Saturday, November 20, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Wildcats use different route in rematch rout

After tight last game vs. Valley, Vegas runs to Sunrise title romp

By DAMON SEITERS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas High running back Eric Jordan runs for a first down in the third quarter of the Wildcats' 49-8 victory over Valley. Photo by Ralph Fountain.

When Las Vegas defeated Valley on the final night of the regular season, the Wildcats didn't take control until scoring a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

They didn't wait that long Friday night.

Las Vegas scored on its first four possessions, jumping to a 28-0 lead after one quarter, en route to a 49-8 victory over the visiting Vikings in the Sunrise Regional title game.

"We had a close game against Valley last time we played them; it was 21-3, but it was a lot closer than that," Las Vegas center Cameron Busby said. "To come out and have control of the game for the whole game feels really good."

Las Vegas (11-2) will travel to Sparks to play Northern champion Reed (11-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Class 4A state semifinals.

With the Vikings (9-3) focusing on Las Vegas' leading rusher Eric Jordan, the Wildcats turned to some other players early. Las Vegas faked a pitch to Jordan on its first possession, then handed the ball to fullback Jamal Lomax who went 74 yards for a touchdown with 9:35 to go in the first quarter.

On the next possession, quarterback O'Ryan Bradley found a wide-open Akeem Anifowoshe over the middle, and the duo hooked up for a 60-yard TD pass and a 14-0 lead.

Bradley then hit Dante Fielder with a 34-yard TD pass before Jordan finally got going, scoring on a 49-yard run with 29.7 seconds left in the opening period.

"We knew they were going to be lock, stock and barrel on Eric Jordan," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "That was their total focus. And our offensive staff did a great job of getting some other kids the ball. And it got the momentum for us early, and it just kind of ran from there."

Jordan finished with 129 yards and two TDs on 18 carries, and Lomax had 123 yards and two scores on eight carries as Las Vegas pounded the ball behind the huge left side of its offensive line: tackle Arturo Rodriguez (295 pounds), guard Armando Capetillo (285 pounds) and center Busby (300 pounds).

"Our offensive line has actually really improved in the last three or four weeks," Faircloth said. "They're working their butts off. We're only as good as our offensive line, and it's kind of always been like that."

Las Vegas led 49-0 before Valley's Jeremiah Casella blocked a punt and the Vikings recovered at the Las Vegas 3-yard line. Adrian Shields scored on the next play, and the Vikings added the two-point conversion with 32.4 seconds left for the final margin.