Saturday, November 06, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Wildcats easily handle Gators

Las Vegas' win sets up Silverado showdown

By SAM LEEPER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Fifth-ranked Las Vegas got a total team effort Friday night in a 35-7 victory over visiting Green Valley in the first round of the Class 4A Sunrise Regional.

The Wildcats (9-2) will advance to next week's regional semifinals against Silverado, a 21-14 winner over Eldorado.

From the first possession, in which Las Vegas marched 58 yards in eight plays for a score, it was all Wildcats. Offensively, they gained 285 yards, 180 rushing. Eric Jordan led the way with 134 yards on 24 carries.

Las Vegas limited the Gators (6-5) to 133 total yards. Green Valley had 49 yards after three quarters as the Wildcats took a 35-0 lead.

For good measure, the Wildcats ran a fake punt for a 13-yard gain and ran another fake on an extra-point attempt for two points.

"We've been working hard at staying more focused," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "We're not sloppy with the ball right now, and that's really helping us out. Our defense is playing against the run really well. We take a lot of pride in stopping the run. That's how you win championships -- by stopping the run."

Just as the Wildcats are committed to stopping the run, Las Vegas used its running attack to wear down the Gators. Jordan had scoring runs of 15, 27 and 4 yards as the junior had his 19th consecutive 100-yard game.

Junior Jamal Lomax had two touchdowns -- one on a 16-yard reception from quarterback O'Ryan Bradley and another on a five-yard run in the third quarter.

The defense was just as stellar as Las Vegas had interceptions by Jashaad Gaines and Jovan Massey.

"We knew they (Green Valley) would be very scrappy in their line play," Faircloth said. "We just controlled the line of scrimmage and took control of the game. It was a total team effort."

Green Valley's touchdown came in the final minute, on a 2-yard run from Jairus Howard.

Bradley completed 7 of 14 passes for 105 yards for Las Vegas, with four completions going to Christian Vidal for 63 yards.