Carson’s impact was way bigger than his touches, and that’s what makes him such a problem. Yeah, he only finished with two catches for 15 yards (plus one carry for 4), but he ran clean routes all night and did the little stuff that keeps an offense on schedule — blocking, opening up lanes for other wideouts, being a leader on the field. He was really effective at safety, too. He was communicating on the back end, closing windows, coming downhill when Arcadia tried to get in rhythm, and you could tell he was affecting what they wanted to do in the pass game — nothing felt easy when the ball got pushed into his area. Then you add the return-game punch — flipping the whole feel of the night with that kickoff house call right when Arcadia was starting to build momentum — and it’s just a perfect snapshot of what you love in a guy like Carson.

It’s not often you come across a player who truly makes an impact in all three phases the way Riley Carson Riley Carson 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH/DB Mica Mountain | 2026 State AZ does. He racked up over 1,200 all-purpose yards, found the end zone nine times, and still had the juice to pull down six interceptions on defense. That kind of two-way production is rare enough — but then you throw in the fact that he also handles kicking duties? That’s just different. He went a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points, crushed 52 touchbacks on kickoffs, and pinned nine punts inside the 20. And the thing is, none of it feels gimmicky — he’s just a naturally gifted athlete who’s confident in what he brings to the table. As a receiver, his speed is obvious, but there’s also a smoothness in how he moves and a willingness to do the gritty stuff. On defense, he’s got real instincts and doesn’t wait around — he attacks downhill and plays fast. Add in his leg strength and clean mechanics as a specialist, and you’re looking at a guy who can change the game in more ways than most. It’s hard to overstate how valuable that kind of versatility is at the high school level.