Wide receiver Zachariah Branch leads a Bishop Gorman team that will face a difficult slate of out-of-state opponents during non-league play.
Football
Silverado cruised to the Class 4A state football championship last season, but coach Andy Ostolaza expects a more difficult path to the title this year.
Silverado returns many of its top players after a season in which it went 12-0, won the Class 4A state championship and outscored its opponents 628-128.
Silverado primarily had been a running team, but quarterback Brandon Tunnell led an offense that threw more last year en route to the Class 4A state title.
Moapa Valley lost a deep and talented senior class after last year’s 12-0 season and state championship but is still No. 1 to open the season.
Bishop Gorman begins the season No. 1 in the Class 5A rankings and will embark on a difficult slate of nonleague games against out-of-state foes beginning Friday.
Silverado has a talented group of returning players from last year’s team that went 12-0 and cruised to its first state championship.
Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley have established themselves as the top programs in the Class 3A Southern Region, but charter and inner-city schools are improving.
Moapa Valley doesn’t have much varsity experience back after a senior-laden team ran to an undefeated season and the Class 3A state championship last year.
Running back Landon Wrzesinski is one of the few returners from Moapa Valley’s state title team, and he’ll be called upon to lead the offense this season.
The Meadows’ Sean Gosse won state titles in basketball and baseball as a junior, but the loss in last year’s state championship football game still stings.
Just three years removed from playing eight-man football, The Meadows has the talent and experience to challenge for its first state championship since 2009.
Pahranagat Valley lost 11 seniors off last year’s team, which won its second straight Class 1A state football title, but hopes its young team grows up quickly.
High school football practice throughout the valley begins Monday, with the first two days slated for heat acclimation and non-contact drills.
The Polynesian Football Classic will take place in the valley over two weekends, featuring three games and involving teams from Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.