Pop Warner Vikings squad has produced a slew of prep stars

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999 | 12:07 p.m.

When the prep football playoffs kick off Friday night, it will mark an opportunity for the most fortunate of seniors to end their high school careers with a championship.

For some, it also represents a chance for their football careers to come full circle.

As members of the Las Vegas Vikings Pop Warner football squad, nine players participating in this year's playoffs finished their middle school years with the 1995 city title in hand.

Now, those Viking alums have a shot to do likewise four years later, albeit on at a higher, more prestigious level.

Throughout the 1980s and '90s, the Vikings Pop Warner club became synonymous with youth football success, going nine straight years without dropping a single contest at the age 13-14 level.

But, as Vikings coach Jimmy Brimmer recalls somewhat incredulously, 1995 was supposed to be the year the dynasty crumbled.

"This team wasn't supposed to win it," Brimmer said. "They said we didn't have much talent."

As a quick glance at the squad's roster shows, nothing could have been farther from the truth. The team was loaded with talented athletes who have gone on to successful prep careers during the past four years.

The squad's offense, in particular, produced several of the Southern Nevada football scene's most dangerous weapons -- Chaparral running back Mario Hagan, Cheyenne running back Deon Ned and Eldorado quarterback Arlie Daniel among them.

And though Daniel served as the squad's starting signal caller, he is just one of three starting quarterbacks among Friday's eight playoff participants to play for the Vikings. Cimarron-Memorial's Jacob Smeltzer and Durango's Jamaal Brimmer -- coach Jimmy Brimmer's son -- both started on defense for the Vikings in 1995.

Additionally, Western running back Carlos Davis, Las Vegas High linebacker Harry Edwards, Durango defensive back Gabe Bolin, Silverado lineman Ian Simmons, Silverado defensive back Charles Ballard and Bishop Gorman lineman Jason Webster all played on a team that went 11-1 and rolled to the city trophy.

Every team in the playoffs except Valley will have a player on its roster that started on the 1995 Vikings club.

But despite the successes of his former charges, Jimmy Brimmer is reluctant to take much of the credit. That, he says, should go their high school coaches, who helped take their skills to the next level.

"I feel like I helped a bunch of kids," said Brimmer, who still coaches the Vikings and also serves as Chaparral's freshman coach."I introduced them to the game, and they went on from there, with the help of their high school coaches.

"But I do think the high school coaches would have to appreciate kids coming into their football program with some experience from the Pop Warner program."

Hagan, the leading rusher in town this season, said he learned a lot more from his Vikings experience than simply X's and O's.

"We learned team unity," said Hagan, who caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Daniel in the team's championship victory. "The team was like a family. We were all friends and we had a lot of fun together."

And though Brimmer is the first to admit he's rooting for his son's Durango squad this year, he holds a special place in his heart for all the members of his 1995 title team.

"It's nice when you see these kids in the mall and they still say, 'Hey coach,' " Brimmer said. "They're great kids. They're like my own kids."