Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 | 11 p.m.
Prep Sports Now
Where's the defense?
Upset over the outlandish scores posted around the valley last week, Las Vegas Sun sports reporter Ray Brewer loses his sanity on this week's podcast. Co-host Case Keefer tries to stay out of the way during his rant on defense, but has plenty to add on other topics — including impressive games from Arbor View and Bishop Gorman, "the hut drill" and the two highly-anticipated games in Henderson on Friday.
Moapa Valley High’s Sean McConnell and Conner Mortensen have been nearly impossible for opposing defenses to stop all season.
Friday night was no exception against the visiting Chaparral football team.
McConnell carried the ball seven times for 157 yards and two touchdowns, and Mortensen had 197 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries in a 52-12 victory for the Pirates' sixth straight win by more than 30 points.
“McConnell and Mortensen were just beasts tonight,” Moapa Valley coach Brent Lewis said. “It seemed like (Chaparral) couldn’t tackle them.”
The Moapa Valley defense had another stellar performance in forcing Chaparral out of its power rushing attack, Lewis said. The Pirates have surrendered a combined 31 points the past three weeks.
“It was a stellar effort,” Lewis said of the defense. “I have never seen a team get completely out of what they do so well.”
Next week, Moapa Valley travels to Boulder City to face an undefeated Eagles squad in a crucial league game.
“It’s all about matching their physicality,” Lewis said. “It will be the biggest game of the year for us. The kids are looking forward to it.”
Chaparral High School has seen better days.
Once among the top performing schools in the Clark County School District, Chaparral High is undergoing changes to counter dismal test scores and the lowest graduation rate in the district.
The campus located near East Flamingo Road and U.S. 95 is one of five turnaround schools not meeting the expectations outlined in No Child Left Behind.
Chaparral is now looking to clean up its reputation, touching every aspect of the school from restrooms to test scores.
Changes weren’t received well by students who openly protested the cuts to faculty and the new order that banned the use of cell phones and music players during the school day.
Under stricter rules, tardy students are locked out of classrooms, bathroom breaks during class time aren’t allowed and the lunch hour was pushed back to 1:40 p.m.
Superintendent Dwight Jones told students he’s not settling for half successes.
“Right now, 50 percent of the kids in this school don’t graduate high school. Is that acceptable to you? Think about that. Right now, some of the friends that you’re with aren’t going to graduate. Is that OK? That’s unacceptable to me. I think you guys ought to kick all of us out.”
- Year built:
- 1971
- Mascot:
- Cowboys
- Principal (Year Hired):
- David Wilson (2011)
- Enrollment:
- Approximately 2,250
- School Report Card:
- 2010-2011
Compiled by Gregan Wingert
Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21.
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