Foothill returns several from upset against Las Vegas

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

The Foothill High football team is looking to capitalize on one of the biggest wins in school history.

The Henderson school gained the respect of other teams in the valley last fall when it upset perennial power Las Vegas High in the Sunrise Regional quarterfinals. The loss snapped a streak of six straight regional crows for Las Vegas and shined light on a Foothill program several feel is loaded with talented athletes.

“When you beat a team like Las Vegas in the playoffs, that opened some eyes a little bit,” Foothill coach Marty Redmond said.

Several who contributed to the victory return this fall for Foothill, including running back and safety Connor Afoa, an all-Sun preseason team selection at safety. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Afoa rushed for 703 yards and six touchdowns in 2009.

Afoa isn’t the lone Foothill player who shined on Friday nights last year. The Falcons return seven starters on each side of the ball, all of which believe the upset of Las Vegas was the start of something memorable that will carry into this fall.

“(The win) gave our kids confidence. It was something they worked hard for,” Redmond said. “The kids understand the expectations are higher this year because of that.”

Quarterback Parker Riggin (5-foot-11, 175), who led the Southeast Division in passing with 1,991 yards and 17 touchdowns last year, will look to continue his hot finish to last season. He passed for five touchdowns in two playoff games, including 305 yards and three touchdowns against Las Vegas.

Defensively, Foothill returns three of its four starting linebackers from last year.

Senior outside linebacker Keegan Buck, an all-Southeast selection last year who is a three-year starter, will anchor the defense. The other returns are Dominic Larocco and Ryan Call.

In the secondary, senior Miles Killebrew and junior Kyle Keplinger return. Killebrew’s interception return for a touchdown was the game-winner against Las Vegas, and Keplinger was arguably Foothill’s best receiver last year as a sophomore. Returning starter Brian Van Gorder, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior, will be a mainstay on the line.

It’s a defensive unit Redmond feels will put his team right in the thick of the playoff race in the Southeast. With the likes of Del Sol, Liberty and Silverado, all of the league’s coaches know it will be a fight to the finish.

“Our division is one of the toughest in town,” Redmond said. “There is no break in league play. There is going to be a good team that doesn’t make the playoffs.”