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Moapa Valley High School football players Jacob Rebman, Sean McConnell and Dakota Watters.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Getting ready for another high school football season
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Las Vegas Sun sports editor Ray Brewer joins Randy Howe on the KSNV Sunday night sports show to look at the upcoming high school football season.
Prep Sports Now
Gorman out to break trend at Sollenberger Classic
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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer return with a breakdown of the two games as part of the Sollenberger Classic. Can Bishop Gorman win its first national game of the year against Arizona's Chaparral High? Moapa Valley also challenges Show Low at the University of Phoenix stadium this weekend.
For the residents of Moapa Valley to fill up University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, each one of them would need to attend a game and bring 10 friends.
It’s rare that a high school football team from Nevada’s smaller-school classification gets a chance to play in a national game, let alone in a professional venue. Moapa Valley High will have the opportunity Saturday when it challenges Arizona’s Show Low High in the first game of the Sollenberger Classic.
“When the kids found out we were playing in the Cardinals’ stadium, that was an eye-opening thing for them,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “They have just been so excited.”
In the past, participants in the Sollenberger Classic were limited to the defending Nevada 4A state champion and its Arizona 5A counterpart. But classic officials decided to include the 3A this year as a way to feature Show Low, which is ranked No. 413 in the nation by Maxpreps.com.
As last year’s Nevada 3A state champion, Truckee High was first offered the game. When Truckee turned it down, the option fell to 2010 runner-up Moapa Valley. It didn’t take the Pirates long to accept.
“I went to the other coaches, and they were like, ‘Let’s jump on this,’ ” Lewis said. “This is really a great way to start our season. Win or lose, I just don’t see any downside to it.”
The classic will pay for Moapa Valley’s three-night hotel stay and host a banquet including all four teams. The Pirates plan to practice twice in the Phoenix area and will also receive a tour of the stadium the day before their game.
It’s the kind of treatment that’s memorable to any prep sports team, but especially one that isn’t used to it. Moapa Valley doesn’t a have a national reputation as a football powerhouse like Bishop Gorman or Arizona’s Chaparral High, the two teams that meet in the second game Saturday.
Maxpreps lists Gorman and Chaparral as 10th and 24th in the country, respectively. The website ranks Moapa Valley as the 5,437th team in the nation.
Gorman’s roster is littered with Division-I recruits, while no major college programs are after anyone from Moapa Valley.
“I definitely didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to play in an NFL stadium,” said Jacob Rebman, a senior tight end and linebacker for Moapa Valley. “I really like the Arizona Cardinals, so I’m excited to play there.”
Rebman grew up a Cardinals fan because of their proximity and television availability to Southern Nevada. His favorite player is wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, whom he said he wished he could emulate on the field.
But the biggest challenge for Rebman and the other team leaders may have nothing to do with catching passes or making tackles. They’ll need to ensure their teammates are mentally ready to play and not too encapsulated with jitters in the moment.
“Maybe at the beginning we will be nervous, but I think we’ll settle down and be calm,” senior quarterback Dakota Watters said. “Our goal is to win a state championship and I think this will benefit us greatly.”
Lewis would argue the Sollenberger Classic has already helped the Pirates. The coach received an overwhelming response from his players when he told them about the game this summer.
Motivated by the opportunity, Lewis said more players than ever showed up during daily summer weightlifting sessions. He described their work ethic in the offseason as “phenomenal.”
“This team is a lot more focused,” Rebman said. “We did lose quite a few players from last year, but we had a lot of good juniors and a lot of players in line.”
In addition to Watters and Rebman, the Pirates will heavily rely on junior running back and defensive back Sean McConnell. Moapa Valley was known for its passing attack last season, but Lewis said it would run the ball more frequently this year with McConnell likely to emerge as the leading rusher.
The Pirates will have quite the stage to show off their new-look team. Before Saturday, the biggest stadium most of the team had played in was the one at Arbor View High School for last year’s state championship.
“The closest thing I had was the Silver Bowl back in 2004 when they had the 3A state championship there,” Lewis said. “It’s a drop in the bucket compared to this. What can I say? It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or case.keefer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
Case/Ray,
Any idea why Truckee turned the game down? I was kind of looking forward to them representing northern nv and the last few years they've done well.
are moapa and sho low evenly matched or will it be a blow out?
No clue. Great mystery. Big-time gift for Moapa Valley. I'm so happy for those kids.
i know they're very excited and its a great and rare opportunity. i just hope they're able to compete since who knows the disparity between NV 3a and AZ 3a. We shall see Saturday.
I know the year before last Truckee had solid wins over some northern 4A teams so they may have been a better representative of NV's best 3A but i'm really hoping Moapa has fun and does well
Source: http://www.sierrasun.com/article/2011032...
From the article:
When contacted by phone, Truckee head coach Bob Shaffer said he had not received any sort of invitation as of Tuesday evening. In fact, he was unfamiliar with the Sollenberger Classic.
"All be darned," Shaffer said when told of the alleged invitation to play in the game.
"I'm not even sure if we'd be ready to play at that point, especially considering we don't have anybody coming back on offense, and we only have two guys coming back on defense," Shaffer continued. "We'll need a lot of work before we're ready. If it were last year's team, with all the experience we had coming back, I might jump at that. But I don't know what I would do with this one."
Shaffer said he would prefer to play in such a game at the end of the season when his team was better prepared.
thanks blue and gold. Balls go to Moapa Valley for jumping on the opportunity
I love northern Nevada's logic. "Let's get a California team so northern Nevada can be represented." Truckee needs to go to California where they belong.
Ray-
Any word on a radio/tv feed?
tuasdad-
How would you address your players if you turned that down? And how would you feel as a player?
According to the Moapa Valley Progress July 13: "Truckee declined the invite due to travel and lack of experience coming back this year. The game will be played on Saturday August 20, 2011 with the NIAA picking up the bill." And I agree, blueandgold, how DOES Truckee explain that to their players? Moapa also lost alot of players, good for them for jumping on it anyway! Win or lose, I hope they have a great experience!
Moapa plays terrific football. Should be a fun game.
I'd feel kicked in the nuts if i were Truckee.. I mean kids aren't dumb they are aware if a lot of their talent left with graduation but hell a free trip to another state at least give your kids a chance to play. win, lose or blowout Moapa kids will remember this for the rest of their lives. Truckee coach probably regreted turning it down after they moved the game to Cardinal Stadium.
The Gorman game will be on Fox Sports Net National, which ISN'T part of the COX package. It is on DirectTV. Send me an email and I will forward you all of the information. Moapa not on TV.
As a former Truckee Football Player i can personally tell you that Coach Shaffer always thinks of what's best for our kids...That being said i find it comical that many of you are criticizing him for choosing to focus on what is most important for the team... what we care about is Wining State, Getting the 3-peat, and going UNDEFEATED for the third year in a row.. i am pretty sure you guys would do the same thing if you given this opportunity..
I don't understand how Truckee people are defending their decision not to go by saying they are focused on winning a state championship. Playing a top notch program out of state is THE way to prepare for a state championship. I think Truckee is more concerned about their undefeated streak being broken. During their 2 year streak they have played no out of conference games. Every victory in that streak is against a 3A Nevada team. And everyone knows that besides Truckee and Moapa the 3A is horrible. Challenge yourselves Truckee! play someone good out of conference and then come talk to me about an underrated streak
That's a crummy attitude 3Achamp.. first you should concentrate on *winning not wining. Maybe spelling too. Second taking his team down to Arizona does not stop him from winning state in Nevada in any way, shape or form. In fact I would say it would better prepare his team for a run at the title, win-lose-or draw against Sho Low.
If Truckee's goal is simply to stay unbeaten by playing it safe and not playing anyone that might beat them, if they can avoid it, then i've lost a great deal of respect for them.
I would not want to go undefeated if it meant everyone in the state would put an asterisk at the end of our undefeated season because they knew we avoided playing anyone that might beat us. The biggest reason Gorman is getting national recognition is because they've gone out and looked for the hardest games they could find. If they wanted to win the last three and next three state titles and stay undefeated they wouldn't go out of state looking for a challenge. They knew it'd be a long shot to beat De La Salle and Hamilton last year. Hell, Gorman might lose against Chaparral, Servite and Armwood and still dominate Vegas and they'll get more credit for going out and trying than will an undefeated Truckee team who played their cards simply to stay unblemished.
I guarantee if one of our better programs like Palo, Liberty or Vegas were offered a free trip to play in Arizona, they'd take it even if they knew it'd be a long shot against a powerhouse like Chap or Hamilton because they know it will only make them better. Maybe not undefeated, but better.
first off your wrong. in the last 2 years truckee has beaten high quality teams such as california 4a colfax. but hey, "tausdad" obviously has some animosity toward truckee. which is expected. when your on top theres always people like you who try and bring em down. bottom line is truckee's program DOES exceed most any nevada program and my son played for monogue haha. and if you knew anything about schaffer, his coaching staff or any young man who sweat for that program you would no that a challenge is never something truckee fears. and to say besides moapa and truckee the 3a sucks is stupid because moapa wasn't even the second best team last year, lowry was. truckee produced 5 college football players last year one of which is D1 at southern Methodist university and made the team as a freshman. thats what a program like truckee produces. and everyone knows that with all the recruiting politics a player in the 4a who is not as good as a player in the 3a will get looked at by a bigger school first. so that speaks more volumes for the young man and his coaches as well as the players who went against him every day. not to mention previous pre season contracts truckee has with other schools which would directly interfere with this arizona game......and above anything truckee's program makes sure it produces good honest hard workin men off the field. and breaking an agreement would not uphold these values. truckee is a team that produces good men over good football players and thats what the coaches really strive for. state rings are just a bonus
nor3anv: Please stop babbling and embarrassing yourself.
1) 11/13/10: Moapa 35 Lowry 20.
Lowry was the better team last year?
"and to say besides moapa and truckee the 3a sucks is stupid because moapa wasn't even the second best team last year, lowry was"
2) Truckee's first game is 9/2/11 @ Dayton.
"not to mention previous pre season contracts truckee has with other schools which would directly interfere with this arizona game"
Too easy.
nor3anv:
It's clear you're not familiar with the words your and you're. It also appears you can't read very well. If you would please scroll up to the first few posts I am the one who asked why Truckee did not go. I also said that Truckee would have been the better representative because they HAVE had some good wins the last couple of years. Hence the question of why they did not go since they may be the best 3A team and therefore represent the state of Nevada best. Plus it would have been nice for the south and the north to each send a team.
Your own people (2001_3A_statechamp) made the point that Truckee is more concerned with having an undefeated record and looking good than to actually go out and play the best competition they can find and prove themselves.
I have a great respect for Northern programs. I contacted McQueen's coach after their 40-0 loss to Gorman at state and expressed how impressed I was with his team fighting until the end and keeping their composure. I advised him that I wish Gorman's players had shown half the composure his squad did during Gorman's loss to De la Salle.
An apology is not expected but would be accepted.
No one is trying to discount how good Truckee has been the last 2 years. They've obviously been the best 3A team in Nevada. I think people have questions as to why Truckee turned down the Arizona game. The reason "they are preparing for a state championship" so they can't play a quality team in the non-league is crazy and people on here aren't buying it. I would like to hear from a Truckee coach, player, administrator the real reason why they turned down the invitation. From an outsider it looks like they are trying to protect their undefeated streak. I would like to hear from someone who actually knows.
And I will admit I was wrong. Truckee's first 3 wins of the 2009 season were against California schools. Their last 21 wins have been against 3A Nevada schools, which obviously proves they have been the best 3A team. No argument here. However, I would like to see them challenge themselves with a tough non-league game. They had the perfect opportunity to do that against Show Low, but for some unknown reason they declined
This is great for Moapa Valley. They are a very good team and play hard football. They should be given these games because I feel that on the right day they might be able to beat Gorman in a OT game.
Moapa Valley has a good team and play like every game is a title game.
I will pose the question to Coach Shaffer today at their Scrimmage against Lassen.
The last time this subject came up, Coach Shaffer had told me that Truckee "plans" for a 12 game season, every year, which means a trip to State, every year. The Sollenberger Classic would make 13.
What most observers don't realize, is how banged up a football team gets through a 12 game season. Several key, standout players, (TE/DE, James Depew comes to mind, as well as OL/DL Dillon Sheedy), missed a few games down the stretch of last season. Even QB Ben Bolton was "sick as a dog" during the Lowry game.
The NFL has a list of players, that include probable, questionable, etc. High School Football does not.
The 2011 Wolverines will have 20 of 22 NEW starters.
I will pose the same question to some of the returning players, that appear to be the new leaders of the team.
My PERSONAL feelings are that it makes no sense to play a game like this, supposedly pitting two State Champions against each other, nearly a year after each team has won their State Championship, with completely different players.
College Bowl games are played AFTER the same season, with the SAME teams that got them there.
These games are typically marred with False Start and Offside penalties, fumbles, and errant or dropped passes. They really become "glorified scrimmages".
I would like to see these games played two weeks AFTER the SAME season, like a Bowl Game. Now that would be great.
For the record, Truckee scrimmaged against 4A Carson last season, however, Carson renegued on their commitment to face Truckee in a scrimmage this season.
I also know that other 4A teams have turned down requests by Truckee to play them in the past.
Under the most recent realignment, Truckee ONLY has 3A League games on their schedule, so there is no longer an opportunity to face out of conference opponents, such as perennial playoff teams such as Colfax and Mariposa.
As far as the Undefeated Streak, I know for a fact, THAT has NOT ever entered into the equation. Coach Shaffer has always scheduled tough pre-league games until realignment, to get ready for league play.
(For the record: I have been involved in Truckee Football since the 2004 season, and now broadcast their games on 101.5 FM KTKE, www.truckeetahoeradio.com. I also wrote the Truckee Football Blog on the Sierra Sun newspaper web site, and now handle the Facebook page, "Truckee Football".)
I will get some quotes from both Coach Shaffer, and some Wolverine returning Varsity players, and share them here.
Good Luck to Moapa Valley. I, and the Truckee Community respect their program, players and Community, immensely, as do our players.
KT
LakeTahoeGuy-
How's Lowry looking this year? I know their running back from last year was a junior, but do they have any other key players coming back that will contribute?
wow im not even gonna dignify a response. get a life. key board cowboy
Should have a report on Lowry soon. MaxPreps has them ahead of Truckee, as they have quite a few more players returning than does Truckee.
I believe they scrimmaged Elko today.
The RGJ should have a preview of them up this next week.
They have a very soft schedule the first 4 games. They open with 2A Battle Mountain, then face the bottom tier of the 3A, Wooster, South Tahoe, and Dayton, before being tested @ Elko.
Moapa Valley 28 Show Low 26
Congrats boys. Way to step up to a challenge and make the most of it.
Today after the Wolverines scrimmage, Coach Shaffer reiterated that he would be very pleased to have his Championship Team play ANY Championship Team, during the same "season" or school year.
Paraphrasing here now, he said the team that earned the right to play in that game does not exist anymore.
He agreed that it should be shortly after the State Championship game, if this type of game is going to mean something.
Judging by today's scrimmage, Truckee has a long way to go to get back to Championship form.
When I spoke to several players that will be seniors this season, they all were absolutely fine with Coach Shaffer's decision to respectfully decline the invitation.
Each of them felt it was important to get ready for another run at "State", and that they were not ready to play in a game like this, so early in the season.
LTG
Watch a replay of the game here:
http://www.aia365.com/videos/567
Way to go Pirates!
Wow! Congratulations Moapa! Although you also lost alot of players, (QB, WRs, etc) and played a very good team early in the season, you stepped up with some new talent and new type of offense, and represented Nevada very well. Great motivation for the rest of the season and making your own run at State!
Congratulations to the Moapa Valley Pirates.
See you in November.
Thanks for the true Truckee perspective on the whole thing laketahoeguy. I know coach Schaffer is a great coach and has had lots of success. But I will have to disagree with him on this one. I think Truckee missed out on great opportunity. Congrats Moapa valley on representing Nevada well