FERNLEY — In 2024, the Carlin football team took big strides. The Railroaders reached the 1A state semifinal for the first time since 2014, but Carlin will need to continue its improvement — primarily in the trenches — to reach the ultimate goal. On Saturday, North No.
3 Carlin was overpowered by Central No. 1 Tonopah — which crushed the Railroaders by a final score of 64-8. After driving down the field, the Muckers turned the ball over on their first possession — Carlin junior Gage Lewis recovering a fumble at Carlin’s 6.
The Railroaders went three-and-out. Junior Dylan Ramirez ran twice for six yards, but a third-down pass fell incomplete, and sophomore Landon Huntley punted to the Tonopah 28 on the 80-yard field. On its second drive, Tonopah went 52 yards in five plays.
Junior Brekken Miller caught a pass in the right flat for a first down at the 38, and sophomore Dustin Otteson ran around the right edge for a big gain to the Railroaders’ 25. After a seven-yard dive, he moved the chains with a run to the 15. From a wildcat formation, Otteson capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run at the left pylon.
The conversion was stopped by Ramirez, but the Muckers led 6-0 with 4:30 remaining in the first quarter. Junior Leo Krantz recovered an onside attempt at the Carlin 38. Ramirez rushed for three yards, Krantz kept the ball on an option with a power off the right side for a gain of six, but Ramirez was dragged down for a short loss on 3rd-and-1.
On 4th-and-2, .