When your offense is scoring more than 45 points a game, it's easy to overlook the defense.

Even though Las Vegas High has scored 139 points in three football playoff games, the defense has been just as big a part of the team's success.

The Wildcats have allowed 36 points in the postseason. One touchdown came on special teams, and the other four came after the game was all but decided.

The defense will get one final test when the Wildcats (11-2) take on Galena (10-3) in the Class 4A state championship game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Wildcats are appearing in their fourth consecutive state title game and fifth in six seasons.

"Those kids take a lot of pride, and they don't take kindly to points being scored upon them or yards being accumulated on them," Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth said. "They're where we need them to be. But this is the week where it all comes down."

The Wildcats gave up two 30-point games in the first three weeks of the season, losing both. But Faircloth said the team has continued to shift personnel, looking for the right balance, and the defense has responded.

Since the 1-2 start, Las Vegas has allowed an average of 10.2 points with two shutouts.

"We kind of knew that's what they were capable of all year," Faircloth said. "And we rotate a lot of personnel to get the right mix. At this time, we're still looking."

While defensive tackle Billy Winn is clearly the team's defensive star and a future Division I player, the most impressive thing about the defense is its balance.

Winn has 15 sacks but is far from the only player making plays. Linebackers Nate Carter and Colin Shumate lead the team with 75 tackles, and defensive end Ryan Kurth has 14 tackles for loss.

Cornerback Colin Pretlow has seven interceptions, and safety Jovan Massey has emerged as a big hitter and strong pass defender, having broken up five passes and intercepted two.

"We're just ready for anything right now," said cornerback Mark Brinkman, one of six Wildcats with at least two interceptions. "We've just got to step up and get it done."

The team's defensive performance in the Sunrise Regional title game against Del Sol was as impressive as any all season.

The Wildcats allowed no points and 26 yards of offense in the first three quarters before the starters were removed. Las Vegas held Dragons star running back Tim Johnson to 24 yards on 20 carries. Johnson had rushed for 100 or more yards in 11 consecutive games.

"We kind of felt like Del Sol was limited on their weapons," Faircloth said. "We knew their quarterback could throw, but Tim Johnson was the whole thing for them to get rolling. Everything else we felt like we could at least somewhat run down. Tim Johnson we didn't think we could run down if he got out. And our kids didn't let him out."

Johnson was surrounded nearly every time he touched the ball.

"Our coaches get us to pursue the ball, so that's a good thing," defensive tackle Scott Cacal said.

The Wildcats didn't stop the run at the expense of the pass. Del Sol quarterback Matt Burge completed only 1 of 11 passes for 9 yards.

But Faircloth warns that this is a new week with new challenges. The Grizzlies have shown balance with running back Jimmy Sargent (2,001 rushing yards) and quarterback Jacob Anderson (1,440 passing yards).

"This week, it's a whole other thing," Faircloth said. "They throw as well as they run, and that's probably a big reason why they're here.

"We've done this before where we've had a good defense and didn't quite finish the way we'd like. Hopefully, we finish it this week."