How Clark County college football players fared: Nelson ends up-and-down career on a high

Taylor Nelson’s football career at Southern Utah as had plenty of ups and downs.

It concluded Saturday on a new high.

Nelson, a linebacker from Union High, had a career high 19 tackles in his final collegiate football game, a 38-24 loss to Cal Poly.

Prior to this season, Nelson successfully appealed for a fifth year of eligibility at Southern Utah under a medical hardship waiver. He missed all but three games in 2016 after undergoing knee surgery for the third time. He also missed most of the 2014 season.

“The one thing about college football is that you work so hard for something, but nothing is guaranteed,” Nelson told the St. George Spectrum. “You always hear that hard work pays off. But you work your whole life to get to this point. It was my junior year, I’m starting to play really well and it’s all taken away. It’s like that doesn’t make any sense.”

At 25, Nelson’s teammates have given him the nickname Old Glory. After graduating from Union in 2011, he spent two years on an LDS mission in Brazil.

Nelson was The Columbian’s All-Region player of the year in both 2009 and 2010, leading the Titans to two consecutive semifinal appearances and a second-place finish in 2009.

After joining Southern Utah as a walk-on, Nelson has seen plenty of standout moments. In 2016, he had 10 tackles against Utah, holding his own with Pac-12 competition. He helped Southern Utah win Big Sky championships in 2015 and 2017.

But he’s also battled through those injuries and a 2018 season that has seen Southern Utah go 1-10, including 1-7 in the Big Sky.

Now it’s on to the next chapter for Nelson. After majoring in finance, he is on track to earn a master’s degree.

And there may be another Nelson chapter at Southern Utah. His younger brother Tate is a freshman in the football program.

As always, email updates to Sports Editor Micah Rice at micah.rice@columbian.com.

Here’s how Clark County players fared on the college gridiron this weekend:

* — has used redshirt year

Abilene Christian

Last game: Lost to Central Arkansas 16-7 to fall to 6-45 overall and 5-4 in the Southland Conference.

Next game: Season over.

Dakota Napierkowski, Camas, So., OL — Did not play.

Air Force

Last game: Lost to Wyoming 35-27 to fall to 2-5 in the Mountain West Conference and 4-7 overall.

Next game: Colorado State, Nov. 22, 12:30 p.m.

Brody Bagnall, Evergreen, Sr., LB — Missed the game due to injury.

Christopher Mitchell, Mountain View, Jr., OL — Played in a backup role for an offense that gained 415 yards.

Arizona State

Last game: Lost to Oregon 31-29 to fall to 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Next game: at Arizona, Nov. 24, 12:30 p.m.

Mason Schell, Columbia River, So., OL — Did not play.

Butte College

Last game: Lost to Fresno City 29-26 in the first round of the NorCal playoffs to fall to 9-2.

Next game: Season over.

Lane Andersen, Ridgefield, So., OL/DL — Started at center for an offense that gained 310 yards.

Carroll College

Last game: Season over at 5-6 overall and 4-6 in the NAIA Frontier Conference.

William Noce-Sheldon, Seton Catholic, Jr.*, WR —

Central Washington

Last game: Season over at 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Reilly Hennessey, Camas, Sr. QB —

Will Ortner, Hockinson, So.*, OL —

Isaiah Carbajal, Mountain View, Fr.*, DL —

Kai Gamble, Union, Fr.*, LB —

Max Randle, Battle Ground, Fr.*, DB —

Canon Racanelli, Hockinson, Fr., QB —

Angel Terry, Hudson’s Bay, Fr., DL —

Chapman

Last game: Season over at 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the Division-III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

David Aarhus, Camas, So. LB —

College of Idaho

Last game: Season over at 6-5 overall and 6-4 in the NAIA Frontier Conference.

Chris Waters, Battle Ground, Sr., DB —

Isaiah Abdul, Camas, Fr., DB —

College of Siskiyous

Last game: Season over at 3-7 in CCCAA play.

Ala Telenkun, Fort Vancouver, So., DL —

Sergio Vega-McBride, Hudson’s Bay, Fr., DL —

Brett Judd, La Center, So., LB —

Lafitaga Sosene, Heritage, So., DL —

Whitey Sosene, Heritage, Fr., DL —

Tyrell Hall, Mountain View, Fr., DB —

J’Wan Vick, Heritage, Fr., DB —

Eastern Oregon

Last game: Season over at6-4 overall and in the NAIA Frontier Conference.

Zach Lacey, Woodland, Sr., DL —

Jarred Telles, Evergreen, So., DB —

Bailey Buckner, Battle Ground, Fr.*, LB —

E’Lon Mack, Heritage, Jr., WR —

Eastern Washington

Last game: Beat Portland State 74-23 to improve to 9-2 overall and clinch the Big Sky title at 7-1.

Next game: After a first-round bye, No. 3 seeded EWU will host either Nicolls State or San Diego on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.

Roldan Alcobendas, Camas, Sr.*, K — Missed the game due to an undisclosed injury.

Zach Eagle, Camas, Sr.*, WR — Did not play. Suffered a leg injury Sept. 29 vs. Montana State.

Kedrick Johnson, Hockinson, So.*, DB — Had three tackles, all solo.

Dylan Ingram, Camas, Fr.*, TE — Played in a backup role and on special teams.

Gunner Talkington, Battle Ground, Fr.*, QB —Played in a backup role, going 0 for 3 in passing attempts.

Aiden Nellor, Union, Fr., TE — Played in a backup role.

Rudolph Mataia Jr., Evergreen, So.*, DL — Did not play.

Zion Fa’aopega, Union, Fr., DL — Played in a backup role.

Michael Taras, Heritage, Fr., QB — Did not play.

George Fox

Last game: Season over at 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Division-III Northwest Conference.

Josiah Tully, King’s Way Christian, Sr., WR —

K.J. Santos, Seton Catholic, Sr., FB —

Abe Smith, Union, So., S —

Matt Henry, Hockinson, Fr., LB —

Kyle Brabec, Hockinson, Fr., LB —

Noho Lidstone, Columbia River, So., LB —

Hawaii

Last game: Beat UNLV 35-28 to improve to 7-5 overall and 4-3 in the Mountain West Conference.

Next game: at San Diego State, Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m.

Michael Boyle, Camas, Fr.*, PK – Did not play due to injury.

Idaho State

Last game: Lost to Weber State 26-13 to fall to 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Sky Conference.

Next game: Season over.

Caleb Eldred, Camas, Fr.*, OL – Played in a backup role for an offense that gained 322 yards.

Liberty

Last game: Lost to Auburn 53-0 to fall to 4-6 overall.

Next game: New Mexico State, Nov. 24, 11 a.m.

Josh Tully, King’s Way Christian, Jr.*, WR – Did not play.

Linfield

Last game: Season over at7-2 overall and 6-1 in the Division-III Northwest Conference.

Will Warne, Mountain View, Jr.*, K –

Tyler Bergeron, Battle Ground, Fr, LB/DB –

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Last game: Lost to Johns Hopkins 49-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division-III playoffs. 

Next game: Season over at 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the NCAA Division-III New England Mens and Womens Athletic Conference, claiming the conference title.

Keithen Shepard, Union, So., WR — Had three catches for 20 yards with a long of 11. Had five kickoff returns for 88 yards, with a long of 26 yards.

Montana

Last game: Lost to Montana State 29-25 to fall to 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Big Sky Conference.

Next game: Montana State, Nov. 17, 12 p.m.

Kobey Eaton, Evergreen, Jr.*, DB — Did not play.

Rey Green, Union, So.*, RB — Did not play.

Michael Matthews, Camas, Fr.*, LB —Did not play.

Skyler Martin, Skyview, Fr.*, OL — Started at left guard, helping Montana’s offense gain 454 yards.

Cole Grossman, Skyview, Fr., TE — Did not play.

Montana Tech

Last game: Season over at 5-5 both overall and in the NAIA Frontier Conference.

Max Hiller, La Center, Jr.*, LB —

Zeek Fromel, Mountain View, Fr., OL/DL —

Jack Hiller, La Center, Fr., OL —

Nebraska

Last game: Beat Michigan State 9-6 to improve to 4-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten.

Next game: at Iowa, Nov. 23, 9 a.m.

Caleb Lightbourn, Camas, Jr., P — Did not play.

Notre Dame

Last game: Beat Syracuse 36-3 to improve to 11-0.

Next game: at Southern Cal, Nov. 24, 5 p.m.

Nolan Henry, Union, Sr., QB — Handled placeholding duties. Notre Dame was 3 for 3 on field goals and 3 for 4 on extra points.

Oregon State

Last game: Lost to Washington 42-23 to fall to 2-9 overall and 1-7 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Next game: Oregon, Nov. 23, 1 p.m.

Jack Colletto, Camas, So., QB — Played in a backup role. Had one carry, a 3-yard touchdown run for his fifth rushing TD of the season.

Pacific University

Last game: Season over at5-5 overall and 4-3 in the Division-III Northwest Conference.

Riley Miller, Union, Fr., LB —

Myles Artis, Hudson’s Bay, Fr., DE —

Pacific Lutheran University

Last game: Season over at4-5 overall and 3-4 in the Division-III Northwest Conference.

Logan Black, Ridgefield, Jr., OL —

Tristan Thomas, Woodland, So., LB —

Liam Nabors, King’s Way Christian, So., QB —

Peru State (Neb.)

Last game: Season over at 3-8 overall and 1-4 in the Heart of America Conference.

Dylan King, Skyview, Sr.*, DB —

Portland State

Last game: Lost to Eastern Washington 74-23 to fall to 4-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference.

Next game: Season over.

Nathan Hawthorne, Columbia River, So.*, WR — Played in a backup role and on special teams.

Brady Brick, Battle Ground, Fr.*, OL —Did not play.

Jacob Bystry, Columbia River, Jr, WR — Had one catch for 6 yards.

Cameron Loos, Hockinson, Jr., TE — Did not play.

University of Redlands

Last game: Season over at 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Division-III Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Claimed a share of the conference title.

Blake Roy, Camas, Jr. TE —

Rocky Mountain College

Last game: Lost to Morningside College 49-20 in the first round of the NAIA Playoffs.

Next game: Season over at 8-4 overall and 7-3 in the NAIA Frontier Conference. Clinched conference championship via tiebreaker.

Joey Roberts, Mountain View, Fr. OL — Did not play.

Simon Fraser

Last game: Season over at 1-9 overall and 0-8 in the NCAA D-II Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Gabe Lopes, Camas, Sr., LB —

Robert Meadors, Heritage, Fr., WR —

Southern Oregon

Last game: Season over at 6-4 both overall and in the NAIA Frontier Conference.

Parker Randle, Battle Ground, Jr.*, WR —

Nate Kuratli, Union, So.*, DB —

David McDonald, Union, Fr., DB —

Jordan Suell, Fort Vancouver, Jr.*, WR —

Southern Utah

Last game:  Lost to Cal Poly 38-24 to fall to 1-10 overall and 1-7 in the Big Sky Conference.

Next game: Season over.

Taylor Nelson, Union, Sr.*, LB — Started at linebacker. Had a career high 19 tackles, including 10 solo.

Tate Nelson, Union, Fr., LB — Did not play.

Washington

Last game: Beat Oregon State 42-23 to improve to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Next game: at Washington State, Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m.

Angelo Sarchi, Skyview, Fr., DB — Did not play.

Noah Hellyer, Skyview, Fr., DB — Did not play.

Washington State

Last game: Beat Arizona 69-28 to improve to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Next game: Washington, Nov. 23, 5:30 p.m.

Beau Braden, Columbia River, Fr., DL — Did not play.

Western Oregon

Last game: Season over at 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the Division-II Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Nathan Hockhalter, Columbia River, Fr.*, DL —

Nehru Faalevau, Union, Fr.*, WR —

Jordan Hickman, Hudson’s Bay, Fr.*, QB —

Aksel Fredrickson, Battle Ground, Fr., DL —

Wyatt Harsh, Woodland, Fr., QB —

Koben Jamison, Columbia River, Fr., DB —

Tyrek McCullum, Union, Fr., DB —

Alex Rodriguez, Evergreen, Fr., DL —

Wyoming

Last game: Beat Air Force 35-27 to improve to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the Mountain West Conference.

Next game: at New Mexico, Nov. 24, 11:30 a.m.

James Price, Camas, Sr., WR — Had four catches for 54 yards with a long of 16.

Did I miss anyone? If so, email micah.rice@columbian.com.