Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

kickoff 2016:

Spring Valley football fits in nicely to new league

2016 High School Football

Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Spring 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, K.C. Moore, Nathan Hunt, Spencer Johnson.

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.

Spring Valley High was one of three schools promoted to the large-school classification in realignment this summer. For the Grizzlies football team, that may be a good thing.

Last season, they posted a 4-0 record against teams it played from the new league, beating Bonanza, Durango, Sierra Vista and Clark.

Of course, seven-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman is also in the league, arguably meaning the other teams are playing for second place.

“It is really a good thing for us,” coach Marcus Teal said. “It was probably the best-case scenario for us. Also, we’ll get on the same field with the No. 1 team in the country. Any kid, any high school athlete, would love to do that.”

Spring Valley posted a 5-4 record last season to miss the playoffs. It scored just 47 points in its final four games.

KC Moore, who passed for 12 touchdowns last season as a junior, returns to lead the Spring Valley offense. He’ll lead the attack with wide receiver Noah Williams (6-foot-2, 205-pounds) and lineman Nathan Hunt (6-foot-2, 320-pounds).

Winning games requires, “everybody doing their job and working hard staying together,“ Moore said.

Spring Valley’s strength may be the experience of its secondary, including returners Tavion Smith at defensive back and Spencer Johnson at safety.

“If we do everything we are coached to do, we’ll have a good run,” Johnson said.

A playoff berth is a realistic goal for Spring Valley, if it can get a leader to emerge from its returners, Teal said. It also lacks player depth — a common problem for most programs.

“If (players) buy-in early, we can be that consistent team,” Teal said.

That consistency was missing at times last season, but not in the season opener against Bonanza in the “Banner Game.” Spring Valley beat its rivals, 36-28.

“It’s great to play against (players) we know,” Moore said. “And to get the banner was great.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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