Las Vegas High School wins defensive battle, league title

Durango running back Cole Marquez (9) and wide receiver Micah Reyes (17) are brought down by Las Vegas' defensive back Camden Bradshaw (32), defensive back Che Jones (13) and defensive back Kawika Lopez (8) during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' running back Torrell Harley (7) heads for the endzone as Durango's defensive back Jaxon Young (3) attempts to bring him down during the first half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' Adonis Edwards-Jackson (3) and Stephan Hunt (6) jump to celebrate an interception while Camden Bradshaw (32) and Ryen Burley (5) run for the bench during a high school football game against Durango at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Durango's defensive back Tanner Nitsche (8) and left back Cole Marquez (9) tackle Las Vegas' Alvaro Zetino (4) as he attempts to reach the endzone during a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' defensive lineman Josue Santos (10) and left back Rob Flanagan (44) take down Durango's running back Cole Marquez (9) during a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. At left is Las Vegas' Adonis Edwards-Jackson and Durango's Jeffery Morosini (50). (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' quarterback Elijah Espinoza (11) fumbles the snap while Durango's defensive linemane Steven Valazquez (58) takes on Las Vegas' offensive lineman Alejandro Barraza Ponce De Leon (55) during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' defensive back Camden Bradshaw (32) runs to tackle Durango's running back Cole Marquez (9) during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

The Las Vegas High School marching band performs during halftime of a high school football game against Durango at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas High School cheerleaders celebrate an interception by Kawika Lopez (8) during the second half of a high school football game against Durango at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' student section cheers in response to the announcer's call to get loud during the second half of a high school football game against Durango at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' defensive back Kawika Lopez (8) takes down Durango's wide receiver Tanner Nitsche (8) during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Durango's quarterback Maverik Cormier (2) passes while offensive lineman Jeffery Morosini (50) takes on Las Vegas' linebacker Adonis Edwards-Jackson (3) during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' defensive back Camden Bradshaw (32) catches an interception in the endzone while Durango's wide receiver Tanner Nitsche (8) attempts to tackle him during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' wide receiver Stephan Hunt (6) fumbles while Durango's defensive back Daurell Ilaoa (27) closes in on him during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' wide receiver Stephan Hunt (6) runs into the endzone while Durango's defensive back Jaxon Young (3) jumps to tackle him during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. The touchdown wasn't counted. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' running back Camden Bradshaw dives backwards but misses a catch during the second half of a high school football game against Durango at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' defensive back Che Jones (13) hits Durango's wide receiver Micah Reyes (17) during the second half of a high school football game at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas' Kawika Lopez (8) jumps with a teammate to celebrate the interception he caught during the second half of a high school football game against Durango at Las Vegas High School on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

With his team locked in a defensive battle Friday night, Las Vegas football coach Erick Capetillo figured a big play might make the difference.

His offense logged just 20 second-half yards, but it was the defense that provided the decisive score.

Kawika Lopez scooped up a fumble and returned it 76 yards late in the third quarter for a go-ahead touchdown, and the third-ranked Class 4A Wildcats rallied past Durango for a 10-7 home victory.

The win guaranteed Las Vegas (5-3, 3-0) the Mountain League championship and a postseason berth.

“It’s been 11 years since we’ve won the division,” Capetillo said. “I’m just so proud of these kids.”

Durango (4-4, 1-2) looked like the better team at times, but five turnovers and costly penalties squelched several long offensive drives.

Capetillo said his team’s composure made the difference.

“We stuck with what we believe in,” he said. “We play tough football and disciplined football.”

The Wildcats squandered a 12-play drive on their first possession, and the Trailblazers used good field position on their second drive to go ahead 7-0 on a 4-yard run by Shayson See with 7:01 left in the first half.

Las Vegas made the score 7-3 on a 21-yard Raul Martinez field goal just before halftime.

The Wildcats finished with only 128 total yards as both defenses dominated.

“That’s a tough defense we have,” Capetillo said. “They’re stingy, they swarm to the football, and they bend without breaking.”

With 2:08 remaining in the third quarter and Durango driving, Lopez scooped up a fumble and took the ball down the left sideline to give Las Vegas a 10-7 lead.

“All of a sudden the ball popped out,” Capetillo said. “We’re just lucky it found its way into Kawika’s hands, and he took it to the crib.”

Any hope Durango had of rallying was terminated by two fourth-quarter interceptions.

Elijah Espinoza completed 11 of 18 passes for 108 yards to lead the Wildcats, and teammate Torrell Harley rushed nine times for 37 yards.

Maverik Cormier completed 16 of 29 passes for 180 yards to lead the Trailblazers, but four interceptions proved costly. Teammate Micah Reyes finished with 82 yards on six receptions.