Las Vegas running back Jamal Lomax rushes the ball for a first down during the second quarter of Friday's game against Valley. Photo by Ralph Fountain.

Las Vegas High had leaned on running back Jamal Lomax all season, so when the senior went down with a toe injury Friday night, it was time for the defense to shine.

The Wildcats held Valley to 49 yards of offense on the way to a 26-0 road victory.

"We have a good defense already, and we knew that we had to step it up when Jamal got hurt," senior defensive lineman Xavier Cleveland said. "We just had to step it up and bring it, and we did. We played strong until the end, and this is our first goose egg, too."

Las Vegas controlled much of the first half, but only led 12-0 at the break.

Lomax entered the game with 1,606 yards, including six games of 200 or more yards.

He ran for 46 yards and a touchdown in the first half, but didn't set foot on the field after halftime.

Without him, the second-ranked Wildcats (8-1, 5-0 Northeast) had trouble moving the football on the ground, but the defense picked up the slack.

The Wildcats went three-and-out on their first possession of the second half, and Valley's Geno Odong blocked a Jeremy Craddock punt, recovering the ball himself at the Las Vegas 6.

But the fifth-ranked Vikings (7-1, 4-1) were unable to capitalize.

Nathan Carter tackled quarterback Josiah Casella for a 6-yard loss on first down.

Valley lost yardage again on second down, and a pair of incomplete passes gave the Wildcats the ball back.

"The kids were pretty fired up today," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "We take a lot of pride in the defense we play, and we always have. They wanted to show something tonight, and I think they did. I think our D front was outstanding."

Cleveland led the defensive charge with a pair of quarterback sacks.

"Xavier Cleveland, he's the best defensive player in the city in our eyes," Faircloth said.

Las Vegas pulled away on its first possession of the fourth quarter, when Jashaad Gaines scored a touchdown on a 6-yard run, and Avant Gates added the extra point to make it 19-0 with 9:08 remaining in the game.

That touchdown was set up by a 59-yard pass from O'Ryan Bradley to Akeem Anifowoshe.

Anifowoshe caught a short wide receiver screen, made two players miss and got a great open field block for the big gain.

The Wildcats put it out of reach when Anifowoshe made a one-handed catch in the end zone for a 20-yard TD pass with 3:50 to play.

Bradley completed 7 of 14 passes for 188 yards.

He also had a 57-yard TD pass to Evan Walton in the first quarter. Anifowoshe caught five balls for 137 yards.

"Bradley did a real good job," Faircloth said. "He was accurate, and the kids caught the ball. That helped us a lot when our run game started to slow down a little bit."

The victory clinched the Northeast Division's top seed for the upcoming Sunrise Regional, guaranteeing Las Vegas a home game to start the playoffs.

"It helps a lot, because we know we're going to be at home for at least the first game," Faircloth said. "The kids like playing at home, they like playing in the black jerseys, and it meant a lot to them that they get to play at home."