DIVISION I-A: Football Capsules
SUNSET LEAGUE
CHEYENNE
Coach: David Cochran, third season (10-9)
2011 record: 6-4 (5-3 Northwest)
Returning starters: Six offense, four defense
Top players: RB/DB Myloe Lewis (Sr.); WR/DB Devin Tatum (Sr.); WR/TE/DB Darius Gantt (Sr.); TE/DE Dylan Power (Sr.); OL/DL Victor Magana (Sr.); FB/LB Daquan Slater (Sr.)
Outlook: Cheyenne might be considered the favorite in the new Division I-A Sunset League thanks to a small but strong nucleus of returning players.
At the forefront of that group is Lewis, who rushed for 978 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 9.5 yards per carry last season. He earned second-team All-Northwest League honors as a junior.
Magana was a first-team All-Northwest defensive tackle last season and is back to anchor the Desert Shields’ defensive line.
CLARK
Coach: Don Willis, seventh season (17-41)
2011 record: 3-6 (3-5 Southwest)
Returning starters: Five offense, four defense
Top players: C/DE Hidero Takagi (Sr.); OT/DT Randy Kim (Sr.); TE/LB Andrew Arjana (Sr.); QB Anthony Bermudez (Sr.)
Outlook: The Chargers haven’t reached the playoffs since 2002, but that skid could end this year as the team transitions to the new Division I-A Sunset League.
Willis said depth could become a concern.
“Our numbers aren’t great this year,” he said. “We can’t afford injuries. We’ve got a chance to be pretty decent if we can stay healthy.”
Clark will be tested early with three of its first four games on the road.
FAITH LUTHERAN
Coach: Jake Kothe, 12th season
2011 record: 2-7 (2-6 Northwest)
Returning starters: Six offense, six defense
Top players: WR/DB Sean Bishel (Sr.); WR/DE Anthony Pryatel-Farmer (Sr.); TE Hayden Solis (Jr.); DE Danny Otuwa (Jr.); LB Austin Daykin (Sr.); LB Dylan DeFrank (Jr.); LB Jesse Neely (Sr.); OL/DL Austin Prather (So.)
Outlook: The pass-happy Crusaders figure to be a contender in the new Division I-A Sunset League.
Pryatel-Farmer should be one of the league’s top receivers after catching 34 passes for 415 yards as a junior.
Faith Lutheran went a combined 5-19 in Northwest League games over the past three years but is likely to compete for its first postseason berth since it was a Class 3A member in 2008.
MOJAVE
Coach: Joe Delgado, second season (2-7)
2011 record: 2-7 (1-7 Northwest)
Returning starters: One offense, one defense
Top players: WB/LB Billy Murphy (Sr.); QB Zack Arave (So.); RB/LB Ty Flanagan (So.); RB/KR Kevin Nelems (Sr.); WR Tyreek Carter (Sr.); S Jalon Dean (Sr.)
Outlook: Delgado said the Rattlers expect to make the playoffs with a young and athletic team.
Mojave must replace 10 starters on both sides of the ball, including the do-everything Bryant Lewis, but would seem to have enough to contend for a playoff berth in the new Division I-A Sunset League.
PAHRUMP VALLEY
Coach: Joe Clayton, first season
2011 record: 1-8 (1-7 Southwest)
Returning starters: Eight offense, six defense
Top players: QB A.J. Segura (Jr.); RB Cody Keasling (Sr.); WR Hunter Mills (Sr.); FB Denzel Holman (Sr.); OT Chad Uyeno (Jr.); C Aukai Alameda (Sr.); LB Scotty Maughn (Jr.); S Dustin Dillon (Sr.); LB Tatae Brown (Jr.); NT Jake Paus (Sr.)
Outlook: The Trojans are 2-36 over the past four years, but there is reason for optimism with a new coach (Clayton), a new league in which to play (Division I-A Sunset) and veterans at the skill positions.
“More than anything, we’re trying to change the culture out here,” Clayton said. “They’re starting to see it’s about attitude and getting out of the funk.”
Keasling was a second-team All-Southwest League running back last season, and he’ll pair with the athletic Segura to give the Trojans a talented backfield.
WESTERN
Coach: Donnie Davis, first season
2011 record: 0-9 (0-8 Southwest)
Top players: Unavailable
Outlook: The Warriors have nowhere to go but up after forfeiting their final three games last season following an on-campus incident.
Repeated attempts to contact Davis were unsuccessful.
SUNRISE LEAGUE
BOULDER CITY
Coach: Alex Kazel, fifth season
2011 record: 3-6 (0-2 3A Southern)
Returning starters: Seven offense, seven defense
Top players: WB/FS Xavier Steel (Jr.); WB/SS Billy Viera (Sr.); QB Joe Miller (Sr.); TE/LB Michael Kelso (Sr.); FB J.D. Owens (Jr.); C Brandon Foster (Sr.); OT/DT Chris Nilsen (Sr.); DE D.J. Koopman (Sr.); LB John Osborne (Sr.); CB Corbett Fleming (Sr.); WR Kaleb Bailey (Sr.); OT Joe Tanefski (Sr.)
Outlook: Kazel said the Eagles are looking to build on how they ended last season, and he expects his team to be disciplined and physical.
CHAPARRAL
Coach: William Froman, second season (1-8)
2011 record: 1-8 (1-6 Northeast)
Returning starters: Nine offense, seven defense
Top players: G/DE William Hernandez (Sr.); OT/DE James Dukes (Jr.); RB Antonio Thomas (Sr.)
Outlook: Froman is excited about his team’s progress in the weight room and called the Cowboys “night and day” better than last season.
Chaparral hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2007, but as a member of the new Division I-A Sunrise League, the Cowboys hope to make noise.
“They got serious in the weight room,” Froman said. “We’re excited about what we have.”
Froman said the 6-foot-4-inch, 285-pound Hernandez will pair with Dukes to anchor the offensive line.
“I think they’re as good a tandem as there is in town,” Froman said.
They’ll try to open holes for Thomas, who rushed for 848 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Froman said Thomas has bulked up but is even more explosive than last season.
DESERT PINES
Coach: Paul Bennett, eighth season (32-41)
2011 record: 4-6 (4-3 Northeast)
Returning starters: Six offense, six defense
Top players: RB/LB Eric Wilkes (Jr.); G/DT Michael Cisneros (Sr.); QB/DB Iquan Corsey (Jr.); QB/DE Travis Nofoa (Sr.); WR/CB Leon Flintroy (Sr.); WR/DB Donavan Wright (Sr.)
Outlook: Desert Pines is among the favorites to win the new Division I-A Sunrise League, although Bennett isn’t taking anything for granted.
“Our kids are responding with two-a-days. We’re excited about the season,” Bennett said.
Desert Pines will get a good test early, as the Jaguars host I-A Sunset contender Cheyenne at 8 p.m. Thursday. The game will be televised on Cable 12.
Wilkes rushed for 893 yards and 13 touchdowns on his way to first-team All-Northeast League honors as a sophomore. He should be able to find running room behind the 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound Cisneros.
MOAPA VALLEY
Coach: Brent Lewis, 11th season
2011 record: 10-3 (2-0 3A Southern)
Returning starters: Seven offense, six defense
Top players: RB/DE Conner Mortensen (Sr.); RB/SS Sean McConnell (Sr.); TE/LB Kasen Hughes (Sr.); C Kyler Leavitt (Sr.); OT/DE Cody Tolbert (Sr.); G/LB Sam Rebman (Jr.); OT/DT Matt McDermand (Jr.)
Outlook: Moapa Valley played in the past six Class 3A state championship games, so it would seem logical that the Pirates will be a contender in the new Division I-A Sunrise League.
The Pirates opened the season Saturday with a 23-14 loss to Blue Ridge (Ariz.) in the Sollenberger Classic.
Mortensen was named 3A Southern League Most Valuable Player last season, when he rushed for 1,431 yards and 23 touchdowns and logged 57 tackles.
McConnell, who ran for 657 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, also is back to give the Pirates a potent one-two punch in the backfield.
Lewis said inexperience at quarterback and on the defensive line are question marks, but the Pirates have plenty of potential in both areas.
Quarterbacks Lance Hilton and Josh Repp each started a playoff game last season, and Lewis said both will see significant playing time.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound McDermand will anchor both lines.
SUNRISE MOUNTAIN
Coach: Ky Edwards, second season (0-9)
2011 record: 0-9 (0-7 Northeast)
Returning starters: Seven offense, seven defense
Top players: QB Chris Moore (Sr.); WR/DB A’keem Ross (Sr.); RB/CB Romello Tatum (Jr.); RB/S Sherman Nash (Jr.); G/DT Leo Hubert (Sr.); G/DE Irvin Garcia (Sr.); WB/S Jordan Callaway (Jr.); LB Jesus Pena (Sr.)
Outlook: The Miners have a 2-26 record in the three-year history of the program, and both wins came against junior varsity teams in 2009.
Still, Edwards is optimistic as his team transitions to the new Division I-A Sunrise League. He’ll lean on Moore, who will be a four-year starting quarterback.
“(Moore) is starting to become a leader. He knows what that means,” Edwards said. “The guys listen to him. He’s battle-tested.”
Nash ran on Sunrise Mountain’s Class 4A state champion 1,600-meter relay team in the spring, and he’ll help provide speed out of the backfield.
VIRGIN VALLEY
Coach: Chris Sawyers, first season
2011 record: 5-5 (1-1 3A Southern)
Returning starters: Six offense, seven defense
Top players: RB/LB Dee Bowler (Jr.); TE/S Dillon Graves (Jr.); WR/DE Tanner Killmer (Sr.); QB/DB Cristian Aguirre (Sr.); QB/DB Garrett Leavitt (Jr.); OL/DL Jared Walther (Sr.); OL/DL Adam Henderson (Jr.); WR/LB Tyson Teerlink (Sr.); DE Chris Erickson (Jr.)
Outlook: Little is familiar for the Bulldogs, who have a new coach (Sawyers), a new offense (spread), new quarterbacks and a new league (Division I-A Sunrise).
Sawyers, a former Las Vegas High assistant, replaces Kirk Hafen, who resigned after 21 years at the helm. Hafen had a 166-66 record, including a Class 3A state championship in 2006 and a 2A state title in 1994.
“Everybody’s excited. It’s been a learning process for everybody,” Sawyers said.
Aguirre and Leavitt both are likely to get snaps early as the Bulldogs try to replace graduated quarterback Humberto Urias, who was named 3A Southern League Offensive Player of the Year last season.
