Saturday, October 23, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SECOND-HALF BURST: Wildcats win it on ground

Lomax fuels Las Vegas rally to turn back Desert Pines

By SAM LEEPER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Las Vegas running back Eric Jordan turns upfield on a first-half run Friday night at Desert Pines. Jordan had a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and finished with 132 yards on 27 carries to help the Wildcats defeat the Jaguars, 36-28. Photo by ISAAC BREKKEN/REVIEW-JOURNAL

Down by four points at halftime, Las Vegas went back to its bread-and-butter running game, and junior Jamal Lomax made the strategy pay off.

Getting most of the workload after Eric Jordan exited in the third quarter with leg cramps, Lomax ran for 151 of his game-high 153 yards in the final two periods as the No. 7 Wildcats held off host Desert Pines 36-28 Friday night.

Trailing 20-16, Las Vegas (7-2, 3-1 Northeast) came back with a 5-yard touchdown run by Jordan and a 57-yarder by Lomax to take a 30-20 cushion midway through the third quarter.

"I told the kids at halftime that we were at a crossroad," Wildcats coach Chris Faircloth said. "We needed to decide if we were going to be a good football team or not. If so, then we need to come out and take over the game."

After Las Vegas pushed the lead to 36-20 after a 6-yard TD pass from O'Ryan Bradley to Dante Fielder, the Jaguars made things interesting. Desert Pines (3-5, 1-3) trimmed the deficit to eight after Shawn Tatum threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game, 39 yards to Dominique White, and tacked on a 2-point conversion with 3:24 to play.

The Jaguars got one final chance to score after taking possession at their 46 with 1:29 remaining. But the Wildcats defense, which intercepted two Tatum passes in the second half, sacked him at the Las Vegas 34 on the final play.

Tatum, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 260 yards, threw scoring passes of 71, 10 and 26 yards in the first half as the Jaguars built their lead. Two of the TDs went to Jeromy Jones, who caught seven passes for 149 yards.

Bradley threw scoring strikes of 78 and 41 yards to Christian Vidal in the first half. Vidal finished with four grabs for 152 yards.

Jordan rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries, but had just 46 after halftime.

"Our offensive line finally wore them down," said Faircloth, whose team outrushed the Jaguars, 296-77. "We have two very good running backs and both did their job in the second half. I'm very proud of the way they both ran the football."

• Palo Verde 27, Cimarron-Memorial 16 -- At Cimarron-Memorial, Sam King rushed 14 times for 151 yards and a TD to lead the top-ranked Panthers past the Spartans.

Cimarron (4-4, 1-3 Northwest) looked strong early, capping a five-minute opening drive with a 36-yard Ryan Saludares field goal. But King answered with a 62-yard touchdown run on the first play for Palo Verde (8-0, 4-0).

Marc Evans (144 yards on 21 carries) extended the Panthers' lead to 13-3 with a 2-yard run in the second quarter and Drew McDaniel added an 8-yard TD run early in the third to make it 21-3.

The Spartans battled back with a 12-yard scoring pass from Andrew Hatch to Shane Moline in the third and a 62-yarder to James Cook with 2:59 remaining to close the gap to 21-16. Hatch completed 11 of 25 passes for 254 yards.

But the ensuing onside kick gave the Panthers good field position, and they quickly took advantage, scoring on a 12-yard run by Evans.

-- Jeff Wollard

• Cheyenne 39, Centennial 20 -- At Cheyenne, the third-ranked Desert Shields (7-0, 4-0 Northwest) survived an early scare and beat the Bulldogs (2-6, 0-4).

Centennial's ball-control ground game dominated the first half en route to a 14-13 lead, but the Bulldogs lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions in the second half to end any upset hopes.

Two interception returns, including an 80-yarder by Jarrel Holman, helped Cheyenne pull ahead for good.

Cheyenne running back Torrie Coleman scored on runs of 35 and 34 yards in the second half and finished with 129 yards on 15 carries. Evon Buhecker scored on a 5-yard run to lift Cheyenne within one point at halftime.

Brian Kennard returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to give Centennial the lead.

-- David Garrett

• Bonanza 14, Western 13 -- At Bonanza, Nigel Moore scored on a 1-yard run with 5:21 to play, leading the Bengals to a come-from-behind victory over the Warriors.

Moore's touchdown capped a 17-play, 81-yard Bonanza drive that chewed up 7:26. Moore finished with 97 yards on 25 carries to lead the Bengals (5-4, 3-1 Southwest).

Western (2-7, 1-3) had a 13-7 lead at halftime after Marcus Burton's 5-yard TD run with 3:26 left in the second quarter. The Warriors were poised to increase their lead, but fumbled on the Bonanza 3 in the final minute of the half.

Bonanza's defense set the tone in the second half, limiting Western to 48 yards and one first down.

Western took the early lead on Julian Sample's 1-yard sneak with 8:25 left in the first quarter. That was set up by Willy Fata's 33-yard run up the middle to the Bengal 10 on a fake punt.

Bonanza countered late in the period on QB Brett Parry's 10-yard TD run.

Stephon Sanford led the Warriors with 93 yards on 11 carries.

-- Tim Guesman

• Sierra Vista 28, Durango 0 -- At Sierra Vista, the eighth-ranked Lions scored 21 points in the second quarter to break away from a scoreless tie.

Stacy Martin caught six passes for 139 yards and a TD to lead the offense for Sierra Vista (7-2, 3-1 Southwest).

Jake Whittaker threw for 169 yards and a score. He also ran in two 1-yard touchdowns.

The Lions defense was dominant, especially in the second half when it limited the Trailblazers to 39 rushing yards. For the game, Sierra Vista allowed 144 yards on the ground and no completions.

Sierra Vista's Steven Hill led all rushers with 169 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries.

Louis Kimble starred for Durango (1-7, 1-3), rushing for 101 yards on 23 carries.

-- Adam Hill

• Bishop Gorman 56, Clark 7 -- At Clark, Ryan Reynolds ran for two touchdowns, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass to lead the sixth-ranked Gaels (6-1, 4-0) past the Chargers (0-8, 0-4).

The Gaels scored 28 points off of five Charger turnovers.

Reynolds scored his first touchdown from 5 yards out, and added a 7-yarder moments after he recovered a fumble at the Clark 25-yard line.

Greg Williams intercepted a Percy Parker pass on the ensuing possession and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown and 21-0 Gorman lead midway through the first quarter.

DeMarco Murray rushed for 134 and two touchdowns on six carries to lead the Gaels offense. Corey White added 103 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

-- Jim Godfrey

• Shadow Ridge 49, Mojave 0 -- At Shadow Ridge, Bobby Alexander scored two defensive touchdowns in the first quarter to guide the Mustangs (5-3, 2-2 Northwest) past the Rattlers (2-6, 1-3).

Alexander returned an interception 45 yards and a fumble 29 yards for scores as part of a 28-point first quarter.

Ricky Snodgrass also had a big night, rushing for 166 yards and two TD on 19 carries in three quarters of action. Snodgrass scored on runs of 68 and 10 yards

Quarterback Chris Berkeley scored on a 1-yard run and also connected with Beau Backman for an 11-yard TD.

Aaron Thomas scored on a 5-yard run in the third quarter.

The Mustangs forced six turnovers and blocked a punt.

-- Arnold Knightly

• Chaparral 45, Rancho 12 -- At Chaparral, Brandon Lomax and Jamaal McElroy each ran for two touchdowns as the Cowboys rolled past the Rams.

McElroy gave the Cowboys (2-7, 1-3 Northeast) a 6-0 lead on a 25-yard run on Chaparral's second offensive play.

Jesse Aquino added a 1-yard score and Lomax scored on a 40-yard run as Chaparral raced to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter.

Rancho (1-8, 0-4 Northeast) closed the gap to 18-6 after Terrance McGill hit Ariece Perkins for 56-yard touchdown 13 seconds into the second quarter.

Perkins also threw a 16-yard score to McGill in the fourth quarter.

Jonathan Robinson extended the Cowboys' lead to 24-6 in the third after he fell on Lomax's fumble in the end zone.

Lomax and Jordan Shultzman each added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Chaparral went ahead 38-6.

Lomax finished with 169 yards on 18 carries.

McElroy wrapped up the scoring with a 50-yard run in the fourth quarter.

-- Christian Wloszczyna

• Green Valley 56, Liberty 7 -- At Green Valley, Jairus Howard ran for 222 yards and two touchdowns, and Randy Ingel returned two punts for scores to lead the Gators (6-3, 2-2 Southeast) past the Patriots (2-7, 0-4).

Jeff Garcia (76 yards on nine carries) scored on a 5-yard run and Ingel returned a 47-yard punt for a touchdown and a 14-0 first quarter lead.

Green Valley took a 20-7 halftime lead on a 28-yard TD pass from sophomore Kalin Beal to Gabe Garcia. The Gators had a 153-36 edge in first-half yards.

Green Valley scored 29 points in the third quarter to break it open. Howard scored on a 49-yard run on the second play of the period. Jeff Garcia followed with a 40-yard TD run and Ingel returned his second punt for a touchdown, a 52-yarder.

Howard added a 63-yard TD with 1:15 left in the third, and Gabe Garcia's 47-yard run in the fourth made it 56-7.

The Gators outgained the Patriots on the ground, 348 yards to minus-9.

-- John Cranton

• Coronado 30, Basic 12 -- At Coronado, the Cougars (4-4, 2-2) forced five second-half turnovers en route to the victory over the Wolves (1-7, 1-3 Southeast).

Basic took a 6-0 second quarter lead on a 4-yard touchdown run by Damien Glover.

Scott McLeod scored on a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line to tie the game for the Cougars with 4:42 left in the third.

Eric Nimmer had the second of Coronado's four interceptions and returned it 41 yards to the Basic 4-yard line. Chris Desjardins ran for the score on the next play, giving the Cougars a 13-6 lead late in the third. Desjardins finished with 113 yards on 24 carries.

Brett Hamrick boosted Coronado's lead to 20-6 early in the fourth by returning an interception 55 yards for a touchdown.

Alexandra Smallwood kicked a 23-yard field goal for the Cougars in the fourth quarter, and Rashad Williams added a 17-yard TD run.

-- James Soller

• Moapa Valley 39, Canyon Springs 7 -- At Canyon Springs, the Pirates (8-1) put the game away early, getting three first-quarter touchdowns from senior Zach Davis for the win over the Pioneers (4-4).

Davis scored on a 40-yard pass from senior quarterback Jeff Bowler, on a 55-yard punt return and on a 35-yard interception return. Davis gained 167 all-purpose yards to lead the Pirates.

Junior back Michael Hearing caught a 35-yard touchdown pass in the third from junior quarterback Andy Sadler for Canyon Springs' lone score.

-- Jeff Hoskin

• Virgin Valley 13, Faith Lutheran 12 -- At Faith Lutheran, Kyle Johnson ran for a touchdown, and Dane Byers added the extra point in overtime to lift the Bulldogs (7-2, 2-1 3A Southern League) over the Crusaders.

Trailing 6-0 with just under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Todd Allen caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Thurston to draw the Bulldogs even.

Regulation ended with five interceptions in the final two minutes. Virgin Valley was intercepted three times, and Faith Lutheran twice.

Joshua Washington (37 yards) and Jarid Rollins (9 yards) each had receiving touchdown for Faith Lutheran (4-4, 0-4).

-- Collin McLaughlin

• Pahrump Valley 43, Del Sol 7 -- At Pahrump, Kekoa Malendres rushed 14 times for 218 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Trojans (5-3) defeated the Dragons (1-8).

Kyle Floyd ran 17 times for 196 yards and a touchdown for Pahrump, and Ryan Holz caught five passes for 136 yards including a 79-yard touchdown.

• Boulder City 48, Spring Valley 0 -- At Boulder City, Mitch Barlow ran for four touchdowns as the Eagles (7-1) dominated the Grizzlies.

Kalvin Kronmeyer rushed for two scores for Boulder City. Barlow led the ground game with 151 yards on 15 carries, and Adam Sasarita ran for 126 yards.

• Indian Springs 38, Lund 20 -- At Lund, Jesse Rhynard gained 164 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns and Charlie Olmstead tallied 111 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdown as the Thunderbirds defeated Lund.

Blaze Griffin ran for two TDs for Lund.