3A football teams ready for league play — finally

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 | 10:47 a.m.

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 [email protected].