Copeland’s impact felt on and off field

Adam Candee

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004 | 9:59 a.m.

Day became night as the rain began to fall in Reno at Mackay Stadium, an appropriate backdrop to the close of an emotionally trying season for Las Vegas High School's football team.

The Wildcats had just fallen victim to a shocking upset at the hands of Reno High School, a 26-23 stunner that no one south of Pahrump ever saw coming. Most in tears, the Wildcats retreated to their locker room, except for the one player who never stepped away from any challenging situation.

Stanley Copeland, the unofficial team spokesman in the wake of the death of teammate Edward Gomez just two weeks earlier, conducted interviews in the middle of the field. It was just the last of Copeland's various contributions to the state runner-up squad, a body of work that earned him Sun All-State Defensive Player of the Year honors for the 2003 season.

Chris Faircloth, the new Wildcats head coach, worked with Copeland as defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. Faircloth marveled at the many ways Copeland helped Las Vegas.

"I can't tell you how many times he bailed us out, both offensively and defensively," Faircloth said. "He was our Mr. Everything. I don't know if we've ever had a kid that we asked so much of."

Copeland earned first-team honors at both defensive back and at wide receiver on the All-Southern Nevada team this year, a rare feat for even the best of athletes. In addition to that work, Copeland served as the Wildcats' placekicker and punter. He also spent time returning kicks.

At wide receiver, Copeland displayed an amazingly steady pair of hands, catching most everything thrown his way. The Las Vegas offense thrived on the running of fellow All-State first teamer Eric Jordan, but Copeland still caught 39 passes for 513 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Yet he made just as big of an impact on the defensive ball as well. Copeland scored the Wildcats' first touchdown on a fumble recovery and return in the state semifinals against Palo Verde, and he finished with three turnovers in the game.

"He's just one of those kids," Faircloth said. "He always made plays when we needed plays made."

Copeland's sense of timing was truly special. That stellar defensive performance came in the Wildcats' first game after losing Gomez, a starting senior safety, as a result of an injury sustained in the region championship game just eight days earlier.

He was one of the first players to confront the swarming local media wanting to talk about Gomez, and he handled all the questions with grace and intelligence.

"He was a more of a quiet leader," Faircloth said. "He wasn't a really vocal kid. He was the only kid that I think all the kids could look up to."

That is a testament to a lot of hard work that Copeland did to improve himself between his junior and senior years. Faircloth said that Copeland developed a more serious attitude toward football as his senior year approached. With his effort matching his natural talent, Copeland became the player Las Vegas could not live without.

"Losing Stanley would have had a bigger impact than any one kid we could have lost," Faircloth said.