Western’s victory secures No. 3 seed

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Oct. 25, 1999 | 9:52 a.m.

While two of the area's other prep football teams slipped into the playoffs through the back door during the regular season's final week, Western left nothing to chance Friday night.

Facing unbeaten Cimarron-Memorial, the host Warriors came up with a pair of key goal-line stands in the first half to set the tone for a 28-14 upset win.

"Our butts were right up against the goal line, and we stopped them," said Western coach Rich Stevens, whose club secured the Sunset Division's No. 3 seed with the victory. "The defense won the ballgame for us."

While the Warriors got into the postseason with a win, two other squads got in despite losing their final game of the year.

Valley fell to undefeated Las Vegas High, 29-11, but grabbed the Sunrise Division's final playoff berth when Rancho lost to Chaparral, 35-20. The Vikings will play at Cimarron Friday in the first round of the 4A Southern Zone tournament.

Likewise, Bishop Gorman got into the playoffs despite losing to Durango, 57-32, on Saturday. The Gaels, who have lost their last three games, will play at Las Vegas on Friday.

But it was Western's win Friday night that clearly stole the show in week nine, as the Warriors not only got in but also eliminated Clark from the playoff picture.

"It shows that we're peaking at the right time," said Stevens, whose club will play at Eldorado Friday night. "And it showed that our guys can play with anybody."

Ahead 7-0, the Warriors took control of the game late in the first half, stopping the Spartans on four plays inside the 10-yard line and then going up 14-0 on a 77-yard scamper by running back Myles Bunch.

Then, in the first half's waning seconds, Western stuffed Cimarron again, this time on the 1-yard line, to preserve their double-digit halftime advantage. And though the Spartans used a successful onside kick to get close late, the Warriors never trailed.

"I take this as our second chance," Stevens said. "We could easily have turned in our gear Friday night. Now I have to get across to them how good Eldorado is."

In this Friday's fourth first-round matchup, Durango will host Silverado, a 35-28 winner over Basic last week.

* HOLDING COURT: As expected, Green Valley's boys and Bishop Gorman's girls had no trouble defending their 4A state tennis titles over the weekend.

The Gator boys posted a dominant 19.5-3 win over Reno to capture their fifth consecutive state championship on Friday, while the Gael girls downed Green Valley, 17-5.5, for their third straight title and seventh in the last eight years.

"I'm very glad for the kids, especially the seniors," said Green Valley boys coach Luthern Bohanan. "They've been there four times and won four times, so you have to give them a lot of credit."

In individual competition, the Gators team of Mike Schuldt and Joel Kielbowicz finished an undefeated campaign with the state boys doubles title. Also on Saturday, the Meadows' Adrin Himmelheber capped off a stellar prep career with his first state boys singles championship.

On the girls side, Bishop Gorman's Jennifer Kuhle finished her high school career with the 4A state girls doubles title, while the Gaels' Catrina and Christian Thompson -- twin freshman sisters -- started off their theirs with the state's girls doubles championship.