Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

kickoff 2018:

Upset special: Democracy Prep goes from class 2A to big win at Coronado

LVSUN HSFB Media Day 2018

Christopher DeVargas

Members of the Democracy Prep High football team pose for a photo at the Las Vegas Sun’s high school football media day Tuesday July 31, 2018 at the Red Rock Resort and Casino. They include, from left, Kelley Jones, Vanell Meeks and Micah Gayman.

Democracy Prep dressed 26 players tonight in their first game of the season, which many projected to be an ugly loss.

After all, the Blue Knights were playing at Coronado, a class 4A school with nearly four times the enrollment. Democracy Prep, which has no field at its North Las Vegas campus and is forced to practice at a public park with no lines, is playing its maiden season outside of class 2A. Previous seasons were contested against rural Nevada schools.

Friday, it did the remarkable.

Democracy Prep held Coronado to no offensive touchdowns in a stunning 12-10 victory.

That’s especially true when you consider six of the 26 players the Blue Knights dressed had to leave the game with leg cramps. And even more unthinkable after Democracy Prep yielded a kickoff return to Coronado’s Semaj Bolin for a touchdown on the opening play.

“My goodness, man,” an elated coach Keith Jones said. “Just all heart. It was something to see.”

With his players exiting the game one by one with cramps, Jones told one of his coaches, “I can’t believe they aren’t running up the score on us.”

Steven Burgess and Vanell Meeks had scoring runs for the Blue Knights.

Players will return to practice Monday at Doolittle Recreation Center with confidence after a stunning victory. Then, it’s on to the next game — at 3A power Moapa Valley. First, they’ll celebrate the unlikely win.

“The kids shocked the hell out of me,” Jones said.

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

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