Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Chaparral football has the experience to contend

Cowboys expect to compete with Moapa Valley, Desert Pines for bragging rights in Sunset Division

high school football media day 2015

Christopher DeVargas

Chaparral football players Casey Acosta, Richard Nelson, Antwain Allen, and Richard Hernandez (front) before the 2015 Season.

Chaparral preview video

It would be easy to assume Moapa Valley, the defending Division I-A state champions, and state runner-up Desert Pines are the favorites this fall to win the Sunrise Division.

Just don’t count out the Chaparral Cowboys, especially with their trio of returning seniors on offense.

Speedster Casey Acosta, who is part of the Sun’s preseason all-city team, along with Richard Hernandez and Richard Nelson have a combined nine seasons of varsity experience. Last season, the trio combined for 18 touchdowns in Chaparral’s spread offense attack, leading the Cowboys to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

They went 4-2 in league games, falling to Moapa Valley and Desert Pines, of course. But if they would have beaten Moapa Valley in the regular season finale, the Cowboys would have been league champions.

“We are excited with what we have this year with the skilled positions,” Chaparral coach Paul Nihipali said. “We are excited with the dedication and commitment these guys have off the field.”

Offensively, though, Chaparral has a few questions marks, most notable at quarterback where senior Andrew Solis is replacing the graduated Jerome Williamson. The offensive line is led by the likes of junior Kalani Lealao (6 foot 1, 240 pounds) but lacks depth and experience.

“We are going to continue on the offensive line,” Nihipali said. “We are working hard to get them going.”

Defensively, Chaparral’s strength is its linebackers, including Hernandez who led it in tackles last season. He’ll be joined by Antwain Allen, who at 5 foot 11, 215 pounds is expected to be solid.

Chaparral posted a 5-5 record last fall in Nihipali’s first season, but it could have been better. They lost by seven points to Eldorado in the Cleat Game and by six points to Mojave.

It was another loss, by just 13 points to Desert Pines, that showed their ability. They gave one the state’s best teams a scare. To take the next step, Nihipali says the need to be consistent in their execution.

“Pay attention to the details. We tell them all the time, pay attention to the details,” he said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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