Size to play big role in Class 3A football semifinal

Expect Saturday's Class 3A football semifinal between defending state champion Virgin Valley (10-1) and visiting Fernley (7-3) to be a battle of size.

"I feel good about the game," Virgin Valley coach Kirk Hafen said. "Their strength is their line; our strength is our line. So it's going to be a good matchup."

The teams play at 1 p.m. Saturday in Mesquite, and the Bulldogs hope to have their biggest player healthy.

Offensive tackle/defensive tackle Brent Horlacher (6 feet, 280 pounds) missed last week's game with an ankle injury, and Hafen said he's day to day.

With Horlacher, Virgin Valley will match up better with a Vaqueros team that has 12 players who weigh 220 pounds or more.

Horlacher, guard/defensive end Spencer Zarate (5-11, 250) and tight end/defensive end Spencer Planck (6-5, 230) are three of the team's returning seniors from last year's state title team.

"The senior class has been awesome so far throughout the playoffs and critical games," Hafen said. "They've had their heads under control and done a great job that way."

Moapa Valley (7-3) plays at Spring Creek (6-4) in the other 3A semifinal, also at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Virgin Valley and Moapa Valley met in last year's state title game.

In the Class 2A state semifinals, The Meadows attempts to get back to the state title game for the first time since 2001. The Mustangs (7-3) play at Yerington (9-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

• VOLLEYBALL HONORS -- Durango's Hayley Spelman and Centennial's Lauren Sagers each led their teams to appearances in this week's Class 4A state volleyball tournament.

And the players also were named the Most Valuable Player in their respective divisions by league coaches.

Spelman, who led the Trailblazers to the Sunset Region title, was named the Southwest Division MVP. Sagers, whose team was second to Durango in the Sunset, was selected as the Northwest MVP.

Las Vegas' Chenoa Rossi-Childress was named the Northeast Division MVP, and Coronado's Samantha McCosh was the Southeast MVP.

Las Vegas' Sue Thurman (Northeast), Del Sol's Albert Ronquillo (Southeast), Legacy's Jonathan Grande (Northwest) and Durango assistant Kelly O'Quinn (Southwest) took the Coach of the Year awards.

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.