By A.J. Calabrese

The fanatics were still in frenzy from a stage-setting Wolverine touchdown just seconds before Carson wide receiver Austin Dotson started running downfield on what was the biggest kick return of the game. The junior scored on a momentum-killing, 85-yard run to quell the Wolverine comeback and lead the Colts to a 31-15 victory. The Wolverine loss was their first of the season

“It was poor execution,” Head Coach Vic Eumont said, “The kick went too deep, and our coverage team on the left side didn’t anticipate that.”

Berman threw two touchdowns, connecting with Blum and receiver Jackson Ligouri ’10, and two interceptions on the game. He was contested in the backfield almost every play by the Carson defensive line.

On the other side of the ball, Carson enjoyed a steady running attack between half back Jack Sula and fullback Mike Cortez. Quarterback Dominique Blackman threw for a touchdown and led a clicking offense which had no problem controlling the momentum of the game.

“Tonight they gelled. They didn’t make any of the mistakes they had made in their other games. They were on fire,” Eumont said of the opposing team. “We made some key mistakes and they took advantage of them.”

Eumont mentioned execution problems on all sides of the ball, yet the most important came on the first drive of the second half, when the trailing Wolverine offense drove downfield but was held on four straight plays on the Carson goal line.

“We just didn’t execute. We were on the one yard line, and had some miscommunications that prevented us from scoring,” offensive tackle Jonathan Martin ’08 said. A touchdown would have tied the game, but instead a turnover led to a Colts’ field goal to make the score 18-7. The Wolverines pulled within three on a pass from quarterback Sean Berman ’09 to tight end Mike Blum ’09 in the fourth quarter, but the Colts returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.”

“We should have kept the momentum going,” Martin said, with a sense of disappointment. “But they got the kickoff.”

“We’re no longer going to have an undefeated season,” Eumont said after the game. “But now we want to win the next one to get ready for the league. Serra, St. Bernard, and Cathedral are similar teams to what we just played tonight.”

The Wolverines face off in their last non-league game of the season against La Cañada next Friday at Ted Slavin Field.