Looking to end the season on a high note, the Carbon Dinos made the trip down I-15 to Cedar City to take on the Canyon View Falcons. Both teams had a lot to play for entering the game, with a potential home playoff game on the line for both the Dinos and the Falcons.

Before the game, Carbon Head Coach Bradon Rushton spoke on the implications of the game,” Tonight is definitely business as usual with the players. We don’t need to get them stressed out about things that realistically don’t matter tonight per-se in the long-term scheme of things, but we definitely haven’t really talked a whole lot about it. They know, but we definitely haven’t put that pressure on them.

The offense got going early for Canyon View, after receiving the opening kickoff the Falcons methodically worked downfield eventually finding themselves at the goal line. It was here where junior quarterback Ryder Miller connected with senior receiver Bubba Ludlow on a short slant for the score. A successful kick from senior Asher Slack made it 7-0 early.

The Dinos would strike back immediately, moving the ball to the six-yard line. Senior quarterback Stockton Kennedy would take the snap, drop back, and lob a goal line fade to junior tight end Maddux Wilson for the touchdown. The leg of Luke Brady would convert the point after and knot the game at seven apiece.

Not happy with the tie, Canyon View would march down the field with a potent ground attack. This drive was capped off when Slack would dice up the Dino’s defense on a 12-yard dash to the promised land. Pulling double duty, Slack would kick the PAT to make it 14-7.

The Falcons would pull a little trickery, onside kicking the ensuing kickoff and recovering the ball in the red zone. The run game again took control for Canyon View when an outside handoff to senior running back Deegan Davies went the distance. Another complete kick raised the Falcon lead to 21-7.

Canyon View would score once more before the end of the first quarter, capping off a 21-point run with a nine-yard sprint from Slack into the back of the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. Again the kick would be successful, increasing the Falcon lead to 28-7.

Slack continued his dominant season finale by scoring again to start the second half. This time, he body-hopped his way through the Dinos’ defensive line and fell across the goal line, giving him the hat trick. He also continued his perfect night on extra points, converting the kick to make it a 35-7 game.

Miller would get in on the fun again as well, with the junior rolling out on a pass before tucking the ball and  scampering 12 yards into the end zone. Slack again would kick the ball through the uprights on the point after to create a daunting 42-7 lead.

Taking responsibility away from the seniors for a drive, sophomore running back Jace Floyd would find his time in the spotlight. Floyd would also find his time in the end zone when a run to the outside turned into a 15-yard dash to the goal line. The leg of Slack again wouldn’t disappoint as the lead was raised to 49-7.

With their backs against the wall, Carbon had to score quickly as time ticked away in the second half. A blocked punt from the Dino’s defense set the offense up on Canyon View’s 20-yard line. The Dinos would capitalize on this opportunity on a short drive which was capped off by senior running back Anthony Wilson when he took a handoff up the middle for a score. Brady continued his kicking excellence to cut into the Falcons lead and make it 49-14 going into halftime.

Canyon View would score once more before the end of the game, with Slack scoring his fourth touchdown in the process. Again finding themselves within the 20-yard line, Slack would break through the grasp of several Dino defenders as he wove into the end zone for the touchdown. Another PAT attempt led to another PAT make for Slack as he went a perfect eight-for-eight on the evening and pushed the score to 56-14.

This would be the last opportunity for either team to score, however, as with a heavy presence of lighting the head official called the game at the end of the third quarter.

With the loss, the Dinos end the regular season 3-7 overall and 0-5 in 3a South play. Now facing Carbon is the playoffs, with their opponent hidden until the reveal of the final UHSAA RPI at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Though the opponent is unknown, one certainty is that the game will be streamed on KRPX 95.3 the Peak, where the Dinos play.