Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Faith Lutheran ready for challenges of new classification

Las Vegas Sun's HS Football Top 10

Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Faith Lutheran High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Elijah Kothe, Jacob Searles, Christian Marshall, Joshua Hong, and Jalen Flowers

2016 High School Football

Members of the Cheyenne High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Corwin Bush, William Federson, John Tarver, and Deriontae Green. Launch slideshow »
Prep Sports Now

Football: There is no close second

Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer ring in the start of football season by discussing some of the valley's top storylines and teams, like Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Arbor View and Desert Pines.

It’s been a dominating run for the Faith Lutheran football program.

The Crusaders have won three straight league titles, a state championship in 2013 and rattled off a double-digit winning streak. They’ve sent players to college and hung championship banners in building one of Southern Nevada’s elite high school programs.

Now, the challenge is intensified.

Faith Lutheran was promoted to the large-school classification and grouped in arguably the state’s toughest division, the Northwest League. The league features powers such as Arbor View, Centennial and Palo Verde, meaning Faith Lutheran will face tough games weekly and is no longer the favorites to win another league title.

“We know the challenges in regards to the level of competition that (we) are going to face moving up to that level,” Faith Lutheran coach Vernon Fox said. “But at the end of the day we are excited. I think anyone who does anything for any purpose, they look forward to opportunities to promote. No one complains when you get a promotion on your job, but you know that there is a new level of responsibility and challenges that comes with that.”

Undoubtedly, Faith Lutheran expects to be competitive. They’ve got one of the league’s best players — all-city selection Christian Marshall at quarterback — and a roster of other capable performers.

Marshall was the Faith Lutheran feature tailback last season, rushing for 1,255 yards and 22 touchdowns.

“It’s pretty interesting. It’s a challenge,” Marshall said of the new position.

Faith Lutheran returns a pair of senior linemen expected to play both ways in Jalen Flowers (5-foot-9, 250 pounds) and Jacob Searles (6-foot, 240 pounds). At the skilled positions, juniors Elijah Kothe (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) and Josh Hong (5-foot-11, 165 pounds) are expected to be game-changers at wide receiver and defensive back. Both Hong and Kothe have played varsity since their freshman seasons.

“We are trying to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball,” Searles said.

Faith Lutheran opens the season tonight at 7 against St. Pius X of Texas. Next week, it travels to Kaimuki of Hawaii. Playing a team from the hotbed of Texas and then making the long travel to the islands will help prepare Faith Lutheran for the rigors of the new league, Fox indicated.

“It’s definitely a challenge, but at the same time, it’s something we want to prepare for our boys,” Fox said.

Added Marshall, “It should be the best competition we have had in my four years at Faith.”

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

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