Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

high school football:

Nofoa powers Desert Pines into Division I-A regional semifinals

2014 High School Football

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

From left, Desert Pines High School football players Andre Watts, Natron Auelua-Naki and Jon McCoy July 21, 2014.

Desert Pines will get its shot at the defending Division I-A state champion.

Trevor Nofoa ran for two touchdowns, and the Jaguars opened the Division I-A Southern Region playoffs with a 34-20 home win over Cheyenne tonight. The win sent Desert Pines into the I-A region semifinals, where it will meet defending I-A state champion and I-A Sunset No. 1 seed Faith Lutheran.

“We’re really excited we get an opportunity to play a fine team like Faith Lutheran,” Jaguars coach Tico Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said Nofoa could be considered a catalyst driving the Desert Pines offense.

“He’s a very consistent, solid player,” Rodriguez said of Nofoa. “He’s the ultimate team player, an amazing kid, a team-first guy.

“Whatever is needed of him, he does without complaining. He’s an all-around, old-school, tough football player.”

Rodriguez said Desert Pines (9-1) also got a rushing TD from Isaiah Morris, a kickoff return for a score from Dillard Davis and a touchdown pass from Marckell Grayson to Jon McCoy.

“The kids played hard, and they got it done,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve been a great group of kids.”

The Desert Shields finished 4-6.

“Cheyenne’s kids played their hearts out,” Rodriguez said. “This kind of game prepares you for the following week.”

Tristan Aird can be reached at 702-259-8829 or [email protected]. Follow Tristan on Twitter at twitter.com/tristanaird.

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