If the Challis Vikings took the long drive to Malta to scout the Carey Panthers when they blanked the host Raft River Trojans 20-0 Friday, they would have come away with the idea that Carey likes to pass.
Carey junior quarterback Jordan Dilworth (11-for-23, 170 yards) steered the aerial game that out-gained RaftRiver 170-21. In contrast, the Trojan offense stayed on the ground and out-gained Carey 152-28.
But Challis (2-0) might see a little more Panther running today, Friday, when the two schools meet for the first time ever on the gridiron in a 7 p.m. non-league eight-man football clash at Derrick Parke Memorial Field. Carey is also 2-0.
Defense is likely to be the difference. Challis opened with a 40-36 home win over the Mackay Miners Aug. 26 and won by forfeit over Clark County of Dubois Friday. Carey’s defense has allowed only two touchdowns, those to Oakley Aug. 26.
Certainly the difference was Carey’s defense last Friday. It stopped RaftRiver three times in the red zone and grabbed an early 8-0 lead when Dillon Cenarrusa recovered a mishandled Trojan punt return for Carey’s first defensive score.
Senior Charlie Rivera (13 tackles/1 assist) and Dillon Cenarrusa (13/1 with 1 sack) led the way. Other defensive stars were Garrett Lee (8/1), Chance Chavez (4/3), Francisco Gamino (4/0), Baley Barg (4/1), Jordan Dilworth (3/1), Jack Cenarrusa (2/0) and Tori Alvarez (2/0).
Pass receivers were Barg (4 for 81 yards including a 25-yard fourth quarter TD pass from Dilworth), Jack Cenarrusa (4-for-72) and Rivera (3-for-17). Chance Chavez rushed six times for 19 yards, and Dilworth added a three-yard TD run in the first quarter when Carey built a 14-0 lead.
Carey’s special teams were solid. Barg averaged 43.5 yards on two punts, Luis Garcia 49.0 yards on one.
