Champions made in the spring at Las Vegas High

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | 1:11 p.m.

Maybe this is why the Las Vegas High football team always plays on Thanksgiving weekend.

It’s the second week of April, more than four months before the action will begin under the Friday night lights, and the Wildcats are in the middle of a spring football program that includes after-school practices and team gatherings three times a week.

And these are not your typical practices.

Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth gets the most out of his roughly 50 varsity players to attend, treating the involuntary workouts as if the perennial power Wildcats have a playoff game later in the week.

Never one to stand and observe on the sideline, Faircloth — with whistle in mouth — runs his team through stretching, conditioning and passing drills with a fierce intensity.

The skilled position players, such as the quarterbacks and wide receivers, hit the field to learn new plays and polish up on fundamentals and conditioning. The linemen spend their time in the weight room lifting and working on blocking schemes and pass rush techniques.

Las Vegas has played in the Sunrise Regional title game each fall since Southern Nevada was split into two regions in 2000, only losing to Deser Pines in 2003. With the regional crowns comes playing in the state semifinals, which is played the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

It’s a game Las Vegas expects to play in each year — hence the work in April.

“This is a very important time of the year for us,” Faircloth said. “We always try to modify what we are doing and grow. Is this the right way to do it? I don’t know.”

Judging by the results, it is.

While the Wildcats are busy working on their new defense and adding wrinkles to their spread option attack, other schools are virtually dark.

Cheyenne and Western did not hire new coaches until April, and Coronado still has no coach. Several schools have miniature versions of off-season workouts, but they start later in the spring and aren’t as organized or attended.

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association limits the amount and type of off-season training allowed for all sports. For football, there is a dead period where practices are forbidden for six weeks after the season.

Once involuntary practices are again allowed, they are strictly involuntary and can’t include blocking sleds, shoulder pads or other equipment besides a football and cleats.

“We are just working hard to get better and stronger,” said Jordan Turner, a senior-to-be defensive lineman working out with the group in the weight room. “The work we do in the weight room makes us faster on the field.”

The first day of official practices is in the middle of August. Per NIAA rules, an athlete can show up that day and must be guaranteed a spot on the team.

Reaching the field, however, is another story. And not just at Las Vegas.

“If you choose not to make a commitment in the spring or summer we will choose not to play you,” Faircloth said.

While the spring regimen at Las Vegas may seem extreme, you will not hear any of the players complain. Winning the regional title is a once-a-decade occurrence at some schools, while at Las Vegas it is the minimum expectation.

The Wildcats captured their sixth consecutive Sunrise title in 2008 but lost to Palo Verde in the state semifinals by three touchdowns in game that has provided motivation this spring.

Winning a state championship, which Las Vegas did 2001, ’05 and ’06, is the goal each year.

“I think about it a lot,” said senior-to-be linebacker Dave Prieto. “We ended up short. We were so close to having a great season. But, right now, our job is to not worry about that and get ready for the next season.”

Prieto will be one of the leaders of a defense that is using the spring to transition to a package that will put more emphasis on zone defense in defending the pass.

Offensively, the Wildcats must replace top weapons in quarterback Emir Lopez and running back Reggie Bullock. They are experimenting with sophomore-to-be Hassan Henderson, junior-to-be Clayton Slack and senior-to-be Mario West.

At tailback, sophomore-to-be Farrell Victor saw significant carries last fall in the playoffs, rushing for 221 yards four touchdowns on 41 carries in four postseason games.

Despite returners such as Victor and junior-to-be wide receiver Marquan Major (59 catches for 760 yards and four touchdowns in 2008), Faircloth said, the offseason work is especially needed this spring.

“We aren’t loaded. We have a lot of work to do,” the coach said.

While some coaches are gradually getting back into football, Faircloth is coaching 365 days a year.

“I love what I do. I wouldn’t trade my life with anyone,” Faircloth said. “I love being around the kids at this school.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com or 990-2662.