Friday night roundup: Las Vegas Wildcats representing area in Reno

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, Oct. 14, 2022 | 5:30 p.m.

The Las Vegas High football team is in Reno tonight to face Bishop Manogue in an intriguing late season game.

While many teams in Las Vegas hit the road in August and September for nonleague games, rarely does it happen at the end of the season and one week before the playoffs.

The Wildcats, who are in the midst of a six-game winning streak and have one of the valley’s notably underclassmen quarterbacks in sophomore Elijah Espinoza, are bucking the trend with the upcoming playoffs in mind.

For them, the trip makes sense.

First, Bishop Manogue is one of the finest program’s in the Reno area and a slight increase in competition, making it a great late-season test to prepare for the rigors of the postseason. Las Vegas is part of the class 4A; Bishop Manogue the class 5A.

More important: Taking a late-season getaway will help strengthen the team chemistry, especially considering what will be a hostile northern Nevada crowd. Reno teams love to beat Las Vegas schools, and the Wildcats are embracing the challenge of representing the southern part of the state.

Back in Las Vegas, other programs will be fighting for the playoffs.

In the class 5A, Green Valley hosts Centennial, and Foothill takes on visiting Canyon Springs in what’s essentially a playoff game. The winning team makes the postseason and the losing team next week will close out the regular season with a game that would carry no significance in the standings.

We’ll keep everyone posted as scores become final. Send game information on Twitter using #sunstandout.