Carson Football Beats Unbeaten Mary Star 45-42 in California High School Thriller

Carson high school football fans witnessed an exciting Friday night matchup as the Colts outlasted undefeated Mary Star in a 45-42 victory. The Week 10 matchup delivered nearly 60 points in the second half alone, featuring aggressive offensive firepower, relentless penalties, and a decisive late-game kick that ultimately separated two heavyweights.

The tone was set during warmups, where words were exchanged between two teams entering the contest on impressive winning streaks. That early friction manifested in a tightly contested first half that ended in a 14-14 deadlock. Neither defense could establish dominance, paving the way for a frantic, high-scoring final two quarters.

An Explosive Second Half and Special Teams Heroics

Carson senior Darren Panton ignited the second-half fireworks by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown, pushing the Colts ahead 21-14. Mary Star freshman quarterback Ian Ditch answered with a rushing score to level the game once more. The scoring flurry continued as Carson senior wide receiver Nick Sandoval hauled in a long touchdown pass, followed by a 60-yard option keeper from senior quarterback Chris Fields that extended Carson’s lead to 35-21 late in the third quarter.

Despite facing a two-touchdown deficit, Mary Star refused to fold. Ditch continually extended plays outside the pocket, keeping the pressure squarely on the Carson defense as the Stars clawed back within striking distance. With the lead narrowed to 35-28, Carson senior and Idaho State commit Nathan Williams hauled in a touchdown pass to stretch the advantage back to 42-28.

When Mary Star closed the gap to 42-35 in the fourth quarter, Carson turned to sophomore kicker Monico Flores. Lined up on the left hash for a 45-yard field goal, Flores split the uprights to give the Colts breathing room at 45-35.

“He is a high level soccer player,” Carson head coach William Lowe said of Flores, who also converted a crucial field goal earlier in the season to secure a 17-14 victory over Long Beach Poly.

Mary Star added a late touchdown to make it 45-42, but failed to recover the ensuing onside kick, sealing the win for Carson.

Looking Ahead to the Playoffs

With the regular season concluded at 9-1, Carson earned the No. 1 seed in the Los Angeles City Section Open Division playoffs. Head coach William Lowe acknowledged that his squad still has areas to address during their bye week before postseason action begins.

Carson will host No. 8 seed Palisades on Nov. 13 in the City Section Open Division playoffs. Mary Star, which also finished its regular season with a 9-1 record, advances to compete in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs.