Spring Valley’s line of fire ready for test

While his team has shown an explosive running game through three contests, Spring Valley football coach Kelly Murphy knows that skill players won't make or break his team tonight.

For Murphy's team to beat defending Class 4A state champion Bishop Gorman, it will need to win the battle on the line.

"We have to block well," Murphy said. "Our offensive and defensive lines are going to dictate whether we win or lose the ballgame.

"This game is going to be won within the trenches."

The Grizzlies (3-0, 1-0 Southwest League) might have the big bodies to give the second-ranked Gaels (4-1, 1-0) a run when the teams meet at 7 tonight at Bishop Gorman High School.

"We're real excited. This is big motivation for us," said the biggest of those bodies, 6-foot-4-inch, 320-pound offensive and defensive tackle Nate Holloway.

Holloway is one of four seniors on Spring Valley's offensive line, along with 200-pound Steve Bejarano, 260-pound Anthony Chang and 290-pound Steve Haunga.

That group, which is joined by sophomore Nick Overcast and junior Brandon Bathgate, has done an outstanding job this season, helping the 10th-ranked Grizzlies rack up 934 rushing yards through three games.

Senior Jacques Adams has been the biggest threat, rushing for 472 yards and seven touchdowns. He's averaging 12.8 yards per carry. Spring Valley's second-leading rusher, T.J. Allen, has averaged 16.1 yards per carry, and Keenan Sanders has averaged 10.3 per rush for the Grizzlies.

Quarterback Anton Stallworth hasn't been called on to throw much but has completed 70.6 percent of his passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

"It's all dictated on our offensive line," Murphy said. "The way our running backs run and our quarterbacks have the ability to throw is because of our offensive line.

"There's no doubt that our strength is our offensive and defensive line."

That offensive line will get a huge test, trying to keep Gorman's talented bookend defensive ends -- Justin Chaisson and Alex Turner -- out of the Spring Valley backfield.

Gorman's defense has been among the area's stingiest, yielding a total of 37 points and posting two shutouts. Durango's only points last week came on a fumble return.

"They play fast," Holloway said. "They fly to the football."

Gorman and Spring Valley are the only Southwest teams with winning overall records, so the game has obvious implications in the league standings. And while Murphy said his team hasn't looked ahead to the Gaels, it's clear this game has been one the players have looked forward to.

"This is a game we've been talking about for a while," Adams said.

Said Holloway: "We're being underestimated in this game, and we want to come out and show teams what we've got."

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