Southeast rivals raise the stakes

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

Long a matter of pride, the battle for Henderson-area supremacy takes on added significance in 2000, with the city's three schools, along with nearby Silverado, all moving into the new-look Southeast Division.

Hoping to spoil the Henderson party will be Las Vegas' Chaparral High, a team looking to rebound after a rough 1999 that saw the Cowboys miss the playoffs and then get dealt a much bigger blow -- the suicide of senior star Mario Hagan.

Chaparral is expected to challenge for the division title, though the consensus preseason favorite is Silverado. The Skyhawks put together their first winning season last year, racking up seven wins before falling to Durango in the playoffs.

Coming off a disastrous campaign, one-time eastside power Green Valley will try to put memories of 1999 behind it as it attempts to get back into the thick of things under second-year coach John Culver.

With four of five teams qualifying for the postseason, Basic appears to have a strong chance of earning its first playoff bid since 1989, although second-year Henderson school Foothill could challenge the Wolves or Gators for the Southeast's final spot.

BASIC WOLVES

Coach: Cliff Frazier (ninth year)

1999 Record: 3-6 (T-7th Sunrise)

Top Players: Chris Campbell (6-0, 185), TE/SS; Will Eden (5-10, 185), LB/ OG, Sr.; Nate Lord (5-10, 175), WR/CB, Sr.; Anton Pitts (5-11, 155), WR/CB, Sr.; T.J. Portolese (5-11, 215), FB/DT, Sr.; Mark Rose (5-10, 155), QB, Sr.

Outlook: The 1990s are over, and not a moment too soon for the Wolves. It has been 11 years since Basic made the postseason, although Frazier is hoping the school's recent run of baseball success could rub off on his charges. Rose, a member of Basic's 1999 Southeast champion baseball squad, will have the opportunity to open up the offense a bit this fall, with Campbell, Eden and Lord the best receiving trio Frazier has seen at the school in quite some time. Still, the Wolves will rely heavily on the run, with Portolese and tailback Nate Goodman the primary ballcarriers behind a line that returns all five starters from a year ago. Defensively, Basic lacks size up front -- something that could spell doom against the beefy lines of Silverado and Chaparral.

CHAPARRAL COWBOYS

Coach: Ben Johnson (third year)

1999 Record: 3-6 (T-4th Sunrise)

Top Players: Daniel Borero (6-0, 205), TE/LB, Jr.; Brian Byington (5-9, 170), RB/LB, Sr.; Dallas Dobbs (6-2, 200), QB/FS, Sr.; Adam Mills (6-0, 220), Sr.; Derek Niggemeier (5-10, 190), SS/WR; Grady Thomas (5-8, 140), WR/DB, Jr.

Outlook: Last year was a tough one for the Cowboys, both on the field and off. This season's squad will wear the initials "M.H." on their helmets, in honor of Hagan, the Sun Offensive Player of the Year in 1999. Replacing his 1,645 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns won't be easy, though Dobbs -- the club's marquee offensive player this season -- is certainly no slouch. Look for Chaparral to pass more, though the option will be the primary focus of the club's offense. The Cowboys lost their entire starting offensive line to graduation, but this year's group is bigger and has the potential to be better, particularly when it comes to pass blocking. Byington, a bruising back, will get most of the carries, though his success will depend in large part on the line's progress. Johnson expects his defense to be much improved this fall, and that could keep the Cowboys in the hunt for the Southeast title, if not a state playoff berth.

FOOTHILL FALCONS

Coach: Ray Fenton (second year)

1999 Record: 1-8 (competed as independent team)

Top Players: Paul Lethbridge (6-3, 300), OT, Jr.; Matt Long (5-11, 230), OG / OLB, Sr.; Jason Ripley (6-0, 260), C/DT, Sr.; Paul Roland (5-11, 180), TE/ ILB, Sr.; Paul Viray (5-9, 225), OG, Jr.

Outlook: One of three first-year programs in 1999, the Falcons posted their lone win against fellow newcomer Desert Pines. Their preseason practices have drawn some rave reviews, but Fenton is quick to point out that it's too soon to tell whether they can compete with their 4A brethren. The team took a hit when Grant Stanley -- the club's starting quarterback last season -- opted to skip the football season to concentrate on baseball, but his replacement -- newcomer Alex DeVaughn -- has inspired confidence from his teammates. Though the skill positions will feature new faces, Foothill returns nearly its entire roster from a year ago, including the whole offensive line and 10 of its 11 starting defenders. A playoff berth may not be out of reach for a squad that appears to be headed in the right direction in a hurry.

GREEN VALLEY GATORS

Coach: John Culver (second year)

1999 Record: 1-7 (8th Sunrise)

Top Players: Gabe Ameling (6-5, 210), TE/WR/P, Sr.; Quadir Amin (5-8, 175), CB/RB, Sr.; Herman Farahi (6-1, 200), FB/LB, Sr.; Kevin Kershner (6-1, 220), G/ LB, Sr.; Joe Lusch (6-2, 245), OT/DL, Sr.; Chris McGovern (6-1, 195), QB, Sr.; Ryan Smith (5-7, 160), RB/CB, Sr.

Outlook: In his first season at the helm, Culver's worst fears were realized, as the Gators dropped their opener to Utah's Snow Canyon 63-0 and never recovered, narrowly avoiding a winless season with a six-point victory over Basic. Just one year later, however, there is reason for optimism at Green Valley. Forced to pass often in 1999, the club's offense should be more balanced this fall, with the speedy Smith leading a pack of capable backs. When McGovern looks to put the ball up, he should have more time to find targets like Ameling, thanks to the improvement of an offensive line that got pushed around a year ago. The Gators will also have plenty of speed on defense, though size along the defensive line is a concern. The Gators will feature new uniforms in 2000, and Culver is hoping to instill a new attitude along with them. A playoff berth should be we ll within Green Valley's reach, although fans shouldn't expect a quick return to the school's glory days.

SILVERADO SKYHAWKS

Coach: John DeNardin (sixth year)

1999 Record: 7-3 (3rd Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: V.R. Bohman (6-4, 265), OT/DL, Sr.; Kevin Cooney (6-2, 170), WR/ DB, Sr.; Joe Jackson (5-11, 190), RB/DB, Sr.; Stephen Kunzer (6-1, 250), OG /DT, Sr.; Kareem Merhi (6-0, 215), OG/ILB, Sr.; Levi Neshkoff (5-10, 175), RB/ DB, Sr.

Outlook: The Skyhawks got the monkey off their back in 1999, reaching the playoffs for the first time in school history. Now, the state's largest school will try to stake its claim as the class of the Southeast. Once again, Silverado will run its misdirection-oriented offense, and with starting backs Jackson and Neshkoff returning, the Hawks should have one of the area's top ground games. Tony Welch takes over quarterbacking duties after serving as the understudy to Chris Ford a year ago, and will provide Silverado with a more mobile threat behind center. Bohman is among the area's top two-way linemen, and will pair with Kunzer to anchor a solid offensive front. The Skyhawks lost several key defenders to graduation, forcing some of the team's top returners to learn new positions for the 2000 season. Depending how that new-look defense performs, Silverado c ould have a lot to say about who represents the Sunrise Region in the four-team state tournament this year.