Columnist Spencer Patterson: Prep sports to carry on with schedule

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 9:33 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at 259-4085 or at spencer@lasvegassun.com.

All games 7 p.m. unless noted

Durango at Eldorado

Chaparral at Centennial

Bonanza at Valley

Green Valley at Palo Verde

Western at Mojave

Bishop Gorman at Rancho

Clark at Basic

Cimarron at Las Vegas

Cheyenne at Desert Pines

Coronado at Meadows

Faith Lutheran at Sierra Vista

Needles at Boulder City

Foothill at N. Dame (Calif.) 7:30 p.m.

Silverado at Bonita Vista (Calif.)

The NFL and Division I colleges have canceled this weekend's games, but high school football games will go on as scheduled tonight in Southern Nevada.

"The attempt that we've had throughout this crisis is to maintain as normal an activity scheduled as possible," said Dr. Augstin Oric, Clark County School District Deputy Superintendent for Instruction.

Prep sporting events have been held without interruption throughout the week, both in Clark County and Northern Nevada's Washoe County.

"In pro sports, a lot of those games depend on travel, and there were also safety concerns with so many people gathering in one place," Oric said. "We don't have those same issues."

Oric added, however, that there will be no repercussions for students who choose not to participate, be they athletes, cheerleaders or band members.

"If there's anyone who feels they can't participate for any reason, we will certainly respect that," he said.

Silverado and Foothill proceeded with plans for games in California tonight. The Skyhawks left by bus Thursday, with the Falcons slated to do the same today. The Los Angeles Unified School District canceled its slate of games, but other California schools have made the decision to play on.

With today designated as a National Day of Prayer and Rememberance by the President, Clark County schools will observe moments of silence before kickoff.

Clark County athletic director Larry McKay said the district was not planning any additional security measures, but that "security will be up to our usual standards."

"We don't feel there's any need for additional security. You always have to be concerned, but our police officers are well-trained and we have every confidence that if something happened they'd be able to handle it," McKay said.

McKay added that although high schools will not be competing with UNLV football, there is a potential for crowds to be below their normal size due to the week's tragic events.

"We had a few players that had her as their German teacher," Panthers coach Darwin Rost said. "She was a really nice, fun-loving person."

Rost said the school's student council, letterman's club and band were organizing the ceremony, with halftime lengthened from 15 to 20 minutes to accommodate it.

Rost said Palo Verde players will wear the initials "B.E." on their helmets in memory of Edwards.