Mustangs looking for 5th straight state title

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Nov. 16, 2001 | 10:58 a.m.

Friday's games

4A Sunrise Region Championship

Las Vegas (10-1) at Foothill (8-3), 7 p.m.

4A Sunset Region Championship

Cheyenne (6-5) at Durango (10-1), 7 p.m.

Saturday's game

(At Spanish Springs High School)

2A State Championship

The Meadows (11-0) vs. Battle Mountain (11-0), 3 p.m.

When is 40 consecutive wins not enough?

When a loss in game No. 41 also ends a four-year state championship reign.

The Meadows will try to keep both streaks going in Saturday's Class 2A title title contest, when the Mustangs face Battle Mountain in a clash of 11-0 squads at Sparks' Spanish Springs High School at 3 p.m.

"This is why you do passing league, why you practice and what you play the season for,"' Meadows coach Frank DeSantis said. "Breaking the (consecutive wins) record was nice, but our focus has always been winning a fifth straight state title."

The Mustangs, whose 40-game winning streak dates to the 1998 season, have played in the last five 2A championship games, winning the past four. They have hardly been tested during the 2001 season, defeating their 11 opponents by an overwhelming 378-57 margin.

But DeSantis knows his squad could be in for a battle against the unbeaten Longhorns.

"They have decent skill people, and supposedly they hit well," he said. "I expect a close, physical game. But I don't think we'll be nervous. We have a lot of seniors and they have been in big games like this before."

Leading Battle Mountain's attack will be the running back tandem of Jeremy Witt and Tim Anderson, who combined for 1,982 yards during the regular season.

The Mustangs, as always, will rely heavily on tailback Pat Curran, who has racked up 1,619 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on 159 carries. Fullback Marcel Demaree (990 yards, eight touchdowns) and quarterback Mike Paulos (1,176 passing yards 17 touchdowns) also key the Meadows' attack.

Tonight, Southern Nevada's four remaining 4A schools will match up in the regional semifinals, one week before this year's 4A State Tournament kicks off.

In the Sunset, Durango (10-1) hosts Cheyenne (6-5), with the winner advancing and the loser going home.

"(Making state) would be huge," said Trailblazers coach John Mausbach, whose squad has been among the area's final four twice before in its nine-year history. "We definitely want to go farther, and the next step is to qualify for state and win the Sunset championship."

The Desert Shields are looking for their first state berth since 1995, when they lost to Wooster in the 4A title game.

"These kids realize what they're playing for," Cheyenne coach Dave Snyder said. "They're playing with a lot of emotion, and I expect big things from them."

The game will feature a clash of styles, between Durango's big, physical offensive line and defense and Cheyenne's athletic play makers.

"We're not going to line up and outsize you, but we have a lot of speed," Snyder said. "They're big, and I guess that could be a problem, but it also could benefit us. We have a lot of weapons."

Agreed Mausbach, "They're loaded with skill guys, very quick, so our defense needs to shut down their big plays. With our defense and Cheyenne's defense being as good as they are, I think it's going to come down to turnovers and field position again."

The Blazers may be without one of their top linemen, senior two-way starter Luke Doty, who suffered a fractured foot in last week's win over Centennial. Mausbach said Doty will be a game-time decision, with Rossi Sammarcco and Robert DeMartini prepared to step in if Doty cannot play.

In tonight's Sunrise final, Foothill (8-3) hosts Las Vegas (10-1), with both teams already in next week's state semifinals. The Sunrise champion will host the Sunset champion, while the Sunrise runner-up will travel north to play either Elko or McQueen next week.

The 4A state championship game will be played Saturday, Dec. 1 at Reno's Mackay Stadium.