Saturday, November 15, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: Wildcats defense leads charge

Las Vegas stops Foothill 26-7, stays unbeaten

By ADAM HILL
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas High players burst onto the field to celebrate their 26-7 victory over Foothill in the Sunrise Regional semifinals Friday night. Pictured are Evan Walton (80), Steve Holmes (86), Greg Hansborough (3), Stanley Wroten (33), Richie Plunkett (73), Cameron Busby (75) and David Mann (57). Photo by K.M. Cannon. Las Vegas sophomore running back Jamal Lomax (20) takes off over the right side for a 6-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, capping the scoring in the Wildcats' 26-7 victory over Foothill on Friday night. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Las Vegas High's football program has been known for its explosive offense under head coach Kris Cinkovich.

But the Wildcats' defense took matters into its own hands Friday night, leading top-ranked Las Vegas to a 26-7 victory over third-ranked Foothill in the Sunrise Regional semifinals at Las Vegas High.

Stout defense kept the unbeaten Wildcats (11-0) in the game until their offense could get untracked in the second half. Foothill led only 7-6 at halftime despite outgaining Las Vegas 140-7 to that point.

The Wildcats rolled up 232 yards in the second half, taking the lead for good on an 8-yard pass from Jeremy Craddock to Stanley Copeland with 5:24 to play in the third quarter.

The victory pushed Las Vegas into next week's regional final against division rival Desert Pines, the team that knocked the Wildcats out of last year's playoffs.

Las Vegas gets a chance for redemption mainly because its defense didn't allow Foothill to get too far ahead while its own offense was struggling.

"Our defense came out and played like we wanted them to play," Cinkovich said. "Our defense got us in this game and kept us in this game. Our offense was finally able to come around and do some things late, but (the defense) really fought hard for us all night."

Las Vegas senior running back Jacob Robertson rushed for 109 of his 111 yards in the second half, and Jamal Lomax ran for 84 of his 94 yards after the break. Each scored fourth-quarter touchdowns to expand the Wildcats' lead.

Despite their sluggish offense in the first half, the Wildcats controlled the field position and used it to turn in the biggest play of the half.

The Wildcats pinned Foothill (9-2) at its own 1-yard line near the end of the first quarter. On the second play of the second quarter, Las Vegas sophomore Evan Walton broke through to block the Falcons' punt. He gathered the ball in midair before reaching the end line for a touchdown and 6-0 Las Vegas lead.

"We didn't block out on (Walton) and that guy just made a great play," Foothill coach Ray Fenton said.

The Falcons answered with their only touchdown on a 1-yard run by quarterback Mickey Beljin to take a 7-6 lead. It was small consolation, though, after the way Foothill had dominated the yardage battle.

"It was very disheartening to us, without a doubt," Fenton said. "When you hold a team like that and get a punt blocked for a score, it's very tough."

D'Angelo Jones ran for 97 yards for Foothill and Beljin passed for 85.

Las Vegas' Copeland caught four passes for 32 yards and a score, and also caught a 2-point conversion pass.

The Wildcats' regional final against Desert Pines will be a rematch of the teams' regular-season finale, which Las Vegas won 36-9. But Cinkovich is more likely to remind his team of last year's playoff loss to the Jaguars.

"We didn't have very good luck playing that team the second time last year," he said. "They kicked our butts and taught us a lesson. We're going to have to get our guys prepared for next week."

Because the Sunrise Region gets two berths in the state playoffs this season, both Desert Pines and Las Vegas have earned a spot in the state semifinals.