Defense: Pool made splash

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 | 11:40 a.m.

Mustafa Barnes-Cruz

DL, Las Vegas

5-11, 265, Sr.

Noteworthy: Made 102 total tackles, including 42 solo takedowns, nine for loss and two sacks ... member of Wildcat defense that allowed 10 or fewer points in three of final four playoff games en route to 4A state title ... first-team All-Sunrise Region.

Said Wildcats coach Kris Cinkovich: "He had a tremendous offseason, lost some weight, and that helped his quickness and gave him the ability to pursue. We'd hoped he'd be a good player, but he was better than we thought he'd be."

Dustin Barnett

DL, McQueen

6-1, 220, Sr.

Noteworthy: Contributed 93 tackles, including 19 for loss, 10 sacks and five fumble recoveries ... anchored unitthat held 14 opponents to 7.8 points per game and pitched four shutouts ... two-year member of Sun all-state first team ... first-team All-Northern Region.

Said Lancers coach Ken Dalton: "He's the anchor to our defense. He has a great motor, and he's a no-nonsense guy that takes care of business."

Pat Blair

DL, Galena

6-3, 235, Sr.

Noteworthy: End came up with 89 tackles, including six for loss, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 24 QB hurries ... along with brother Phil, starred for defense that held eight of nine regular season foes to 14 points or less ... starting C earned two-way 4A All-Northern Region honors.

Said Grizzlies coach Greg Sakelaris: "He was one of our leaders and he could play anywhere for us. He has good feet, he's very fast for his size and he could line up on either the strong or weak side."

Luke Doty

DL, Durango

6-3, 255, Sr.

Noteworthy: Made 70 tackles, including 46 solo takedowns and eight sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered a fumble for the Trailblazers ... helped team hold foes to 11.9 points per game before missing final two contests with a broken foot ... starting G also keyed team's running attack ... two-way first-team All-Southern Nevada.

Said Trailblazers coach John Mausbach: "Luke's a product of the weight room. He's very disciplined and he's a great kid and model citizen. Most teams double-teamed him, which allowed our other guys to have big games."

Jamar Barnes

LB, Desert Pines

6-1, 185, Sr.

Noteworthy: Made immediate impact infirst season with Jaguars with 91 tackles, including 22 for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries ... caught 38 passes for 544 yards and scored 12 total TDs and returned kickoffs for a 35-yard average ... first-team All-Southern Nevada.

Said Jaguars coach Gary Findley: "Jamar is extremely athletic, and he has great strength. Whichever side he was on he shut down, and in terms of big hits during the game, he delivered most of them."

Darrell Henderson

LB, Cheyenne

6-0, 225, Sr.

Noteworthy: Racked up 120 tackles, four fumble recoveries, 15 pass deflections and one interception ... captained defensive unit that allowed just 15.8 points per game and shut out two opponents ... helped squad rebound from 1-3 start to reach 4A Sunset Region championship ... first-team All-Sunset Region.

Said Desert Shields coach Dave Snyder: "Without him our defense would have been lost, a little afraid on the field. He has a nose for the ball, and he did a good job of taking our game plan and making sure the rest of the team understood it."

Allen McIntyre

LB, Durango

6-0, 200, Jr.

Noteworthy: Came up with 78 tackles, including 50 solo takedowns, 18 sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries ... also blocked two kicks and scored a defensive TD ... rushed for TD in playoff win over Cheyenne ... member of Durango defense that allowed just two TDs in first three playoff games ... first-team All-Southern Nevada.

Said Trailblazers coach John Mausbach: "He's a big hitter, not a huge kid, but he knows how to lay the wood. He's one of the toughest kids you'll ever see coming off the edge."

Chad Pool

LB, Las Vegas

5-8, 175, Jr.

Noteworthy: Had 132 total tackles, including 74 solo takedowns, 16 for loss and six sacks ... defensive leader for team that held eight of final 10 opponents under 15 points ... two-year varsity performer ... first-team All-Southern Nevada ... Southern Nevada's Defensive MVP.

Said Wildcats coach Kris Cinkovich: "He has a true passion for the game, and the other kids probably get more of that from him than anything. He's a student of the game who prepares for each opponent and it shows."

Kris Cinkovich

Coach, Las Vegas

Noteworthy: Coached Wildcats to 2001 4A state title, school's first in the sport since 1959 ... 13-1 season record included perfect 13-0 mark against in-state competition ... earned championship with 17-10 OT win over defending state champion McQueen in Reno.

Fred Coleman

P, Durango

5-10, 175, Sr.

Noteworthy: Louisiana transfer averaged 40.8 yards per punt ... alsoconnected on 32 of 36 PATs and 5 of 10 field goals, including a 37-yard game-winner in playoff win over Centennial ... first-team All-Sunset Region.

Said Trailblazers coach John Mausbach: "All year he kept teams pinned down where they'd have to go 80 yards, and with our defense, most teams couldn't. Fred kept us in the ballgame and probably won a couple, just by keeping teams pinned down."

Matt Lambeth

DB, Fernley

6-3, 200, Sr.

Noteworthy: Cornerback made 35 solo tackles for 3A Vaqueros ... team's starting QB completed 65 of 158 passes for 1,210 yards, 12 TDs, ran for 476 yards, 5 TDs ... returned three kicks for TDs ... finished with nine career interceptions ... two-way member of 3A Northern first team at QB/DB ... 3A North's Offensive MVP ... recruited by Division I schools including Stanford and Oregon St.

Said Vaqueros coach Dave Hart: "He covered the best receiver for the other team each week, and he shut down some pretty good receivers. He did everything for us -- punted, kicked off, returned, played both ways -- and did a great job."

Luke Penrose

DB, Galena

5-11, 180, Sr.

Noteworthy: Cornerback contributed 80 tackles, including 21 solo takedowns, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception ... rushed for 707 yards as starting RB ... All-Northern Region first team DB ... All-High Desert Division first team RB ... pursued by several Ivy League schools.

Said Grizzlies coach Greg Sakelaris: "I've been coaching varsity football for 10 years, and Luke is the best kid I've ever coached, as far as his athletic ability, his coachability and his classroom work ethic. Nobody outworks him in the weight room and it shows on the football field."

Jake Sampley

DB, Elko

6-0, 185, Sr.

Noteworthy: Safety made 73 tackles, including56 solo takedowns, for 11-1 Indians ... wing back also rushed for 490 yards, 6 TDs and caught 11 passes for 228 yards, TD ... also blocked five kicks ... 4A Northern Region Defensive MVP ... first-team All-Northern Region.

Said Indians coach Bob Milligan: "He's a physical player, he's got good speed and he's a great hitter. As much as anything, he'd put guys on their back and set the tone for how to play."

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