Cheyenne’s Peeples gets all the attention

Adam Candee

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004 | 10:07 a.m.

For a quiet kid, it really is amazing how David Peeples attracts spotlight, for better or for crazier.

A recent Cheyenne early graduate, Peeples became one of the most recognizable names on the Las Vegas sports scene in November. Part of that recognition came for his outstanding work in the backfield for the Desert Shields.

But another larger part of it can be attributed to the lawsuit that Peeples' family filed against the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association to overturn a playoff forfeit, a move that created one of the weirdest situations in Nevada prep football history.

Throughout all the madness, Peeples kept his cool, both on and off the field. He rushed for almost 2,000 yards to spearhead Cheyenne all the way to the Sunset Region title game. Really, he is about the only reason the Desert Shields were able to get so far, earning him Sun Offensive Player of the Year honors for 2003.

"He was the heart and soul of us scoring points," Cheyenne coach Dave Snyder said.

Peeples did plenty of scoring, punching in 28 touchdowns. His quickness and breakaway speed made him a constant threat to break a run for a score. Cheyenne rarely threw the ball, in large part because there was little need for the Desert Shields to do so.

"What he brought to the table for us was 100 yards a game, pretty much," Snyder said. "We had the luxury of building an offense around him."

After an outstanding regular season, Peeples brought much more than that in the first round of the playoffs. He ran for 288 yards and four touchdowns in Cheyenne's upset of Southwest Division champion Bishop Gorman. That would be enough to draw the spotlight, but Peeples became the center of attention when he found himself unwittingly in the eye of a major postgame brawl between the teams.

The NIAA decided to forfeit Cheyenne out of the playoffs for its role in that fight, but Peeples' mother, Deborah Johnson, filed suit and eventually got the Shields back into their playoff game with Centennial. Peeples was equally strong under the pressure in that game, running for 205 yards and two touchdowns to lead Cheyenne into the region title game.

"I really didn't think a little bit of emotions would bother him," Snyder said.

As calm as they come, Peeples came into his own as a senior after sharing the backfield with Travonte Darby and Ramone Cooper as a junior. He quickly established himself as the city's top senior prospect and he is beginning to cash in on that status now.

Oregon, Oregon State and Mississippi State are the most prominent schools recruiting Peeples. His move to graduate early will allow him to enroll quickly at whichever school he chooses, possibly giving Peeples a chance to take part in spring practice and get a jump on his college career.

"He'll get caught up with their schemes and learn what they want of him early," Snyder said.

Snyder feels that will be no problem for one of the best players he's coached.

"He's a special kid," Snyder said.