Panthers shut out Wildcats in physical game

It was the first regular season meeting between Las Vegas and Palo Verde on Friday night.

The host Panthers looked completely in postseason form, as they rushed for a season-best 303 yards and shut out one of the top spread offenses in Southern Nevada en route to a 19-0 victory.

From the opening possession, No. 6 Palo Verde set the tone with its bruising, physical rushing game. Thanks to a pair of personal fouls against No. 5 Las Vegas, including a face mask penalty on a fourth-and-3 just four plays into the game, Palo Verde marched 66 yards in seven plays for its first score, a 5-yard run from Jaren Campbell to make it 7-0.

“We needed to be physical early, to set the tone,” Palo Verde coach Darwin Rost said. “When you’re at home, with the band and the crowd behind you, sometimes going for it on fourth down early in the game is a good move. It worked, and I think scoring on that first possession really helped us.”

Not only were the Panthers physical on the offensive side on the ball, the defense made statements of its own.

Las Vegas (2-1) was held to just 94 yards in the contest, 68 coming in the opening period.

“Our defense was outstanding,” Rost said. “We are finally getting some leadership from our seniors, and that’s making a huge difference. We are a much better football team than the one we showed against Centennial.”

Since the season-opening loss to the Bulldogs, Palo Verde has allowed 185 yards on the ground.

The Panthers (2-1) increased their lead to 13-0 on Darrion Finn’s 46-yard run on the second play of the second quarter. At halftime, Palo Verde had 141 yards on the ground, while holding the Wildcats to 13.

Ty Fuller, who led all rushers with 94 yards on 21 carries for Palo Verde, finished the scoring with an 8-yard run with just under 10 minutes remaining.

“We have to be physical if we are going to be successful,” Rost said. “We beat a very good football team tonight. These kids have come a long way since that Centennial loss and we will continue to get better.”

Las Vegas quarterback Trevor Swenson, who threw for 204 yards and four touchdowns last week at Legacy, completed 11 of 31 passes for 79 yards.