Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Kickoff 2016:

Realignment opens door for Virgin Valley to reach postseason, coach says

2016 High School Football

Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Virgin Valley High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day July 20, 2016, at the South Point. They include, from left, Hogan Fowles, Jaden Dalton, and Cesar Zarate.

2016 High School Football

Members of the Cheyenne High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun's high school football media day July 20, 2016 at the South Point. They include, from left, Corwin Bush, William Federson, John Tarver, and Deriontae Green. Launch slideshow »
Prep Sports Now

Football: There is no close second

Las Vegas Sun sports editors Ray Brewer and Case Keefer ring in the start of football season by discussing some of the valley's top storylines and teams, like Bishop Gorman, Liberty, Arbor View and Desert Pines.

After an up-and-down 2015 season the Virgin Valley Bulldogs are primed for a breakout year in the 3A Division.

After a promising 3-1 start last year the Bulldogs finished at 4-5 and fifth place in the Sunrise League.

With league contenders Desert Pines and Sunrise Mountain moved to the Sunset League through realignment, third-year coach Yori Ludvigson believes the program will finally break through and reach the postseason.

“It is a numbers game so to have a full freshman and (junior varsity) team is big,” Ludvigson said. “We are turning the corner. Kids are getting stronger and faster and now it’s time to show it.”

The Bulldogs have 80 players in the football program despite Virgin Valley having less than 500 students.

“We just have to be determined and want it more than we have ever before,” said senior receiver and placekicker Cesar Zarate.

Quarterback Hogan Fowles returns for his senior season after throwing for only 527 yards and three touchdowns in 2015.

Ludvigson said Bulldogs’ 6-foot-6 tight end Reid Jansen will be heavily utilized as the team tries to pass more to create a more balanced offense.

Where the Bulldogs could run into trouble is on the ground, where they thrived last season. Kai Mitchell, Cody Jones and Josh Bishop all graduated after combining for 1,071 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Virgin Valley also lost its entire offensive line, so Fowles must develop as a passer for the season to be a success. He completed only 37 percent of his passes in 2015.

“It’s the mentality I think,” Fowles said. “We need a more aggressive mindset.”

Virgin Valley hosts Cedar High from Utah to kick the season off on Aug. 26. The Bulldogs lost 41-7 in Cedar City last season.

After that the Bulldogs take trips to Sunrise Mountain and Mojave, then host Western and Spring Valley heading into a much weaker Sunrise League.

Not only did the league lose Desert Pines and Sunrise Mountain, but Moapa Valley could also be due for a down season after losing nearly every starter from a year ago.

Virgin Valley will host Moapa Valley in the “Hammer Game” on Sept. 30 in a game that could have more on the line than small-town bragging rights.

“The bottom line for us is we have to beat Moapa,” Ludvigson said. “We beat Moapa and we will be sitting where we want to be.”

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