C-M gets lift before zone title game

Last Friday proved to be an emotional day for the Cimarron-Memorial football team, and not just because the Spartans pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history.

Hours before the opening kickoff of their 4A Southern Zone championship clash with unbeaten Las Vegas, approximately 20 Cimarron players and coaches attended the funeral of Steve Price III, father of senior Steve Price IV, a starting Spartan defensive back.

The elder Price died last Monday after a six-month battle with lung cancer. And though his son considered sitting out Friday night's contest, Price instead opted to honor what he believed his father's wishes would have been.

"My dad was at every game, so I had to play," Price said. "He'd want me in this game."

After making his decision, Price got an emotional lift when he walked into his team's locker room and saw all of his teammates wearing black bands around their ankles in honor of his father.

"I came in the locker room and everyone surprised me with that," Price said. "It showed me they care a lot about me and my family."

Cimarron coach Greg Spencer agreed: "That was all up to our seniors. That's just an example of the type of families they come from."

Spurred on by the events of the day, the Spartans proceeded to play intense, flawless football, routing the state's only undefeated team, 40-14, in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

Cimarron (11-1) limited the Wildcats' high-powered offense to 39 plays and, more importantly, forced the visitors into five turnovers. The Spartans parlayed their first three takeaways into touchdowns and rolled from there.

"This one hurts, and it should," Las Vegas coach Kris Cinkovich said. "They kept the ball away from us and they dominated the line of scrimmage. When they needed to make a play, they sucked it up and made the play."

With a variety of blitz packages and tight downfield coverage on Wildcat receiving threats Anthony Park and Harry Mills, the Spartans pressured Las Vegas senior quarterback Anthony Marini into the first three-interception game of his career.

Cimarron also got a huge contribution from sophomore Kellen Marshall, who torched the Las Vegas defense for nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Junior Andre Rhodes added a pair of rushing touchdowns for the victors.

"My assistants came up with some different things to throw at Vegas," Spencer said. "Dave Snyder, Russ Seedborg and Ron Smeltzer came up with the plays. I just sat back and said, 'It looks like a winner.' "

Cimarron's victory sends the defending champions to the 4A state championship for the third straight year. It also sets up a rematch of the 1997 title game, a 28-21 win by Reno's McQueen High.

The Lancers (11-1), who will host Friday night's finale, earned their spot in the championship with a 23-0 shutout of defending northern champion Elko. McQueen has not allowed a point in its three playoff wins.

In other playoff action, defending 2A state champion The Meadows returned to the title game with a 28-20 win over Tonopah on Saturday. The Mustangs (10-0) will travel north this Saturday for a title clash with Wells.

* GATORS SPLIT IN TITLE CONTESTS: Green Valley added another state title to its impressive fall resume, and just missed out on another on Saturday.

In boys soccer, the Gators captured their third 4A state championship in three years with a 1-0 victory over South Tahoe at Carson High. Green Valley (18-1-2) got a goal from Tyson Miller and superb goaltending from Chris Ancell to knock off the unbeaten Vikings (18-1-4).

In girls volleyball, the Gators couldn't overcome northern champion Churchill County, as the Greenwave (23-1) posted a 15-9, 15-3, 15-12 win in the championship round. Green Valley (22-3) finishes second in the state for the second year in a row.

All told this fall, the Gators have earned four state titles: girls golf, boys tennis, girls cross country and boys soccer. The school sent teams to the state playoffs in every sport except football.

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