Las Vegas running back Jamal Lomax, shown at practice Wednesday, has rushed for 1,860 yards and 27 touchdowns. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

Football is a game of big people, but the area's biggest game thus far might come down to two little guys in the backfield.

When Las Vegas High School (11-1) and Foothill (11-1) meet at 7 tonight at Foothill for the Sunrise Regional title and a berth in the state semifinals, a lot of eyes will be on two running backs: Foothill's 5-foot-8-inch D'Angelo Jones and Las Vegas' 5-7 Jamal Lomax.

"Jones is a great back," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "He has great acceleration and real good vision. He's a very good football player, but Jamal is the same kind of back. I would think it's actually going to come down to those two guys to decide this game."

The players have nearly identical frames -- Jones is listed at 182 pounds and Lomax at 180 -- and have had similar success this season. Jones has rushed for 1,987 yards and 25 touchdowns, and Lomax for 1,860 yards and 27 TDs. Both players have missed one game because of injury.

"Jones is a great accelerator, he hits the hole very hard, and he's great in yards after contact," Faircloth said. "Jamal is similar in yards after contact. He's great in changing direction. That's probably his biggest strength. He can change direction and cut straight across the field. And Jamal is a real gamer."

With so much attention on the running backs, the pressure may lie with the complementary players on each team as they try to clear room for their stars to run. Faircloth said the team's passing game will be important, as he expects the Falcons to load up the box to try to slow Lomax.

That could create chances for Las Vegas' receivers, led by Akeem Anifowoshe (27 catches, 598 yards).

"It takes a lot of pressure off Jamal if our receivers go out there and run their routes hard, catch the ball and get us moving down the field," Anifowoshe said. "It'll probably take a couple guys out of the box."

Las Vegas' spread offense often has four receivers in the pattern. The Wildcats have five receivers with at least 12 receptions.

"Their receivers run good patterns, too," Foothill safety Zac Espejo said.

That passing game could be a problem for Foothill's secondary. The Falcons have struggled some against the pass, allowing 508 passing yards in a 41-38 victory over Coronado. Valley tossed three second-half touchdowns against Foothill last week in the regional semifinals.

"Our secondary has just got to come out and play our hardest, do our assignments and just stay disciplined," said Espejo, who had two of the team's four interceptions against Valley.

Discipline also might be the key for the Las Vegas secondary. Foothill quarterback James Silvas had success with play-action passes against Valley.

"He hides it on his hip, and you can't even see it," Faircloth said. "It's awesome the way he does that. I hope we can figure it out this week."

Even though the Wildcats are aware of Foothill's play-action ability, their focus still comes back to the little guy in the backfield.

"Everybody's got to do our assignments and try to contain D'Angelo," Las Vegas linebacker Josh Winfield said. "He's a good player."

And the Falcons are focussed on giving Jones the room he needs to make the big play.

"Just give him a yard and he'll do the job from there," Foothill center Sheldon Vickers said.