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Friday, September 17, 1999
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Chaparral to test surging Silverado
By Damon Seiters
Review-Journal
The conversation in the preseason went something like this.
When local prep football coaches were asked who would be the top teams around town, they named the usual powers -- Cimarron-Memorial, Cheyenne, Western, Las Vegas. Then many added, "And believe it or not, Silverado's going to be good."
What? Were they talking about the same Silverado team that went 1-8 last season, with the only victory coming because Las Vegas used an ineligible player and had to forfeit?
Well, three weeks into the season, the coaches appear to be correct as the Skyhawks have started out 3-0, outscoring opponents 136-20. But Silverado will find out just how far it's come at 7 tonight when the Skyhawks travel to Chaparral (1-2, 1-0) in a key Sunrise Division contest.
"This is a big challenge for us this week," Silverado coach John DeNardin said. "Chaparral's a good football team."
One of the big reasons for Silverado's turnaround has been the emergence of a running game. The Skyhawks struggled to move the ball on the ground last season but have had three backs surpass 100 yards rushing in a game this season.
Junior Joe Jackson has led the way, rushing for 381 yards and eight touchdowns on 28 carries. Jackson and Will Batts have gone over 100 yards twice, and Levi Neshkoff rushed for more than 100 yards against Foothill.
But much of the credit for the improved running game must go to the offensive line -- tackles Chris Beeghly and V.R. Bohman, guards Felix Perez and Ian Simmons and center Stephen Kunzer.
The Skyhawks' five-man front averages 263 pounds per man, led by the 6-foot-3, 315-pound Beeghly.
"Our offensive line has just done a great job for us," DeNardin said. "We rely heavily on them as most teams do. We try to control the football."
But the key this week may be the ability of Silverado's defensive line to control Chaparral's running game. Mario Hagan has rushed for 377 yards on 56 carries, and Brian Byington has added 250 yards on 36 rushes.
Both are explosive. All three of Chaparral's touchdowns last week against Basic came on long rushes -- 54- and 40-yard runs by Hagan and a 60-yard run by Byington.
"We have to play a great defensive football game," DeNardin said. "They are explosive, and we have to shut down big plays. That Hagan kid can just fly. He's one of the best backs I've seen on film in a long time."
Other games:
-- Cimarron-Memorial (3-0, 2-0 Sunset Division) at Palo Verde (1-2, 1-2) -- The Panthers came up with a huge victory last week at Western and now must try to duplicate the feat at home against the defending state champions.
-- Mojave (0-3, 0-3 Sunset) at Clark (1-2, 1-2) -- Neither team has had much success stopping opponents, with Mojave giving up 36.7 points per contest and Clark 29.
-- Western (1-2, 1-2 Sunset) at Cheyenne (2-1, 2-0) -- Western, one of the preseason favorites, must hang onto the ball to get back in the race. The Warriors also must stop a Cheyenne offense averaging better than 30 points per game.
-- Green Valley (0-2, 0-1 Sunrise) at Las Vegas (3-0, 1-0) -- Top-rated Las Vegas is the area's top offensive club, averaging 52.7 points per game. This is the week Green Valley unveils its "top secret" new offense.
-- Basic (2-1, 0-1 Sunrise) at Rancho (1-2, 0-1) -- Rancho got a boost offensively last week with the return of running back Mike McCormick from injury. Basic will need to show some offense after being shut out by Chaparral.
-- Desert Pines (0-3) at Durango (3-0) -- Durango has cruised offensively, and with J.P. Ablahani, Claudio Salazar and Jamar Thomas all healthy in the backfield, this game should be no exception.
-- Foothill (0-3) at Boulder City (1-1) -- Class 3A Boulder City earned a victory last week over first-year Desert Pines and will look to make it 2-0 against fledgling schools.
-- Moapa Valley (1-1) at Centennial (0-3) -- Another first-year school, Centennial has managed only 15 points all season.
-- Bonanza (0-3, 0-3 Sunset) vs. Bishop Gorman (2-1, 2-0 Sunset) at Valley -- Gorman will look to bounce back after losing to Pine View (Utah) last week.
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