Las Vegas experience figures to be an asset

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004 | 10:16 a.m.

Green Valley (6-4, 2-3 SE)

at Las Vegas (8-2, 4-1 NE)

7 p.m. Friday, Frank Nails Field,

E. Sahara at Hollywood Blvd,

Sunrise Manor

Mutual opponents: Bonanza (6-4): Las Vegas won 49-20, Green Valley won 20-12; Rancho (1-9): Las Vegas won 49-14, Green Valley won 41-6

Key for Las Vegas: Keep Eric Jordan running. The South's rushing leader is the bellwether of the Wildcats' offense.

Key for Green Valley: Manage Jordan and try to contain the rest of the offense where it can.

Coronado (5-3, 3-2 SE)

at Valley (7-2, 4-1 NE)

7 p.m. Friday, Piggott Stadium Eastern at Karen

Winchester

Mutual opponents: Eldorado (7-3): Valley won 28-25, Coronado lost 54-21.

Key for Valley: Open up the ground attack. Las Vegas limited Valley to just 61 rushing yards last week.

Key for Coronado: Learn from last year's second-round loss to Desert Pines. Being a favorite isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Of the three teams in contention late in the season, Las Vegas looked the least likely to claim the Northeast Division football title.

The Wildcats had just been beaten convincingly by upstart Cheyenne, at home no less, and were limping into their Week 7 home game against Eldorado, which they also lost. Vegas looked destined for third -- if not worse.

But then Valley beat Eldorado, and Las Vegas smelled blood. Last week's 21-3 Wildcats win against Valley secured a three-way tie for the league title -- a tie broken by a math formula that put Vegas back on top.

"They're pretty fired up," Wildcats coach Chris Faircloth said. "You could just kind of tell during that whole week, they were getting ready for that game. And they're getting ready for the playoff experience here. Hopefully we can make it last a little longer than shorter, I guess."

If any of the 24 4A teams in the playoffs this year has playoff experience, it's Vegas. The Wildcats last year went through it all -- a tough opener against Basic, a bruising win against Foothill, a victory against previously unbeaten Palo Verde, and finally a loss in the state championship against Reno at Reno. Above all, they dealt with the loss of teammate Edward Gomez, who died from head trauma he suffered in the Sunrise Region title game against Desert Pines.

With the emotional baggage still attached but just a little more distant this year, Las Vegas will begin its title run hosting Green Valley Friday night at Frank Nails Field.

"We didn't pay much attention to that division during the season," Faircloth said of the Southeast. "I pulled up their numbers, and they're not giving up a lot of points. Only two games this year they've given up more than two touchdowns. I didn't realize they put up that good of defense. They're scrappy on defense. Their deal is, they're going to run the ball, play good defense, keep the game close, and try to get you in the end."

Despite a turnaround year in which they went from 1-8 in 2003 to 6-4 in 2004, the Gators' close to the season has to be counted as a disappointment. They lost their league opener to a then-struggling Coronado team, then were stopped short of a win against Silverado by failed PAT attempts in last week's 14-12 loss to the Skyhawks. That bumped Green Valley down to fourth in the Southeast.

Coronado at Valley

Coronado used that Green Valley game as a springboard for a turnaround to its season that looked as though it was in trouble following losses to Centennial (which eventually finished 2-7) and Eldorado (7-3). The Cougars played Silverado close and fell at undefeated Foothill, but coach Paul Berg is pleased with his spot as his Cougars open at Valley on Friday.

"We kind of turned it around in the Foothill game offensively, making some good plays, and we didn't have any mistakes or penalties," he said. "We had good plays against Silverado, and they came back because of penalties and mistakes. We've talked about eliminating mistakes and the penalties and the kids have worked with that. These last few games, they haven't made many mistakes and it really showed."

The Cougars finished 2003 as the top team in the Southeast, but star quarterback Andrew Hatch's transfer to Cimarron-Memorial left Sean McLeod in a position of playing catch-up. But McLeod and receiver Tysson Poots have climbed back into the local leaderboard.

Valley, on the other hand, is in unfamiliar territory. Two years ago, the Vikings were winless. Last year, Valley went 3-6, but finished this season at 7-2 with the playoff berth.

Vikings coach Jim Massey said getting his kids primed for the playoffs isn't the problem -- it's keeping them grounded that's the key to success.

"With our kids, they get too hyped up and they make mistakes," he said. "I'm trying to play it the other way. We've got to go out like a machine and hit on all cylinders. You've got a job to do. This is what you do, and you'll find out real quick if you can handle them, and if you can't handle them, let us know and we'll get you some help."

Massey plans on making some adjustments with one of his tackles academically ineligible and another, Garner Jones, doubtful with an injury. He also said he expects to use linebacker Marcus Cotton, the team's emotional leader, on offense as a fullback.

"This has been a learning experience for our kids. You talk about winning three games in two years before this year. The year before that, when they were brought up as sophomores, they were just pounded on," Massey said. "(Coronado) is very comparable to a Desert Pines, I don't think they have a dominant running back, and we don't think they're as good as Vegas ... hopefully not, anyway."