Students and residents of Carbon County filled the air with excitement as the Carbon High School Dinos prepared for their home opener against the Grand County Red Devils on Friday, Aug. 23. In what turned out to be a back-and-forth affair the Dinos would come away with the 33-26 victory.

The first quarter would feature slow starts for both teams, with no scoring from either side until a minute left in the quarter when Grand’s junior quarterback Austin Parris would loft the ball over the Dino’s defense and into the waiting arms of senior wide receiver Romeo Williams for a 30-yard touchdown. A blocked extra point by Carbon’s sophomore defensive lineman Andrew Kifer would make it a 6-0 ballgame.

The Dinos would waste no time reclaiming the lead however when senior running back Anthony Wilson received a screen pass from senior quarterback Stockton Kennedy which he took 78 yards to the house. Following a successful PAT, the score sat 7-6 in favor of Carbon.

Carbon would force a quick three-and-out against the Red Devils and get back to work offensively almost immediately. Again the Dinos would score through the air when Kennedy connected with junior tight end Maddux Wilson on a 30-yard touchdown.

Impressed, the sky decided to cheer with lighting, resulting in a 30-minute delay in the game while the storm passed over.

Upon resuming, Senior Defensive lineman Beachum Bosh would block the extra point making it a 13-6 ballgame.

Not wanting to have the game slip away from them, the Red Devils would methodically work their way down the field. The long drive was capped off by a one-yard run from senior tailback JT Dowd and followed by a successful extra point attempt, knotting the game up at 13.

Again trying to pull ahead Carbon would strike through the air when Kennedy connected with fellow senior Eleke Lang on a slant route which was extremely similar to the duo’s walk-off touchdown against American Leadership Academy a week before. After pulling in the catch, Lang would take the pass 20 yards into the end zone. A successful PAT made it a 20-13 ballgame with 3:48 remaining in the first half.

Not wanting to enter the half down two possessions, Grand would again storm down the field where Dowd would again find the end zone, this time on a 12-yard run. Looking to take the lead, the Red Devils would go for the two-point conversion but a stout Dinos defense would stop the Devils soundly resulting in a 20-19 halftime score.

The third quarter would belong to the Dinos, who held Grand scoreless in the frame. Scoring-wise, things would get kicked off by the Kennedy-Lang connection, who have turned the slant route in a Stockton to Malone-esque connection between the pair, resulting in a 9-yard touchdown reception. Carbon would opt for the two-point conversion but where stopped short making it 26-19 Dinos.

Three minutes later Carbon would find the back of the end zone again when Anthony Wilson waltzed into the end zone on a three-yard run to add some cushion to the Dinos lead. A successful extra-point attempt gave Carbon the 33- 19 lead.

The Red Devils would make it interesting, however, when Dowd would pick off sophomore quarterback Carter Branch and set them up deep in Dino territory. Grand would convert quickly with Paris sprinting nine yards to the end zone on a scramble to cut into the Carbon lead. A successful extra point made it a nail-biting 33-26 ballgame.

But that is where the scoring stopped, as Carbon ran the clock and stood stout on the defensive end coming away victorious 33-26.

Headlining for Carbon offensively was Kennedy, who ended with 247 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. Aiding Kennedy was Lang, who ended with 46 receiving yards and two touchdowns. On the ground it was Anthony Wilson with 70 rushing yards, 91 receiving yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Defensively, both Maddux Wilson and Kifer would both have sacks. On top of this, seniors Deegan Richards and Luke Brady both came away with an interception.

The Dinos (2-0) now set their sights on the Ogden Tigers (2-0) on the road. That game can be streamed on KRPX 95.3 The Peak with the Landon’s Diesel Pregame show starting at 6:30 p.m. and kickoff at 7 p.m.