Group of LV high school football players find success at California event

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, April 3, 2014 | 4 p.m.

The Las Vegas-area high school football players on the 7-on-7 passing league team Nuff Said had one goal last weekend during a competition in Fontana, Calif.

“We wanted to show we could compete against the players in one of the biggest high school football hotbeds,” coach Tacoma Fontaine said of the event featuring mostly Southern California teams.

“When we walked in, you could tell those California teams were looking down on us.”

Nuff Said posted a 4-2 record in the 40-team event hosted by Passing Down, finishing fourth overall to earn a spot in the Best of the West championship in late April in Fullerton, Calif.

“They are creating a name for themselves and showing there are a lot of good athletes in Las Vegas,” Fontaine said.

The competition featured no linemen or running plays. Games were just 25 minutes with a running clock and fields are 50 yards long. First downs can be made every 15 yards.

Nuff Said’s 12-player roster was led by Liberty rising senior tight end Noah Jefferson. Jefferson is a three-star recruiting prospect on the defensive line, showing his versatility during the tournament by shining in the passing game.

“He was the most dominating kid in the tournament,” Fontaine said.

Las Vegas High rising senior Trevor Swenson quarterbacked the team. Wide receiver Brian Roland Jr. of Liberty, Juan Rodriquez of Centennial and Zack Arave of Mojave each had good performances, Fontaine said. Valley’s Omari Tatum also had a few touchdowns and Centennial’s Stefon Stowers had big plays on both sides of the ball.

The defense was led by Valley High defensive back Malik Batiste, who Fontaine said gave up just one touchdown in six games. Also, Las Vegas High’s Elias Miller had an interception return for a winning touchdown.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.