Preps: Northwest Division

Nick Christensen

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

Nick Christensen

Centennial BULLDOGS

Coach : Joel Bertsch (2nd year)

Returning starters (O/D) : 7 (2/5)

Key players: Alex Toney, Jr., RB; Jared Noa, Jr., QB/LB; Aaron Prado, Sr., QB/DB; Brandon Hughes, Sr., WR.

X-Factor: Health. To say the Bulldogs are thin this year might be an understatement. Most of the team, including the team's two quarterbacks, will play both ways because the team's roster is so short.

Nonleague schedule (2003 record): Coronado (7-2), St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.) (13-0), Chaparral (2-7), Green Valley (1-8).

Last year, the Bulldogs were a game (or a court decision) away from the Sunset Region championship game. This year, Centennial is working the few kids it does have a bit harder than normal in an effort to get the team anywhere near playoff contention. The Gladiators might want to watch the Bulldogs, because so many of Centennial's players are playing on both sides of the ball, a la arena football.

In a superb Northwest Division, the Bulldogs may find themselves in the doghouse come November, especially if the team has injury problems. The consolation is that Centennial's freshman program is the envy of the Northwest.

Cheyenne DESERT SHIELDS

Coach : Charles Anthony (1st year)

Returning starters (O/D) : 6 (3/3)

Key players: Perry Eppenger, Sr., DT/OT; Evan Buhecker, Sr., S.

X-Factor: Quentin Carter, Jr., QB. Carter, in his second year at the quarterback, leads a Desert Shields team that has a lot of questions. Anthony said Carter's leadership is his greatest asset.

"I think kids see he's at summer workouts, at the practices; he runs hard on sprints," Anthony said. "He did an admirable job this summer."

Nonleague schedule (2003 record): Basic (7-2), Western (5-4), Las Vegas (9-0).

The year for Cheyenne might best be summed up in its coach's own words.

"We're trying to find our life without David Peeples."

Peeples ran for about 180 yards a game last year, but he's a freshman at UNLV and in his wake is a Cheyenne team that last year centered around him.

"He left a huge hole. Everybody knew he was getting the ball, and he still got 200 yards a game," Anthony said. He added that the challenge for him has been "getting everybody to know their role, and that they're part of the team, and not just one guy on offense."

It will be awhile before anyone knows exactly how good Cheyenne is, because the Shields aren't scheduled to play until Sept. 10. But if the rest of the team doesn't adapt to Life After David fairly quickly, the Shields will be left behind in November.

Cimarron-Memorial SPARTANS

Coach : Ron Smeltzer (2nd year)

Returning starters (O/D) : 8 (4/4)

Key players: Davion Mauldin, Jr., WR; Shane Moline, Sr., WR; Bryce Garcia, Sr., OT/DT.

X-Factor: Andrew Hatch, Sr., QB. Hatch, who transferred to Cimarron from Coronado because of baseball, had a great season last year with the Cougars, throwing for 1006 yards and 12 touchdowns. He rejoins Smeltzer, who coached Coronado when Hatch was called up to varsity.

"We had him on the JV team, and a couple of QBs got hurt; we had to bring him up. He turned things around for us," Smeltzer said. "He's a very intelligent individual, and he's got some athletic ability to go along with it. He's a throwing type guy, not a real option-type QB."

Nonleague schedule (2003 record): Foothill (8-1), Desert Pines (6-3), Basic (7-2), Rancho (5-4).

Cimarron brings an interesting equation to the Northwest, the city's most ground-dominated division. Hatch is a strong passer and a proven leader. Cimarron isn't returning too many people, but last year's team went well into the playoffs.

In his second year of implementing his system, Smeltzer hopes for a little more success after last year's 6-3 season. If the rest of the Northwest isn't ready for a pass offense, the Spartans could find it.

Mojave RATTLERS

Coach : Tyrone Armstrong (2nd year)

Returning starters (O/D) : 6 (3/3)

Key players: Jay Hafen, Sr., SS; Kyle Toomer, Sr., S; Brandon Gahagan, Sr., CB; Julian Mitchell, Sr., CB.

X-Factor: DJ Tilche, Sr., QB. Tilche has grown tremendously as a leader over the last year, and his teammates "are ready to follow if he's ready to lead," his coach said.

"He's Doug Flutie. He doesn't want to be beaten, and he doesn't care what the odds are," Armstrong said. "He's changed a great deal and I'm enjoying it."

Nonleague schedule (2003 record): Silverado (3-6), Valley (3-6), Desert Pines (6-3), Liberty (0-9).

Mojave was the cellar dweller in the Northwest last season, but looks to be improved behind Tilche and a group of 26 players that went to Cedar City, Utah, to attend Southern Utah University's preps camp. Armstrong said the team worked hard and kept a good attitude in Cedar City, and that the camp got the kids ready for the season without "skipping a beat."

Armstrong hinted that some of his team is experiencing "senioritis," and that he is willing (and deep enough) to cut some 12th graders. "I can get sophomores and freshmen to fill in and learn and get the job done," he said. Despite the improvements, Mojave probably doesn't have enough to make the cut for the Sunset playoffs.

Palo Verde PANTHERS

Coach : Darwin Rost (9th year)

Returning starters (O/D) : 12 (7/5)

Key players: Anthony White, Jr., TE; Marc Evans, Sr., RB; Kevin Vinik, Sr., FB; Sam King, Sr., FB.

X-Factor: Jerrell Harrison, Sr., QB. Harrison's had his chances at the helm of the Panthers, but hasn't found success in the playoffs. It's not like he's not a big-game performer, helping lead Palo Verde to the state basketball championship. Now that he's a senior, many expect Harrison to deliver the Panthers a title.

His coach disagrees with those who put the pressure squarely on Harrison.

"Jerrell is one outstanding player, and he has the tools for us to try and win a state championship," Rost said. "I don't want to put that pressure on a 17-year-old kid, that because you're a senior, it's now all on you. It's bigger than that."

Nonleague schedule (2003 record): Basic (7-2), Western (5-4), Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) (n/a), Eldorado (3-6).

Palo Verde, with its famed "wacky offense," once again is the class of the west for 2004. With 12 returning starters, the team has the strength to make a run at a championship and one of the more respected coaches in Las Vegas in Rost.

It's the offense that sets the Panthers apart.

"People don't want to prepare for it because nobody else runs it," Rost said. "There's lots of misdirection and stuff. Since we've put it in we've won our region back-to-back years with this offense."

But Rost credits the Panthers' defense for much of their winning. Last weekend, Palo Verde rolled over Las Vegas in a scrimmage, a sign that the Panthers are for real this year.

Shadow Ridge MUSTANGS

Coach : J.D. Johnson (2nd year)

Returning starters (O/D) : 14 (6/8)

Key players: Troy Cummings, Jr., WR; Ricky Snodgrass, Sr., RB; Chris Berkeley, Sr., QB; Byron Perry, Sr., DE.

X-Factor: Jarrod Walters, Jr., RB/LB. Walters, a 6-foot, 195-pound running back, came to football after competing as a javelin thrower. He lettered for the Mustangs as a sophomore, and figures to see a lot of time as both an offensive and defensive player.

Nonleague schedule (2003 record): Rancho (5-4), Canyon View (Cedar City, Utah) (n/a), Eldorado (3-6), Chaparral (2-7).

It's tough to judge a second-year team, no matter how good it is talked up. There's no question that a lot of Centennial-bound talent was diverted after Shadow Ridge opened, but how much is up for debate. The Mustangs looked strong at their practices, and huddles break with the team chanting "1-2-3 Playoffs!" Johnson has the team specifically getting ready for Palo Verde's offense. Don't doubt that the Mustangs could be a 1, 2, or 3 seed in the playoffs if they live up to their preseason hype.