high school football:

Nacua, Patriots advance with win over Silverado

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Liberty quarterback Kaimana Nacua runs out of the pocket against Palo Verde during their game Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Liberty won the game 42-28.

By Paul Delos Santos (contact)

Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 | 11:56 p.m.

Prep Sports Now

Projecting the rest of the playoffs

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Bishop Gorman vs. Palo Verde. Arbor View vs. Centennial. The start of the Sunrise region playoffs. The semifinals of the Division 1A playoffs. It's a packed week of high school football for Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer to break down on this episode of Prep Sports Now.

Kai Nacua rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns to lead top-seeded Liberty to a 33-14 victory over Silverado in the Sunrise Region quarterfinals.

Nacua also threw for 91 yards, as the Patriots advanced to the semifinals where they will host Canyon Springs.

"Silverado was able to run the ball and shorten the game on us,” Liberty coach Rich Muraco said. “It was a fast game. We only had 31 offensive plays or something.”

The game was closer than some imagined heading into the final 12 minutes. The Patriots (9-1) led the Skyhawks by five.

Liberty’s defense got a critical stop in the fourth quarter when Silverado (4-6) faced a fourth-down situation. Liberty got a sack and a fumble, and from there Muraco said the momentum shifted in the Patriots' favor, who then rattled off two touchdowns to close out the game.

“We've had a lot of close games. They don't panic," Muraco said. “As you go on in the playoffs, you'll have less and less room for error.

“It wasn't one of our best games, and I was happy with how our kids responded.”