Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

High school football:

Bonanza trying to jump in the mix under first-year coach Chad Dobar

2012 Prep Football Teams

Las Vegas Sun

Bonanza football players Colton Bennion, Jeff Dore, Brett Doyle and Austin Rowe on Thursday, July 26, 2012.

Bonanza Coach Chad Dobar

Bonanza High coach Chad Dobar talks about the upcoming football season

Southwest League

Bishop Gorman football players Marquis Hunkin, Tajon Allen and Jamir Tillman Thursday, July 26, 2012. Launch slideshow »

First-year Bonanza High coach Chad Dobar doesn’t like the term rebuilding in regards to his squad.

A state title isn’t a realistic goal, and he knows it. But there’s no way he’s going to look in his seniors’ eyes and tell them that it’s not going to happen.

Dobar is bringing in a new system, trying to find out exactly what his roster can do and at this point, he’s not going to count the Bengals out of anything.

“We’re going to be a pro, power running team and an aggressive defense. So my expectations are high, my expectations are not just the first round of the playoffs,” Dobar said. “… There’s no reason why we can’t step in and jump in the mix right away.”

Everyone in the new Southwest League will likely be looking up at Bishop Gorman High in the standings, but that doesn’t mean they have to just take it. Dobar said it’s going to take a perfect game from somebody to take down the Gaels. All that means is it’s hard, not impossible.

“I’m under the strong belief that they’re high school players; they’re just teenagers,” Dobar said. “(Your players) come out, punch Gorman in the mouth, which I’ve seen before, it might shock them a little bit.”

Brett Doyle, arguably one of the Las Vegas Valley’s top quarterbacks, will be calling signals for Bonanza this year. As the defense adjusts to Dobar’s attacking style — much different, he said, than the 4-4 set it ran out of last year — Doyle and the offense will be responsible for carrying the team until the defense catches up.

“The kid can throw and he’s smart,” Dobar said. “I’m going to use his abilities, and I also have two running backs that have really good speed and really good vision.”

The backs are Jayveon Taylor and Cameron Wong. Last year Taylor, perhaps the best athlete in the league, accounted for 13 total touchdowns and averaged more than eight yards per carry as a sophomore.

On defense, Dobar is looking at Hunter Rossman to anchor the line while Spencer Stewart and Tyler Penkalski lead the linebackers. And the Bonanza special teams could be one of the best in town with senior kicker/punter Austin Rowe, who is part of the Sun’s all-city preseason team.

In the long term Dobar has his eyes set on making Bonanza a destination for area talent.

“If you want it, you’ve got to work for it,” he said.

That work starts Friday.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.

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