Faith Lutheran ready for challenge of large-school classification

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Faith Lutheran High coach Jake Kothe remembers Friday nights when the Crusaders would travel across the state playing schools in the state’s lower classifications.

There were long bus rides to remote towns and often longer rides home following a defeat as the Crusaders were building their program.

Come Sept. 4 when Faith Lutheran opens against Legacy, the competition will be significantly improved. The Crusaders will begin play in the 4A classification — some six years after it made the jump from the 2A to the 3A.

“We’ve had one of the best springs and summers since I have been here with the number of kids that committed to the program and how they have responded,” Kothe said. “I’m proud with how they have responded to the challenge.”

The learning curve of playing in the large-school classification can be overwhelming. Pahrump Valley High didn’t win a game last year in its first season in the 4A.

However, that doesn’t bother Kothe.

Pahrump was forced to move up because its enrollment was too high to compete in the 3A, while Faith Lutheran always envisioned its program at this level.

“We chose to do this. We petitioned up,” Kothe said. “We thought it would be in the best interest of the school to make the jump. The parents and kids have bought into that.”

Adding to Faith Lutheran’s challenge is the fact they are playing in the state’s toughest league. The Northwest Division, with the likes of perennial power Palo Verde and always-competitive Cimarron-Memorial and Cheyenne highs, is nicknamed the ‘Black and Blue’ division for its physical style of play.

“There is no question that there are a lot of good teams in that conference and they play a real physical style of football,” Kothe said. “But we feel confident in what we are doing. Our attitude is that we are rolling up our sleeves, working hard and getting after it.”

Faith Lutheran, which went 5-5 last year and lost in the first round of the 3A Southern League playoffs, will have one of the league’s top passing attacks.

Led by junior quarterback Joe Portaro, junior wide receiver Don Pearson and junior tight end Brett Lubbe, the Crusaders could present matchup problems to opponents. Portaro passed for more than 2,000 yards last year, including throwing 13 touchdowns to Pearson. Also, senior wide receiver AJ Finlayson has developed into a threat and is one of the team’s fastest players.

“Those guys are going to be able to make some plays for us, there is no question about that,” Kothe said.

Defensively, seniors Paul Morton and Evan Newton on the line and JT Burns at linebacker will lead the way.

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