at quarterback and hit both Wyatt Martinez and Nick Haycock with some good passes. We had great community support for an away game. It was a good win, actually a big win. We are starting a new tradition with this game."
The Dinos take on Salem Hills this Friday at home at 7 p.m. on the Carbon High field.
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