A look at the prep football playoff teams

Friday, Nov. 3, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

SUNRISE REGION

Basic Wolves (5-4): Talk about a tale of two seasons. After opening the year 0-4, the Wolves roared back with a 5-0 finish, earning the Southeast Division title and their first playoff appearance since 1989. Basic's passing attack is second to none in town, with quarterback Mark Rose and receivers Brandon Hawkins and Nate Lord leading the attack. This team could go deep into the playoffs, though a first-round loss to Valley isn't out of the question either.

Desert Pines Jaguars (7-2): After an 0-7 opening season in 1999, the Jags stunned virtually everyone with a seven-win campaign this fall. Sophomore tailback Cornell Johnson is one of the area's premier talents, and quarterback Darrell Byrd is consistent enough to keep defenses honest. Experience aside, this team has the athleticism to make some noise in the weeks to come.

Eldorado Sundevils (7-2): Despite playing one of the toughest schedules in town, the Sundevils rode all-everything back Steven Jackson to the Northeast Division title and seven victories, with the bruising senior leading all local rushers in yards and touchdowns this season. Eldorado's defense is solid, so a lot will depend on the success of quarterback Michael Edwards. The Sundevils should snap a four-year streak of first-round playoff losses, and will likely challenge for the Sunrise's state berth.

Foothill Falcons (5-3): Another second-year success story, the Falcons overcame the loss of 1999 starting quarterback Grant Stanley, with Alex DeVaughn doing a more-than-adequate job under center. Foothill is coming off its only blowout loss of the season -- a 44-13 defeat at the hands of Las Vegas -- but posted wins over playoff qualifiers Silverado, Green Valley and Clark this year. The Falcons lost to first-round opponent Desert Pines by only five points earlier this fall, so a win in round one is certainly within reach.

Green Valley Gators (4-5): Left for dead after four consecutive losses, the Gators got into the postseason with an unexpected win over Chaparral last Thursday. Robin Spradling was effective in his first start at quarterback, but the key will be tailback Ryan Smith, who comes into the playoffs banged up. A win over Eldorado tonight would be a major upset.

Las Vegas Wildcats (5-4): The Wildcats took their lumps early, dropping lopsided decisions to California's La Costa Canyon and Cimarron-Memorial. Those experiences seem to have paid dividends for Las Vegas, which closed out the season with four straight victories. Antione White may be the most underrated back in town, but the strength of this team is its line play, with experienced players on both sides of the ball. If the 'Cats can get past Silverado, they could be a team to watch as the tournament progresses.

Silverado Skyhawks (4-5): A tough team to figure in 2000, the Skyhawks finished with three straight losses after winning three in a row. Tailback Joe Jackson headlines a stable of solid backs, with J.R. Thomas manning the QB position after Tony Welch went down for the remainder of the year. The defense has had trouble holding down quality offenses (see Western, Chaparral), so tonight's game with Las Vegas will present a challenge.

Valley Vikings (4-5): The Vikings came into the year with high expectations, then made the postseason as the Northeast's fourth and final seed. Nagging injuries to stars James Sims and Demetrius Ford had a lot to do with that, and though Sims is back at full strength, Ford is unlikely to see much time behind center. Nevertheless, the athletic Vikes should have a chance against Basic and from there, anything is possible.

SUNSET REGION

Bishop Gorman Gaels (6-3): The Gaels battled through injuries, suspensions and ineligibility in 2000, yet still managed to win the Southwest Division with a perfect 4-0 league mark. Dyante Perkins is a force on both sides of the ball, and teams up with Jason Rogers to form Southern Nevada's top one-two-punch. After giving up points like they were going out of style for much of the year, Gorman's defense appears to have tightened up a bit. A loss to first round opponent Centennial earlier this season might be cause for concern, but the Gaels should play Palo Verde next week for the right to square off with Cimarron in the regional final.

Centennial Bulldogs (2-7): The third second-year squad to make the playoffs, the Bulldogs posted wins over Mojave and Gorman this year but failed to match the success of fellow newcomers Desert Pines and Foothill, in part because they reside in the loaded Northwest Division. Tailback Patrick Gray went over 1,000 yards for Centennial, but he likely won't be enough to get them out of round one.

Cheyenne Desert Shields (6-3): After a disappointing 1999 campaign, the Shields got back into the thick of things this year, matching Gorman and Palo Verde with six wins. As always, Cheyenne is athletic and deep at the skill positions, but this year's squad also seems more disciplined and focused than last year's model. Quarterback Kevin Richardson is a play-maker, and should have the Shields in a rematch with rival Cimarron next week.

Cimarron-Memorial Spartans (9-0): The Spartans were pushed by Cheyenne and Palo Verde, and that could prove to be a good thing for the two-time defending state champs, who will look to avoid following Cheyenne ('98) and Las Vegas ('99) as an undefeated teams to miss state. Kellen Marshall and Alex Gonzales pair up to form the area's most consistent backfield tandem, and Cimarron's offensive line and overall defense are second-to-none. Barring key injuries, the Spartans should be back in the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

Clark Chargers (2-7): Like Centennial, the Chargers enter the playoffs with just two wins, though one did come against Southeast champion Basic. Injuries along both lines have decimated this team, though tailback Jacque Williams still managed to put together a solid campaign. With Cimarron looming tonight (for the second straight week), it's one-and-done for the Chargers.

Durango Trailblazers (4-5): Just when it looked like the Blazers had righted their ship, they lost to then-winless Bonanza last week to finish under .500. Tailback Jamar Thomas finished second behind Eldorado's Jackson in the individual rushing race, though you've got to wonder when Durango opponents will decide to force someone else to beat them. An upset against Cheyenne is not out of the question, though anything beyond that would certainly be a surprise.

Palo Verde Panthers (6-3): The Panthers were among the area's most consistent squads throughout the 2000 season, relying on a stingy defense to finish second in the tough Northwest Division. Hard-nosed fullback Ryan Worthen provides a nice change-of-direction to speedy tailback Gerald Lawson, though Palo Verde has yet to find a groove offensively, as evidenced by last week's two-point win over Centennial. If Palo Verde can find its way into the endzone with more regularity, this could be a team with the stuff to challenge Cimarron in the regional title game.

Western Warriors (4-5): Despite losing their top two running backs by week two, the Warriors continued their tradition of treating football games as track meets, racing past opposing defenders with their usual blinding speed out of the backfield. Still, Western hasn't found a way to get the ball to tight end Tim Day and has struggled on-and-off defensively. Palo Verde will provide a significant hill to climb in round one, but with the Warriors' speed, you just never know.

-- By Spencer Patterson

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