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twitterPREP FOOTBALL:
3A football teams ready for league play — finally
Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Senior wide receiver Danny O’Conner breaks through a block during offensive drills Monday during practice at Boulder City High.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 | 10:47 a.m.
Expanded coverage
Prep Sports Now
Upsets abound as rivalry week approaches
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Las Vegas Sun reporters Ray Brewer and Steve Silver break down last week's high school football contests and preview this Friday's upcoming games including the Henderson Bowl between Green Valley and Basic as well as the Cleat game Chaparral and Eldorado.
The Boulder City and Moapa Valley high football teams each have three games left in the regular season.
Yet, when 3A Southern League rivals square off at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Boulder City, the winning team will be guaranteed a share of the league title and be a virtual lock to reach the 3A state semifinals.
Oddly enough, the game is also the league opener for both schools.
Welcome to the wacky 3A Southern League, which is down to three teams this year after Faith Lutheran moved to the 4A classification. Virgin Valley, the league’s other team, hosts Clark on Oct. 16.
Each of the league’s teams were guaranteed a spot in the postseason at the beginning of the year, with the league champion — or whoever beats the other two teams — receiving the No. 1 seed in the state semifinals.
Talk about adding intensity to the already heated rivalry.
“Everyone wants that first round bye,” Boulder City coach Alex Kazel said.
Moapa Valley, the defending 3A state champions, struggled early in opening with a pair of losses. But the Pirates (3-3) have won their last two games, victories against 4A schools from the Las Vegas Valley, and have one of the 3A’s top players in Matt Newton.
“Until someone beats them, they are the team to beat,” Kazel said. “They are the best until someone proves otherwise. Like every team in the 3A, their kids puts their hearts into every down. They never take a play off. We are looking forward to playing them.”
Boulder City (5-2) has been solid defensively, only giving up 10 points in the last three weeks, including blanking visiting Eldorado 28-0 on Oct. 8 for its third shutout of the season.
The Eagles will be tested in containing Newton, who lines up at wide receiver, running back and slot back.
“We try to move him around and get him as many looks as we can,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said.
The players in Boulder City’s senior class have never beaten Moapa Valley, but the successful last three weeks have given them confidence they can contend.
“We are a hard working group,” Boulder City senior defensive back Allen Haines said. “Our defense has been the difference. We feel we can stop any offense.”
That wasn’t the case last year. Boulder City only trailed 14-13 at halftime, but faded in the second half in losing 35-13. Moapa Valley eventually won its last eight games to capture the state crown.
Now, the Eagles think they can turn the tables. This is Kazel’s second-year at the helm and the players have responded to his style.
“This year, we are a lot more secure in our second year with coach Kazel,” senior safety Tim McKeever said. “He is a strong coach.”
But, like Kazel said, they still are chasing Moapa Valley for 3A superiority.
“We preach to our kids that we expect to be there at the end to challenge (for state),” Lewis said. “Our kids believe that. They are fully confident.”
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.
Discussion: 6 comments so far…
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Brewer-
Boulder City is never going to be a rival of Moapa Valley. Virgin Valley will always be the rival. I know you didn't graduate from Boulder but you sure do write like it.
Boulder's combined opponents record: 12-34.
Basic has 5 of those wins and Sunrise Mountain won a game against a jv team. That Eldorado team they blanked is 0-6 and has lost to Rancho! Boulder's HUGE homecoming victory came against 0-6 Faith Lutheran who has lost to Mojave. Canyon View from Cedar City Utah is the laughing stock of Southern Utah High School Football and has only one victory this fall...Boulder! River Valley and Mojave from AZ are a combined 5-9.
Moapa's combined opponents record: 23-19
Moapa's 3 losses are to Hurricane(7-1) who is a GOOD football team and was the Utah 3A runner-up last year. Fernley(3-3) who is a decent Northern 3A team and Delta(4-4) who is a decent 3A Utah team.
What is Boulder going to do on offense when Moapa's D eats up Combs? They haven't been able to throw the ball well at all this year. All I gotta say is Combs better be watchin out for C. Lim, C. Powell, J. Pearce, and A. Huerta because those kids can play defense.
GO PIRATES!
Brewer do you know anything about Moapa Valley? This is Brad Weiss last years moapa running back im sure you remember me. Boulder city is not moapas rival. if you know anything about football you know our rival is Virgin Valley not boulder city. Have you ever seen Moapa Play? Has boulder city beaten anybody? who have they beat that is a good team? since you know so much about football answer that question. You don't know the first thing about moapa valley so don't pretend that you do. Boulder City has the same chumps that We have destroyed for the last two years. look at the scores from the games for the last two seasons. how close were the scores? not very. Boulder will not beat Moapa.
Whoever that is posting as Brad thanks for the support but let us do our talking on the field.
Moapa Valley fans: I love the passion you have for your school. It is what makes covering preps enjoyable. I agree -- Virgin Valley is clearly your No. 1 rival. But I'm pretty confident a rivalry exists with Boulder City, too. It certainly felt that way last winter during the basketball playoffs.
blueandgold! amazing prediction on the game. Combs 16 carries for 36 yards! Moapa's "D" crushed BC. BC had negative yards on offense until the 3rd quarter when MV mercifully pulled the starters. Newt, great game! 2 State Championships, 2 4a wins, is MV ever goig to get any R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Just give Moapa fans what they want. More media coverage and talk about the extremely talented players that Moapa produces! Oh and has anyone ever mentioned that the boys who play for Moapa have grown up and lived in Moapa virtually their whole lives? Unlike other schools that are non-private schools in the 3A that will still go out and try to recruit. Moapa knows what pride means! You can't teach kids what to play for, we come to realize it from a young age. Moapa kids are straight tough! We come to play!
Yes, you say we have passion. Moapa has the best fans in the state. We love our football and we know when we're good! And WE'RE GOOD! Year in and year out!