Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

This game stands out on the 2015 high school football schedule

Moapa Valley Defeats Desert Pines State Football

L.E. Baskow

Desert Pines Isaiah Morris #7 avoids a diving tackle by Moapa Valley’s Derek Cope #9 during the Division I-A state high school football championship game on Saturday, November 22, 2014.

This should be the most competitive nonleague high school football game of the upcoming season. At the very least, it appears to be the most intriguing.

Arbor View, the Division-I power and defending Northwest League champion, opens the season Aug. 28 at Division I-A state favorite Desert Pines. The schedule, which was finalized in May, can be found on the Sun’s website.

Desert Pines is led by a pair of college prospects in linemen Anthony Smith and Samuel Poutasi, and will be ranked in the top-5 of the state, regardless of classification. When it came time to request nonleague opponents to Clark County School District schedule makers, Desert Pines coach Tico Rodriguez sought the advice of his star players.

“They wanted the opportunity to show what they could do against the elite programs,” Rodriguez said.

The Jags blew a three-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter of the state championship game to Moapa Valley last fall, leaving a team abounding in underclassmen with some unfinished business to accomplish this season. Considering Desert Pines’ Division I-A Sunrise Region is loaded with teams expected to struggle, having a game against a quality foe in Arbor View will give players valuable experience for the playoffs.

“The kids know we have a great challenge. They will be ready for the first game,” Rodriguez said.

Rivalry games

• The Bone Game between Rancho and host Las Vegas is 7 p.m. Sept. 25. It’s the longest standing rivalry in Las Vegas Valley and still carries significance even though Las Vegas has won the past 19 meetings.

• The Cleat Game between Eldorado and Chaparral, which has been played since the 1970s, is 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at Eldorado. The Victory Bell game between host Foothill and Silverado is also Sept. 4.

Click to enlarge photo

Green Valley players carry away the trophy after beating Basic 42-32 in the Henderson Bowl on Wednesday, October 2, 2014.

• Henderson Bowl between Basic and host Green Valley is 7 p.m. Oct. 9. It’s also Green Valley’s homecoming game.

Spring Valley travels to Bonanza Aug. 28 for the Banner Game. The winner gets possession of a banner that displays each of the school’s logos. When Spring Valley opened in 2004, it took students from Bonanza. Also on Aug. 28, Cimarron-Memorial travels to Cheyenne for the Duel in the Desert.

• The Hammer Game between visiting Moapa Valley at Virgin Valley is 7 p.m. Oct. 9.

• The Battle for Boulder Highway between Basic and host Foothill is 7 p.m. Oct. 23. Also, the Pick Game between host Desert Pines and Sunrise Mountain is 7 p.m. Oct. 23.

• Other rivalry games (those without formal names): 7 p.m. Sept. 11: Desert Pines at Moapa Valley; 7 p.m. Sept. 25: Liberty at Coronado; 7 p.m. Oct. 16: Canyon Springs at Las Vegas; 7 p.m. Oct. 29: Palo Verde at Bishop Gorman, and Centennial at Arbor View.

Out of area competition

Teams continue to look for games out of the area, including five-time Sunrise champion Liberty opening the season Aug. 28 in Hawaii against Honolulu power St. Louis. The following week, the Patriots host Mililani High of Hawaii.

On Aug. 28, Faith Lutheran hosts Yuma Catholic of Arizona, Rancho travels to Yuma’s Gila Ridge and Green Valley takes on visiting Charter Oak of California. Also on the initial week of the season, Foothill travels into Utah to face Desert Hills of St. George and Virgin Valley plays at Cedar City.

On Sept. 11, Mar Vista High of California plays host Durango, and Bonanza hosts Yucca Valley of California on Sept. 4.

Gorman, the defending state and national champions, again plays a tough schedule of national opponents. That includes games against respected powers Long Beach Poly of California (Sept. 18) and Don Bosco of New Jersey (Oct. 23).

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

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