Scoring four of their seven touchdowns from 50 yards or more, the unbeaten Carey Panthers (3-0) mercy-ruled the visiting Challis Vikings 46-0 Friday night at Derrick Parke Memorial Field in Carey.
Coach Lane Kirkland's defending State 1A Division 2 champion Panthers won their 10th straight game over two seasons with balanced offense (163 yards rushing, 281 passing, 130 returns) and hungry defense that posted its second consecutive shutout of 2011.
It was Carey's third win in a row over bigger 1A Division 1 schools. The Panthers have a bye this Friday and open their Sawtooth Conference Division 2 schedule Sept. 23 at home against the Richfield Tigers.
Senior Baley Barg scored three touchdowns—the first an 88-yard TD bomb from quarterback Jordan Dilworth, the final two on 71-yard and 53-yard punt returns. Dilworth ended 14-of-22 in passing statistics for 281 yards and three TDs.
In total yards, Carey outgained Challis (2-1) by a 574-226 count and exceeded the 45-point mercy rule on Dillon Cenarrusa's 18-yard TD catch from Dilworth with 4:38 remaining in the fourth quarter. Carey's lead was 26-0 at halftime.
The Carey defense led by Charlie Rivera (13 tackles) and Chance Chavez (12) was particularly tough on third and fourth downs, allowing Challis to convert only 2-of-19 of those important downs. Carey's yards per passing completion was 20.1, and Challis had 9.4.
Overall, Challis rushed 36 times for only 85 yards. On 19 of those 36 rushes, Carey held the Vikings to one yard or less.
Kirkland was pleased with his defense, but thought his offense (8 penalties for 63 yards, 2 lost fumbles) needs improvement. He said, "We always say that defense starts faster each season and that the offense will pick up later. We caused some of our own problems tonight. We're still trying to figure out what we're doing on offense."
Senior Jack Cenarrusa (5 catches, 101 yards) snagged a 51-yard TD pass on Carey's first play and Chavez (60 rushing yards) followed a fierce lead block by Rivera for a 29-yard TD end run and a 12-0 lead. Barg caught his long TD pass between two defenders at the Carey 42 and finished his 88-yard score for an 18-0 lead.
Check the complete game summary on today's Web site.
Carey senior Baley Barg directs traffic during one of his two long punt returns for touchdowns against Challis Friday night at Derrick Parke Memorial Field. Photo by David N. Seelig
