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Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Faith Lutheran football players Anthony Pryatel-Farmer and Sean Bischel, July 26, 2012.
By Paul Delos Santos (contact) 
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 | 12:04 a.m.
Prep Sports Now
Thoughts on realignment, Centennial's challenge and Green Valley's latest romp
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Las Vegas Sun sports reporters Ray Brewer and Case Keefer touch on every high school football team in the valley and more on this week's episode. The topics, rants and disagreements are at an all-time high, so brace your ears and get ready to take sides.
Anthony Pryatel-Farmer caught nine balls for 121 yards with three touchdowns to lead Faith Lutheran to a 52-12 victory over Western High.
The win locks up the No. 3 seed for the Crusaders in the upcoming state tournament. They draw the No. 2 seed Boulder City in the first round, and it will be a rematch from a meeting earlier in the season. The two teams met Aug. 31 with Boulder City coming away with a 41-22 victory.
Greg Benson was efficient for Faith Lutheran (5-4, 3-2 conference). He completed 14-of-16 for 183 yards with four touchdowns.
Running back David Logan shouldered the rushing load for Faith Lutheran, running for 53 yards on six carries.
Defensively, Tyler Mahan and Mark Rubalcaba each had picks. Rubalcaba also rushed for a touchdown.
Western wraps up its season without a win, finishing 0-8 (0-5 conference).
A fresh coat of paint and a fresh perspective are among the changes being made around Western High School.
Western is one of five turnaround schools that missed the marks set by No Child Left Behind and now faces the challenge of increasing student achievement.
The school is the third oldest in the district and its campus lies near Decatur Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Highway. The majority of students attending Western are minorities from disadvantaged homes. Western is known for having a rough past, but students are optimistic about the future of their school.
Change is apparent according to students interviewed in September.
“When I was in eighth grade, I was told I was going to get shot or stabbed when I came to Western,” said senior Kole Yanez, 17. “That might have been true 15 years ago, but now, you don’t see that here.”
Rules are tightly enforced on campus. The school keeps a strict dress code policy and cell phone use during class time is not permitted.
Halls are designated by grade level giving students a sense of ownership and community. Pride is clearly visible at pep rallies and sporting events. The newfound pride might just be he medicine needed to alleviate the 8 percent dropout rate, the highest in the district.
“It’s like building a house. You need a strong foundation,” said Neddy Alvarez, principal. “You need those strong relationships. When kids know we care about them, the learning will take place.”
- Year built:
- 1960
- Mascot:
- Warriors
- Principal (Year Hired):
- Neddy Alvarez (2008)
- Mission Statement:
- “The mission of Western High School is to promote scholarship, encourage good citizenship, and embrace our cultural diversity.”
- Enrollment:
- Approximately 2,400
- Notable alumni:
- Frank Hawkins, former NFL player
Capt. Nicole Malachowski, first female Thunderbird
Ronnie Vannucci, drummer of The Killers
Tom Collins, Clark County commissioner - School Report Card:
- 2010-2011
Compiled by Gregan Wingert
Paul Delos Santos can be reached at 990-2416 or paul.santos@lasvegassun.com. Follow Paul on Twitter at twitter.com/pauliedelos.
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