Saturday, September 13, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegas gets defensive, rolls to shutout over Green Valley

By DAMON SEITERS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas High's Jacob Robertson tries to shake a Green Valley defender after catching a pass during the Wildcats' 42-0 victory Friday night. Photo by K.M. Cannon. Wildcats quarterback Chris Gifford breaks a tackle attempt by Gators defensive back Brett Johnson to convert a fourth-and-3 in the first quarter Friday night at Green Valley. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Las Vegas High gave up 40 points to Bonanza last week, and the top-ranked Wildcats weren't about to let that happen again Friday at Green Valley.

Las Vegas held the Gators to 31 yards of offense and just three first downs en route to a 42-0 victory.

"Their pride was wounded last week," Las Vegas coach Kris Cinkovich said. "We played hungry on defense, because they were embarrassed by what happened last week. We have to find a way to do that every week if we're going to be really good.

"We played hungry, and that's what you've got to do in this game."

Green Valley (1-2) had negative-38 yards rushing, thanks largely to Las Vegas' pressure on quarterback Lance Patonai. The Wildcats (3-0) blitzed Patonai all night, forcing him to scramble and sacking him five times. For the night, Patonai lost 64 yards.

"We felt that quarterback's too good, (so) we couldn't just stand there with a four or five-man rush, because I think he'll pick you apart," Cinkovich said. "So we felt we had to try and pressure."

Patonai completed 11 of 20 passes, but totaled just 69 yards as he never had time to look downfield.

The Gators struggled to move the ball, but Las Vegas had 300 yards rushing among 371 yards total offense. Sophomore Eric Jordan led the way with 206 yards on 23 carries, including a 48-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Jordan fumbled on his first carry, but bounced back to gain 192 yards on 21 carries in the first half. Jordan had seven carries for 10 or more yards before leaving the game midway through the third quarter.

"He got off to a bad start and spilled one, and then he pressed the line pretty hard and ran hard," Cinkovich said. "And that's what we like to see."

Jordan, who gained 469 yards and scored six touchdowns as a freshman last season, has eclipsed those numbers in the last two weeks. He ran for 301 yards and six scores in the 58-40 win over Bonanza and now has 565 yards on 69 carries this season.

Las Vegas quarterback Chris Gifford didn't have his best game passing, completing only 7 of 14 for 71 yards. But three completions went for touchdowns, and he added an 11-yard TD run.

All three touchdown passes went to Stanley Copeland, who finished with four catches for 54 yards. In the first quarter, Copeland made a diving catch of a 10-yard pass from Gifford for Las Vegas' first score.

In the third quarter, Copeland took a swing pass and turned it into a 21-yard touchdown, and later in the period made a leaping catch in traffic for an 18-yard TD reception. For the season, Copeland has eight catches, and six have been for touchdowns.

"He's real quiet, just the way he goes about his business, but he seems to get it done," Cinkovich said. "He's made some plays."

Las Vegas' defense and special teams accounted for 10 points, with two safeties and a 53-yard kickoff return for a score by Ryan Meuir.