Preps: Week 1 lives up to hype

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998 | 11:14 a.m.

The first week of prep football is officially in the books, and if Friday night was any indication, the Sunset Division could feature a very interesting race this season.

XX Cimarron-Memorial and Cheyenne, the favorites coming into week one, did nothing to disappoint their supporters, with both posting lopsided shutout victories against quality teams on the road.

The Spartans, last year's Southern Zone champions and 4A state runner-ups, dominated Chaparral, 28-0, while Cheyenne picked up a similar 34-0 win at Eldorado.

Those results could also signal a wide-open race in the Sunrise Division, where Chaparral and Eldorado are expected to be among four clubs with title hopes. The other two, Las Vegas and Green Valley, came up victorious Friday night.

This week's schedule doesn't feature any games as immediately enticing as week one's Cimarron-Chaparral or Cheyenne-Eldorado contests, although as those results prove, appearances can often be deceiving.

Four out-of-town teams will make appearances in Las Vegas this week, with Cimarron taking on San Diego's University, Cheyenne playing San Diego's Madison, Chaparral hosting Los Angeles-based Cathedral and Green Valley locking up with Hawaii's St. Louis at Sam Boyd Stadium Saturday night.

Las Vegas High will also play a non-area team this week, with the Wildcats scheduled to clash with Delta in Utah Friday night.

Early leaders

Bonanza's Billy Gaines could be the most unlikely player to be leading the area in rushing after week one. Yet there he is, ahead of heralded tailbacks like Durango's John Dixon and Cimarron's Arnold Parker.

The 5-7, 150-pound senior, who started all eight games for the Bengals at defensive back last year, ran for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries Friday night against a solid Las Vegas defense.

"For us to have somebody do that is kind of a freak thing," admitted Bonanza coach Nick Butera. "He got hot, and had a couple of nice runs. It depends who we're playing against and what they do defensively, but that may not happen again."

Valley senior Dwayne Murray, who replaced graduated Zone Offensive Player of the Year Dion Jackson as the Vikings quarterback, took the early lead in passing.

Murray completed 21-of-38 passes for 312 yards and a touchdown in his first varsity start, earning kind words from Valley coach Greg Murphy.

"I thought he did real well for his first varsity start," Murphy said. "He made a lot of good reads, and a lot of nice throws. There are still some things he needs to work on, but overall, he came through well."

Chaparral tight end Richard Seigler caught eight passes to lead all area receivers, while Clark's Deandre Cobb and Valley's Jermaine Jordan each found the endzone four times to take the early scoring lead.

Tidbits

* UP NORTH: Defending 4A state champion McQueen has already established itself as the team to beat in the Northern Zone, downing a solid Carson squad, 30-9 in week one. Wooster, the other perennial northern power, also opened with a decisive victory, posting a 35-16 win over Elko. Reed became the third northern school ranked in last week's Top 10 poll to fall, dropping a 40-36 decision at South Tahoe on Saturday. In other action, it was Hug 41, Galena 10; Sparks 13, Reno 0; Douglas 29, Battle Mountain 22 and Churchill County 27, Lowry 0.

* ON THE AIR: Friday night's Valley at Durango game will be broadcast live on AM-1140 (KSFN) at 7 p.m., while this week's Bonanza at Silverado game will be aired next Wednesday on Channel 48 at 7 p.m.