3 teams win to stay undefeated

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Sept. 27, 1999 | 10:08 a.m.

And then there were three.

As the prep football season moved past the halfway mark Friday night, the number of unbeaten 4A teams in Southern Nevada shrunk from four to three.

Durango, which came into week five with a perfect 4-0 mark, dropped a tough 21-13 decision to Cimarron-Memorial at home, leaving Las Vegas High, Silverado and the Spartans as the area's lone unbeatens.

Las Vegas, ranked No. 1 in last week's Sun state-wide poll, continued to be the area's most dominant club, scoring more than 40 points for the fourth time in a 41-21 win at Basic.

Silverado also improved to 5-0, though not without surviving something of a scare against Valley in a narrow 17-7 victory.

But it was Cimarron's eight-point win over the Trailblazers that may have been the night's most significant result. The Spartans moved into sole possession of first place in the Sunset Division, one game ahead of Bishop Gorman and two ahead of the rest of the pack.

"Both teams had an opportunity to win it," Cimarron coach Greg Spencer said. "They had some big plays, we had some big plays. I'm just pleased with the way the kids kept battling."

Cimarron's defense produced two of the Spartans' three touchdowns and sealed the win with a late interception.

The win was achieved without starting quarterback Jacob Smeltzer, who was out after suffering a concussion in week four. He was replaced by sophomore Danny Phee, who won in his first varsity start.

For Las Vegas, the story continued to be senior quarterback Anthony Marini, who passed for three touchdowns to run his season total to 13. Nevertheless, coach Kris Cinkovich said his team has not played its best football yet.

"So far we've been playing pretty well ... but if you look at all the upsets that are happening every week, we know you have to come out prepared to play or you'll get beat," he said.

Silverado managed to avoid one of those upsets on Friday, getting a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown from cornerback Dejaun Ashley to take control of the game late in the fourth quarter.

That sets up this week's Sunrise showdown between the Skyhawks and Wildcats, who will battle to stay unbeaten and take over sole possession of first place in the division Friday at Las Vegas.

In other Sunrise Division action Friday night, Eldorado dealt Chaparral its second-straight loss, 53-37, and Rancho picked up its first conference victory, a 20-16 triumph over winless Green Valley.

In the Sunset Division, Bishop Gorman posted a critical 29-28 win over Cheyenne, Clark stunned Western 20-7 to enter the playoff picture and Bonanza did likewise with a 9-7 win over Palo Verde.

In non-conference action, the Meadows moved to 4-0 with a 60-9 win over Foothill, Centennial dropped a 39-13 decision to Virgin Valley and Desert Pines fell 46-0 to Moapa Valley. On the 3A slate, Spring Creek defeated Boulder City, 14-0.