Agassi Prep sets sights on first state title

Milestone victories have become the central theme of Agassi Prep’s football season.

The Stars clinched their first winning record since moving to the 11-man level in 2008 along with the program’s first playoff appearance. Now, Agassi Prep is after the biggest landmark of all: the school’s first state championship in any sport.

The Stars (6-2) begin their quest with a Class 2A state quarterfinal against two-time defending state champion The Meadows (5-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Rancho.

“It seems like every game is a 'first’ for us,” Agassi Prep coach Colt Goodman said. “There have been a lot of 'firsts’ this season. There’s a lot of energy at the school.”

On the field, much of the energy has come from senior running back DeVonn Porter, one of the area’s leading rushers with 938 yards and 16 touchdowns. The speedster averages 7.7 yards per carry and is the team’s starting strong safety.

Porter has watched Agassi Prep climb from the ashes of a 1-7 campaign two years ago to 3-5 last season to state title contention his senior year.

He chalked up the gradual improvement to “focus and dedication.”

“It’s grown over time,” Porter said of his team’s confidence. “It’s about coming to practice and believing.”

Porter said the Stars will be hungry after the way their regular season ended.

Agassi Prep lost 58-50 in three overtimes at Needles (Calif.) last week. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak and cost the Stars the 2A Southern League’s No. 1 seed for the playoffs. “It should make a difference. I hope that it weighs a little bit on them,” Goodman said.

The Stars will be looking to beat The Meadows for the second time this season. Agassi Prep rolled to a 62-34 road win over the Mustangs on Oct. 15 behind 228 yards and six TDs rushing from Porter.

“DeVonn is a quiet leader; he leads by example,” Goodman said.

Goodman said his team isn’t taking anything for granted in its rematch with the more experienced Mustangs.

“I’m not going in there thinking, 'It worked last time, so it’s going to work this time,’ ” Goodman said. “With a championship-type team like The Meadows, they’re going to make their adjustments.”

Porter isn’t the Stars’ only weapon running the ball, as junior Tank Carter has rushed for 478 yards and nine TDs.

Agassi Prep’s offense also received a boost this season with the emergence of junior quarterback Terrell Kemp, who has passed for 829 yards and 12 TDs with only two interceptions and rushed for 334 yards and six scores.

Mountain View (5-5) will visit Needles (6-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the other 2A quarterfinal involving local teams. The winners will be re-seeded for the semifinals.

In a 3A quarterfinal, Moapa Valley (5-4) hosts rival Virgin Valley (7-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Two local rivalries will unfold in 1A quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Friday, when Tonopah (5-4) visits Pahranagat Valley (9-0) and Spring Mountain (6-2) heads to Indian Springs (6-2).