Bonanza hopes to solidify season against Spring Valley

By Steve Silver

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 | 10:40 a.m.

In just his second year as head football coach at Bonanza High School, Shawn Dupris has transformed the Southwest Division's bad news Bengals into legitimate league title contenders.

Dupris' uniquely calm and positive approach to coaching has helped the Bengals (6-2, 5-0) win six consecutive games, which is a school record. Bonanza is currently atop the Southwest Division with perennial juggernaut Bishop Gorman (8-1, 5-0).

"The first thing I wanted to instill in the kids is to make them believe that they can play with anyone in the city," Dupris said. "They have to believe that they strap it up the same way as anyone else does. It's just a matter of positive attitudes strong work ethics. Nine months of work and building that confidence and getting them to buy into the fact that they can play has paid off and come together in the win column."

But now that the Bengals believe they can win, they want their fans to believe in them, too.

In order to completely remake their image, however, Bonanza will have to prove itself when it travels down Rainbow Boulevard and takes on rival Spring Valley (6-1, 4-1) on Friday.

The Bengals and the Grizzlies will not only battle for pride and a prized banner, but whichever team comes out on top Friday will essentially clinch a first- round home playoff game.

"We want to make a statement and beating a top team like Spring Valley is the perfect way to do it," said Bonanza's star running back Antonio Beals. "People probably think it's a fluke that we have won six in a row, but if we can beat Spring Valley, then people will know we are for real."

Although Spring Valley dropped a tight game to Bishop Gorman 14-6 on Sept. 26, the Grizzlies have rebounded with three straight victories in which they have mercilessly outscored opponents 134-26.

Yet with only two games remaining in the regular season, Spring Valley knows it cannot afford to become complacent Friday.

"With any rival, you have to throw out the records and throw out everything because both teams are going to come prepared," Spring Valley coach Kelly Murphy said. "So it will come down to execution. In the end if we do the things that we know how to do, we'll keep that banner and secure a home playoff spot."

To move into second place in the Southwest Division behind the No. 1 Gaels, the Grizzlies will have to rely on their powerful rushing attack to topple the Bengals.

With a mostly I-formation set, Spring Valley keeps the ball on the ground for about 80 percent of their offensive plays, which have netted them more than 1,500 rushing yards. Senior running back Jacques Adams has led the Grizzlies' potent rushing attack with 1,037 yards and 10 touchdowns.

"We are familiar with (Spring Valley's) style of offense," Dupris said. "We played Legacy and they beat us up a bit in the second half with it and I think that was a great learning tool for us. Sierra Vista runs a similar offense and we did really well against them. So our defense is hyped. They are ready for the challenge."

Although Spring Valley is known for its ground game, Bonanza has quite a weapon in the backfield of its own in Beals.

The senior running back has already amassed more than 1,400 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns.

"Antonio has great patience," Dupris said. "He was our running back last year and he was learning how to run the zone stuff and learning patience in the one-cut. He's done an excellent job with it this year. He gets in there and he's a smaller guy, but built real well, so he disappears and just pops out of the line. Once he gets in the open field he's gone."

Sophomore quarterback Sterling Sprau has also helped balanced the Bengals' attack with 742 yards and seven touchdowns through the air.

But his 47 percent completion rate and five interceptions could prove troublesome against Spring Valley's veteran defense.

"We have to make sure that defensively, we are in the right position to make plays," Murphy said. "I believe our defense is strong, they have been strong all year, so it will be a good matchup … Our senior leadership has been good from the beginning and they know we will only go as far as they lead us."

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or steve.silver@lasvegassun.com.