Sunset Division primed for big dogfight in '99

Flash back to last Nov. 2.

That's the date any lingering questions about which side of town dominates Southern Nevada's prep football scene as the '90s draw to a close were put to rest.

All four of the west side's Sunset Division 4A zone playoff representatives posted wins over their east side Sunrise Division counterparts, with Cheyenne defeating Valley, Cimarron-Memorial downing Green Valley, Western overcoming Chaparral and Bishop Gorman upsetting Eldorado.

Less than a year after the clean sweep, the Sunset appears tougher than ever, thanks to the addition of Mojave and Palo Verde, which both showed great potential in their first varsity season last fall.

Although Cheyenne and Western are the consensus early picks to come out on top, it's anybody's guess who will survive the grueling division's schedule come late October.

Here is a look at the division's nine teams, in alphabetical order:

Bishop Gorman Gaels

Coach: Roger Whalen (2nd year)

1998 Record: 6-5 (4th Sunset, lost in zone semifinals)

Top Players: Xabian Causey (6-1, 195), FB/LB, Sr.; Brian Herman (6-5, 240), OT, Sr.; Guiseppi Mandell (5-8, 165), OG/LB, Sr.; Dyante Perkins (6-1, 215), QB /DB, Jr.; Jason Rogers (5-9, 180), RB/DB, Jr.; Garrett Toft (5-10, 200), OG, Sr.; Jason Webster, (6-0, 200), C, Sr.;

Outlook: In Whalen's first year, the Gaels were one of the area's biggest surprises, tripling their win total from 1997. Included were stunning victories over eventual state champion Cimarron-Memorial during the regular season and Sunrise champ Eldorado in the first round of the playoffs. This season, Gorman isn't likely to sneak up on anyone, but the Gaels should be back in the playoff hunt thanks to talented skill players such as Perkins, who moves from running back to quarterback. Gorman's lack of size and experience up front could be cause for concern, though, and the team won't have a true home field advantage, with Valley High replacing Sam Boyd Stadium as the team's new "home."

Bonanza Bengals

Coach: Nick Butera (4th year)

1998 Record: 1-8 (7th Sunset)

Top Players: Tim Bowman (6-0, 170), QB, Jr.; James Hooper (5-9, 215), RB, Jr.; Lance Kallman (6-2, 180), WR/DB, Sr.; Dinesh Lachawani (5-9, 190), RB/OLB, Sr.; Brady Lantz (6-3, 175), DE/TE, Jr.; Adam Seward (6-3, 235), ILB/ TE/FB, Sr.

Outlook: The Bengals' 1-17 record over the past two seasons is a little bit deceiving, as the team has played most opponents close. Still, Butera admits his club is probably at least a year away. "Every year we try to pull a Northwestern, but I think we're still building, starting from ground level," he said. Seward, a legitimate Division I prospect, will be Bonanza's main man on both sides of the ball, but he'll need significant help for the Bengals to turn things around.

Cheyenne Desert Shields

Coach: George Perry (9th year)

1998 Record: 11-1 (1st Sunset, lost in zone finals)

Top Players: Steve Alfonsi (6-3, 245), OT, Sr.; Lennell Bell (6-0, 185), DB, Sr.; Chris Hall (6-2, 200), QB/OLB, Sr.; Lynn McGruder (6-2, 285), DT/OT, Sr.; Deon Ned (5-9, 195), RB, Sr.; William Pitt (6-0, 215), C, Sr.; Kevin Thomas (5-10, 195), RB/LB, Jr.

Outlook: The Shields were the area's dominant team throughout the 1998 regular season, rolling to a perfect 9-0 mark. Now, they'll try to put memories of their zone championship loss to rival Cimarron behind them. Ned, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards despite missing three games with injuries, and McGruder, the state's top defensive lineman, give the Shields two impact players, although Perry warns they'll need support from some unproven teammates. "We've got a good nucleus of kids, but we have some holes to full," he said. A lot could depend on the success of new starting quarterback Chris Hall, who has the unenviable task of replacing 1998 State Offensive Player of the Year Lawrence Turner.

Cimarron-Memorial Spartans

Coach: Greg Spencer (9th year)

1998 Record: 10-3 (T-2nd Sunset, 4A state champions)

Top Players: John Hogsette (5-11, 235), OT/DT, Sr.; Taylor Miller (6-2, 210), TE/LB, Sr.; Jason Orians (5-11, 235), OG/LB, Sr.; Steve Price (5-7, 155), WR/ DB, Sr.; Kyler Rushton (6-1, 180), RB/DB, Jr.

Outlook: The state champs took a big hit last spring, when nearly all of the team's key players graduated, including two-way all-state contributors Kawika Sagapolu and Arnold Parker. "We've got a bunch of young kids, completely different faces out there," Spencer said. Nevertheless, the Spartans' cupboard is far from bare, with the rock-solid Miller anchoring a group of returnees with valuable playoff experience. Additionally, the team should get a shot of adrenaline from newcomers who played for last season's 9-0 junior varsity squad. Repeating as state champs may be a tall order at Cimarron this year, but with the fiery Spencer leading the way, it's awfully hard to count the Spartans out.

Clark Chargers

Coach: Jim Massey (2nd year)

1998 Record: 4-5 (T-5th Sunset)

Top Players: Andrew Amend (6-0, 180), OG, Sr.; Fred Conway (6-1, 175), SS, Sr.; John Corcoran (6-1, 225), DT, Sr.; Adam Gonzales (5-10, 190), FB, Jr.; Charles Henderson (6-2, 190), QB, Sr.; T.J. Surbella (5-10, 160), OLB, Sr.; Major Vina (6-0, 235), DT, Jr.

Outlook: With only six lettermen back and just 31 players on the varsity roster, staying healthy will be a big key for the Chargers. "We just want to survive," said Massey, whose squad finished one game out of the playoffs last season. Despite losing Zone Co-Offensive MVP Jamie Manor to graduation, Clark will feature athletic players at most of the skill positions, including Henderson, who makes the move from fullback to quarterback. The team will need a strong contribution from sophomore tailback Jacque Williams to get its ground game in gear and stay in the hunt.

Durango Trailblazers

Coach: John Mausbach (4th year)

1998 Record: 4-5 (T-5th Sunset)

Top Players: Troy Bosley (5-9, 155), WR/DB, Sr.; Jamaal Brimmer (6-2, 205), QB/S, Sr.; Mike Chapa (5-11, 260), OT/DT, Sr.; John Giordani (6-0, 200), OG/DE, Sr.; Josh Ratigan (6-1, 290), OT/DT, Sr.; Robert Varela (5-10, 200), FB/ LB, Sr.; Jevon Yeretzian (5-11, 170), WR, Sr.

Outlook: The Trailblazers still have a bitter taste in their mouth after an agonizing end to their 1998 campaign -- a double-overtime loss to Bishop Gorman in the regular-season finale. "At Durango, it's expected that you go to the playoffs, and it's a big disappointment when we don't," Mausbach said. Turnovers were the Blazers Achilles' heel last year, with the offense coughing up the ball 21 times during the team's last three games -- all losses. Brimmer, one of the state's most experienced quarterbacks, should help cut down on the miscues, and Durango should be back in the thick of things in 1999.

Mojave Rattlers

Coach: Mike Gutowski (4th year)

1998 Record: 5-4 (Independent)

Top Players: Willie Ealy (6-2, 210), ILB/TE, Sr.; Mike Givens (6-0, 210), OLB /TE, Sr.; Gil Stedman (5-10, 195), FB/ILB, Jr.; Steve Taber (5-10, 220), OG / DT, Sr.; Tony Ward (6-1, 270), C/DT, Jr.

Outlook: The Rattlers' first foray into varsity play was relatively successful, with the team posting a winning record that included a victory over playoff-bound Gorman. Now, Gutowski appears to have the horses to compete right away in the team's first season in the Sunset. "If things fall into place for us, we could be in the hunt," he said. "But in our division, if you don't come to play every week, you'll be in for a long game." Gutowski has some concerns about his team's line play, but Mojave has great speed at most of the skill positions, along with two of the area's top linebackers in Division I prospects Ealy and Givens.

Palo Verde Panthers

Coach: Darwin Rost (4th year)

1998 Record: 2-6 (Independent)

Top Players: Thomas Black (6-0, 195), LB, Sr.; Jason Damato (6-1, 195), OL, Sr.; Andrew Douglas (6-2, 200), DE, Sr.; Gary Gray (6-2, 185), RB, Sr.; Cynric Moore (6-3, 295), OT, Sr.; Owen Penrod (6-1, 245), DT, Sr.; Dayton Ponder (5-10, 150), QB, So.

Outlook: The first-year Panthers' 3-5 varsity record was only half the story in 1998, as the school's freshman and JV squads posted a combined 13-3 mark -- a potential sign of good things to come. With 10 seniors back on defense, including nine who have been together since ninth grade, Palo Verde should be a stingy group this fall. Offensively, Rost will rely heavily on a group of youngsters, including sophomore quarterback Ponder. A lot will depend on how the Panthers perform in their first four games, when the team faces the four 1998 Sunset playoff representatives in succession. "We have to split or go 1-3 at the very least," Rost said. "If we go 0-4, we're out of the hunt."

Western Warriors

Coach: Rich Stevens (4th year)

1998 Record: 7-4 (T-2nd Sunset, lost in zone semifinals)

Top Players: Thomas Evans (6-0, 185), FB/ILB, Sr.; Mark Foster (5-11, 205), OG/DE, Sr.; Modesto Fowler (6-4, 245), OT, Sr.; Marcus Levi (6-4, 275), OT/DE, Sr.; Rossi Poole (5-11, 165), RB, Jr.; Kevin Salsbury (6-1, 240), DT, Sr.; David Thompson (5-10, 185), C, Sr.

Outlook: With 16 starters back, the Warriors are being touted by many as the top team in town. Not so fast, says Stevens, who points out that his club has several major concerns, namely quarterback, where no starter has emerged. Whoever does win that job will have significant help in the backfield, with a deep group of backs ready to carry the bulk of the load in Stevens' traditional split-T set. With 1998 tailback Marcus Lewis out with injuries, Poole, Evans, Larnel Jones and Myles Bunch all got considerable playing time, and that should be a major asset for Western this fall. The Warriors also have one of Nevada's top two-way players in Levi, a relentless ball hawk on defense and a force along the offensive line.

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