Palo Verde’s Dave Castro Jr., left, and Sidney Hodge lead the Panthers in their quest to avenge a loss to Bishop Gormann in last year’s Sunset Regional title game. The Panthers were picked second in the Home News’ annual Preseason Coaches Poll.
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Coach Rost
Panthers at a Glance
- Palo Verde team page & schedule
- Palo Verde roster
- Colors: Black, gray and green
- Coach: Darwin Rost, 12th year, 95-40
- Homecoming game: Oct. 10 against Shadow Ridge
- Key players: RB Chaz Thomas, RB Sidney Hodge, LB Liloa Nobriga, DB Torin Harris, S Alex Bonczyk
- Prediction: Palo Verde makes deep playoff run
There’s only one way for Palo Verde to improve on its 12-1 season from last year.
And that’s to go 14-0 and take home a state title.
“That would definitely be an improvement,” Panthers coach Darwin Rost jokingly said.
The sting of last year’s 24-20 loss to Bishop Gorman in the Sunset Regional title game has yet to leave Palo Verde’s players.
After going undefeated in the regular season and first two rounds in the playoffs, the Panthers gave up a three-point lead to Gorman in the fourth quarter.
Gorman’s 70-yard drive in the final minutes still runs through Rost’s head.
“You don’t forget about it, that’s for sure,” he said. “I still have a bad taste in my mouth and I don’t think I’ll ever get it out. Not to take anything away from Bishop Gorman, but it was one of those games we could have won.”
If one team is expected to be in the hunt at the end of the season, it’s Palo Verde. The Panthers have appeared in the last five state semifinals and have 19 returning seniors.
Palo Verde has three accomplished backs — Chaz Thomas, who led the team with 1,056 yards, Tyrone Blake and Sidney Hodge — to alternate rushing duties.
Hodge, who ran for 945 last season, said the experience will show.
“We know how to work together, how to come off blocks, how to block. Every running back should have over 1,000 yards,” Hodge said.
Rost called his squad the fastest all-around team he has coached in his 12 years.
The speed will show in the defensive backfield, which will be led by seniors Torin Harris and Alex Bonczyk. Liloa Nobriga, who led the team with 121 tackles last season, could be one of the most feared linebackers in Southern Nevada. Harris ran 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash this summer and has already committed to USC.
“We have a lot of big expectations and we’re ready to bring home state,” Hodge said. “We have everybody gunning for us in the division. It definitely makes us play better.”
Sean Ammerman is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-2661 or [email protected].
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