Laughlin makes leap to 11-man football

Many high school football teams don't have to worry about changes from one year to the next beyond what players are coming and going.

Laughlin, on the other hand, will be playing what some consider a different sport, and that's not all.

The Cougars have moved from eight- to 11-man football by joining the Class 2A Southern League this season and will be eligible for the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

"The kids are very excited," Laughlin coach Jason Leonard said. "They know they can qualify for a playoff berth and all the things that go with that."

Laughlin was classified a 2A school based on enrollment two years ago, but school officials elected to have every program but wrestling and cross country compete as a 1A independent.

Now the Cougars feel ready to climb to 2A, and the idea of finally competing for a playoff spot has energized a hungry senior class.

"We're very excited. It's a good opportunity," senior quarterback and free safety Andre Prosise said. "We didn't have a chance to go to state, so this could be the year."

Leonard hopes Prosise, one of four two-way starters back from a team that went 7-2 last season, will help smooth the transition to the 11-man game.

As if the move up wasn't enough, the Cougars must also replace Corey Cook, who graduated after leading all Southern Nevada eight-man players in rushing with 1,758 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.

"Corey was one of our special players," Leonard said. "It's tough to replace what he did, but like every year, we find people and we find a way."

Leonard plans to run a diversified offense that will flex from the single wing to the spread. He said running backs Colton Hill, Jimmy Minnear and Tyler Morrison should help absorb some of Cook's workload.

But Laughlin might have begun to spread the ball around more even if Cook had returned.

"Sometimes in eight man, you can get away with relying on one or two good players," Leonard said. "In 11-man, especially in the 2A South, it's going to be a total team effort going into this."

Laughlin opens the season tonight at 1A Indian Springs in what will be an 11-man game scheduled to kick off at 7. The Cougars start league play against Agassi Prep at Rancho on Sept. 17.

"It's going to be tougher, I'm not going to lie," Prosise said. "It's a lot different from eight man, but I'm sure we can figure it out."

Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203.