For the second consecutive football season the Carbon Dinos finished without a win, once again ending the season 0-10. While the final record may seem like a familiar story for the program, the journey was certainly different.
With only five returning seniors the Dinos held one of the youngest teams in the 3A classification, but proved to be a formidable region opponent for divisional teams. After scoring 53 points combined in 2015 and 2016, Carbon scored 67 in 2017. The improvement was also apparent defensively as the team allowed 83 fewer points compared to 2016.
“It’s a fact that things are improving and it’s not me or the coaching staff, it’s the kids starting to buy in,” said third year head coach Josh Huntsman. “We have sophomores who took losses harder than some of our seniors. We are definitely seeing improvement in the program, and the attitude is changing around here about football.”
While the steady improvement didn’t produce a victory this season, it did provide plenty of drama. In 2017 five games were decided by less than ten points, two of which were one possession games in 3A North play. In 2016 the team’s closest margin of defeat was 22 points.
On two separate occasions the Dinos had an opportunity to win it’s first region game since 2005. The first was on Sept. 22, which resulted in a three-point loss to Emery. The second was in the regular season finale against Judge Memorial, again a three-point setback. While not ideal, losses in close games are often considered part of the growing process.
“You’re going to have growing pains when trying to change a program,” said Huntsman. “It’s truly not your program until year four. Once you hit year four the kids are all yours. So there is definitely a growing process in getting the kids to buy into your mentality as a coach.”
Several individuals enjoyed an increase statistically to go along with the team’s improvement. Multiple underclassmen including Noah Jones, Collin Lewis and Jaylon Dennis, played key roles throughout the season, while seniors thrived on experience and ability.
Offensively the Dinos were once again led by senior standout running back Nate Olson who finished with 1,115 yards on the ground, eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for the second straight season. Averaging a hefty 5.8 yards per carry, Olson recorded eight rushing touchdowns.
Fellow senior Ashton Larsen anchored the defensive unit with a team best 60 solo tackles. Senior Oscar Herrera logged 57 total tackles, while leading the team in sacks with four.
Huntsman believes the improvement and individual success is tied into the team’s chemistry, which he says was noticeable throughout the year. “If you have enough love for what you’re doing and the person next to you, you won’t allow them to fail,” he said. “Our guys finally started to have that camaraderie and brotherly love that makes them wants to go out and work for the person next to them.”
Carbon will enter 2018 with a 27 game losing streak and a 12-year gap since the program’s last region victory. The numbers seem daunting, but the future looks extremely bright for one of 3A’s youngest teams. With an increase in numbers and stability at the coaching position, there is a legitimate reason for optimism around Carbon High School.
“I hate the losing seasons. I hate losing 27 straight games. But that to me does not define our team,” Huntsman said. “If our kids are constantly improving and getting better, wins will come. If you look at a season based on wins and losses then you can call us losers. But we view the improvement that they have made over the year as a success.”
Listen to Huntsman’s complete season recap interview from KOAL’s Drive Time Sports: