Vegas looking for glory in the Sunrise

After an exciting regular season that featured a wild four-team race for the title, last year's zone playoffs proved to be a huge disappointment for the four Sunrise Division hopefuls.

Eldorado, Chaparral, Green Valley and Valley were all knocked out in the first round, making the zone semifinals an all-Sunset affair.

Meanwhile, one of the Sunrise's top teams -- Las Vegas High -- was forced to watch the postseason from the sidelines after forfeiting four games for using an ineligible player.

A year later, those same Wildcats are hungry to get back into the playoff picture and, with a solid returning nucleus on both side of the ball, Las Vegas is the odds-on choice to win the division.

After that, things get a little bit hazy. Traditional powers such as Eldorado and Green Valley may be somewhat down this season, while programs without a recent history of winning -- Basic and Silverado -- appear to be on the rise.

The only thing that's certain is that all eight teams in the division will begin 1999 with a realistic chance to be in the hunt come late October.

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

Basic Wolves

Coach: Cliff Frazier (8th year)

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

Top Players: Chris Byrd (6-2 235), OT, Sr.; Danny Combs (5-11, 290), C, Jr.; Jeremy Hartman (5-9, 150), CB, Sr.; R.J. Landis (5-8, 240), DT, Sr.; Anton Pitts (5-10, 150), CB, Jr.; Max Ramos (6-1, 205), OLB/RB, Sr.

Outlook: A year after breaking their school's 18-game losing streak, the Wolves nearly figured into the playoff picture in 1998, missing out on a tiebreaker with Valley. Now, in the wide open Sunrise, there is reason for even more optimism in Henderson. "I think our kids are anticipating us making a strong run," Frazier said. Depth, particularly along the lines, could be a problem, so the team will need to avoid injuries to key lineman. If that happens, a favorable schedule that opens with games against Foothill and Boulder City could give the Wolves the confidence to make a run at the postseason.

Chaparral Cowboys

Coach: Ben Johnson (2nd year)

1998 Record: 6-4 (T-1st Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Luckas Abbott (6-1, 205), TE/DE, Sr.; Dallas Dobbs (6-1, 195), QB/SS, Jr.; Russ Gardner (5-10, 210), C, Sr.; Mario Hagan (6-3, 185), WR/ RB, Sr.; Jason Medema (5-10, 180), WR/CB, Sr.; John Ream (6-4, 280), OT/DE, Sr.

Outlook: Johnson's first year was a successful one as the Cowboys earned the division's second playoff seed after dropping just one conference game. Although the team will miss graduated skill players Richard Seigler, Tyson Dobbs and Verwon Washington, a solid nucleus returns, led by UCLA-bound Ream and Hagan, another Division I prospect. Chaparral will try to get the ball into the talented Hagan's hands as much as possible, lining him up both at receiver and running back. Dallas Dobbs inherits his brother's quarterback duties, but it will likely take him a few games to get used to the new position. Another playoff run appears to be in the books for the Cowboys, with a division title not out of the question if things fall into place.

Eldorado Sundevils

Coach: Ken Trujillo (4th year)

1998 Record: 7-3 (T-1st Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Arlie Daniel (6-0, 180), QB/P/FS, Sr.; Brian Frank (5-8, 155), WR/QB, Jr.; Eric Kludash (5-11, 250), C, Sr.; David Larsen (6-2, 240), OG, Sr.; Steven Jackson (6-2, 195), RB, Jr.; Jose Salgado (5-7, 185), LB, Sr.; Eric Williams (5-5, 150), RB, So.

Outlook: A great season ended prematurely for the Sundevils, who were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by upstart Bishop Gorman. Now, with 28 seniors from that team graduated, defending their division title may be beyond Eldorado's grasp. "We're a little thin, and we're not real big like we've been in the past," Trujillo said. Indeed, this year's installment may not have its traditional share of beefy lineman up front, but it will have Daniel -- a three-year starter -- behind center. If he can bring leadership and stability to a young group, the Sundevils should be back in the playoff mix in 1999.

Green Valley Gators

Coach: John Culver (1st year)

1998 Record: 6-4 (3rd Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Gabe Ameling, (6-4, 195), WR/DE, Jr.; Bob Colaluca (6-2, 295), DT, Sr.; Hermon Farahi (6-0, 195), FB/LB, Jr.; Jeremy McKee (6-1, 195), QB, Sr.; Jeff Na (6-0, 245), G/DE, Sr.; Ryan Smith (5-7, 155), RB/CB, Jr.

Outlook: After a turbulent off-season that saw longtime coach Larry Thomas resign amid scandal, the Gators come into 1999 with a new coach and an appropriate motto: "A new beginning." Culver, formerly the defensive coordinator, inherits a squad looking to rebuild after losing 16 starters. "We're going to battle, and whatever happens this year will be a success," Culver said. But the new coach is quick to point out that he saw positive signs in his club's recent scrimmage with Palo Verde, particularly on defense. Look for this year's Green Valley team to be a different model than in years past, with team speed replacing size as the Gators' primary weapon.

Las Vegas Wildcats

Coach: Kris Cinkovich (5th year)

1998 Record: 2-7 (7th Sunrise)

Top Players: Coy Boykin (5-9, 265), RB/WR/DB, Sr.; Harry Edwards (6-0, 200), LB, Sr.; Justin Jackson (6-2, 260), OL/DL, Sr.; Anthony Marini (6-3, 240), QB, Sr.; Harry Mills (5-9, 155), WR, Sr.; Anthony Park (5-10, 165), WR, Sr.; Jonathon Pollard (6-2, 2265), LB, Sr.

Outlook: The heartbreak of 1998 lives on in the minds of this year's Wildcats, who have dedicated the season to their graduated teammates. "It should motivate us, if we have any kind of heart," Cinkovich said. On paper, Las Vegas looks like the class of the division, with great balance on offense and defense. Marini, the state's top returning quarterback, will have even more freedom to run the 'Cats wide-open offense this year after leading the area in passing as a junior. On defense, 10 returning senior starters should make Las Vegas one of the state's stingiest, most experienced units. Once Boykin, the team's top rushing threat, returns from an early-season injury, the Wildcats should have no trouble putting last year's disappointment far behind them.

Rancho Rams

Coach: John Engel (1st year)

1998 Record: 3-6 (T-4th Sunrise)

Top Players: Gideon Gurbutt (5-9, 180), RB/DB, Sr.; Rod Lukes (6-3, 180), WR, Sr.; Mike McCormick (6-4, 240), TB/ILB, Sr.; Leon Moore (6-4, 240), TE/DE, Jr.; Charlie Pearson (6-0, 250), OG/DT, Sr.; DeQuincy Taylor (5-9, 170), RB/ DB /KR, Sr.

Outlook: After two years as the team's defensive coordinator, Engel takes the reins of a team that could be on the rise. After battling a numbers crunch the past two seasons, the Rams have 45 players in the fold this year, including 12 who spent the summer at football camp. "It's a process of change," Engel said. "We've always had very good athletes, but very little discipline. I'm trying to change that." Once again, all-state receiver Lukes will be the go-to guy for Rancho, although his success will depend on the development of new quarterback T.J. Beverly, who has yet to take a varsity snap.

Silverado Skyhawks

Coach: John DeNardin (5th year)

1998 Record: 1-8 (8th Sunrise)

Top Players: Charles Ballard (5-10, 180), FS, Sr.; Chris Ford (6-2, 180), QB, Sr.; Ian Simmons (6-0, 240), OG, Sr.; Neil Van Orsow (6-2, 220), DE, Sr.; Felix Perez (6-1, 255), DT/OG, Sr.; Steve Vaccaro (6-2, 210), TE, Sr.; Justin Wolf (5-10, 210), ILB, Sr.

Outlook: Six years after opening, Silverado -- one of the area's most successful athletic schools -- is still without a playoff appearance in football. That could change in 1999, however, as the Skyhawks are drawing a preseason buzz from their peers. "This is definitely a year that we need to step up," DeNardin agrees. Silverado has better speed, particularly on defense, than ever before, and will feature a roster full of juniors and seniors who won at the freshman and JV levels. Nevertheless, the team suffered a big blow in the preseason when all-division receiver Tommy Rojas quit the team to concentrate on baseball.

Valley Vikings

Coach: Greg Sellers (1st year)

1998 Record: 3-7 (T-4th Sunrise, lost in zone quarterfinals)

Top Players: Jesse Adarme (6-0, 210), LB/RB, Sr.; Jeremy Alvillar (6-0, 250), C, Sr.; Tyler Kurtz (6-0, 220), DE/OT, Sr.; Devon Stewart (6-2, 205), OLB /TE, Sr.

Outlook: After making the playoffs through the backdoor due to the Las Vegas' forfeits last year, the Vikings lost successful coach Greg Murphy to the new program at Centennial High. Sellers, a Valley assistant the past four years, will try to rekindle memories of the school's back-to-back Sunrise title seasons in 1996 and '97. That could be easier said than done, though, as the team will rely heavily on a strong junior class without significant varsity experience. Still, the team's new coach remains optimistic about its chance in the wide-open division. "I think we can make the playoffs. We just have to execute, work hard and stay healthy."

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